This year Christmas Day and the first day of Hannukah lined up, creating a dual holiday for the intertwined faiths. On the baseball front there were moves early in the week then the GMs hit he egg nog and took some time off.
First base was where the action was this week.
The Yankees signed Paul Goldschmidt, then the Astros snagged Christian Walker. Apparently the D’backs are great at developing first basemen, but they traded for Josh Naylor. Naylor’s previous team, Cleveland, then signed Carlos Santana to a two year deal.
Interestingly, Goldy did not take the highest offer he received. Neither did Santana, who received a two year offer from Seattle.
Not to be left out in the cold, the Washington Nationals then traded for Nathaniel Lowe to bring a veteran presence to a young roster. That trade looked a little puzzling until the Rangers announced the signing of Joc Pederson shortly thereafter.
There was some movement on the pitching front as well.
Boston swiped bounce back candidate Walker Buehler away from the Dodgers and folks are starting to say the Sox look like contenders. Maybe he’ll be able to walk around with an expensive watch in Boston unlike LA.
The Mets added Sean Manaea on a 3 year $75 million deal with a little Dodger deferment. This now crowds the rotation, possibly spelling the end for Jose Quintana in Queens.
With several contenders and non contenders needing help at the hot corner, third base could be the next position to see a ton of movement. Here are the current rumors on Alex Bregman, Nolan Arenando, and others.
When there’s a lack of news, I’ll go cable tv news station and just make some up. Here’s a crazy trade I created that is a fun thought exercise. It definitely makes the Angels and Dodgers better while saving the Cardinals a ton of money. Would you do it?
Getting Angels centric now, take a look at our signature win of 2024. Can you guess what is it before reading the link? Me either.
Perry wasn’t completely silent this week. He acquired Mitch Farris in exchange for friend of the site Davis Daniel. Here are a couple of looks at Farris.
And look at his crazy change piece.
Ultimately, I think Perry added another interesting prospect to the mix and we can’t have enough of those. Who will be the Angels top prospect 12 months from now? The team site took a crack at that question.
Which prospect improved his standing the most this year? Another main site link will tell you.
There’s a very good shot the Angels draft selection will shoot to the top of our prospect board. I’ll keep highlighting guys projected to go around the Angels second round selection. This week, let’s take a look at the UCSB hurler that has many posters on here excited.
A rotation headed by Bremner with Caden Dana and George Klassen behind him is a nice dream.
Enjoy your holidays and link what I missed. My boy is 7 so this time is magical and I’m loving every minute with him. If these times are tough for you, my heart goes out. Feel free to grieve/vent a little down below.
By the time I link next week the calendar will have flipped and reporting dates will seem close.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/angels-tigers-interested-in-anthony-santander.html
I dont know about you but I’m rooting for the Blue Jays on this one. The last thing we need is to lose another second round pick.
https://x.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1873475581255581806
Replies are always hilarious(ly true).
Trout Porn!!
“Must be in the front row.”
https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-trout-gets-souvenir-football-at-eagles-game
Unfortunately he re-injured his knee, back, calf and hand celebrating the Eagles win. Trout was heard saying ere the tunnel to the locker room: “I’m in prime beach shape. If Rendon can have the endless vacation, why not me”
“Compete” definition per Oxford dictionary: “Strive to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others who are trying to do the same”.
“Treading Water” definition per Oxford dictionary: “Fail to advance or make progress”.
The Angels over the last decade have been closer to the Treading Water definition than the Compete definition. On a continuum with Compete on one end and Treading Water on the other end, the Angels have been consistently closer to the Treading Water side of things.
Now with the Dodgers and other big market teams exerting their dominance through exorbitant spending and payroll manipulation combined with the fact that the best players want to win rings and are making choices based on that, the opportunity to “Compete” i.e. defeating or establishing superiority over, much of the League is a pipe dream for the Angels. In fact, arguably, the Angels are unlikely to compete any time soon even in their own Division much less the American League much less MLB as a whole.
It is blatantly false advertising to say that the Angels will “compete” in 2025. Based on every metric except pure magical luck, the Angels have no chance of competing (based on the definition) in even their own Division in 2025. The word is being used by the Organization to sell tickets and merchandise as opposed to being a true goal for next season.
All of this underscores the continued need to focus on rebuilding the team’s minor league system and hopefully emerge a truly competitive club in a few years.
Doesn’t it feel like Angels and teams that have less revenue will always be treading water? The Dodgers and $$/defer thing is creating such a huge gap that is destroying any kind of competitive balance. The rich clubs are joining them.. I wonder if MLB is heading toward a future with most of the teams continuously rebuilding every year while the same group of teams battle for the title.
I think under the current rules, teams either need to spend big or have a successful and vibrant farm system refreshing the Major League roster season after season. It’s no longer a viable strategy to be in the middle ground with regard to payroll unless you have an excellent minor league system in place.
Since it is highly doubtful Arte will spend like the big market teams and because the Org is saddled with Rendon and Trout’s contracts, the focus should be to do the work to build up the minor leagues both with young players and with the best resources, coaching and technology available. Perry has does that a bit with (for example) the Klassen and Aldegheri acquisitions but there needs to be a full commitment to this strategy. Mix in a successful #2 draft pick as well as high picks in the subsequent ‘25 draft rounds and you never know what might happen. But it requires a focus and commitment to building up the minor leagues as the first priority for a couple seasons.
Hoping Perry exclusively targets pitching in trades and drafts.That is the best track; a couple of good young arms you can already build around. Skubal, Skenes: those guys can practically carry their teams at times.
Right. And for those arguing that a tanking strategy does not work anymore with the draft lotto, if the Angels have the worst record in baseball in 2025, they would still get a number 14 pick in the first round and then the #1 pick in all subsequent rounds which is still favorable for building up a farm system.
The Angels have the resources to compete. Too often, they just use those resources poorly, or get the short end of the stick.
Pujols was a bad signing from the moment pen hit paper.
Rendon was an overpay, but no one expected this level of fall off from his 2019 numbers. Shit, his contract makes Pujols’ contract seem brilliant by comparison. And the Pujols contract was bad.
I don’t mind Perry, but Stephenson was a bad deal from the first instant. Not trading Shohei (I did not want him to do it either) was a mistake in retrospect.
Some of this money needed to be spent building the farm to graduate MLB quality players for cheap so that you can smartly sign FA’s.
But the salary numbers have been there. The execution has not.
And injuries seem to have been disproportionately severe for LAA.
But to say they can’t compete with the money they are spending is a cop out.
The Yanks were spending like drunken sailors throughout the 2000’s and we had their number more often than not. With a payroll smaller than theirs.
Luck is not a small part of all of this.
While the Randone deal has turned out to be an absolute disaster, when it was made, it made sense from an economic perspective. By all metrics at that moment in time, the Angels were adding an All-Star level third baseman to a team that already had Trout in his prime and Ohtani. The deal made great sense at that moment but failed miserably. Whether that was bad luck, bad player analysis, bad coaching or what – it’s difficult to say. But in 2019 when Rendon was signed, the deal made sense and I think we all thought it put the Angels in a good position to truly compete. It didn’t work out that way which is a bummer.
At this point, the amount of money that would have to be spent to make the Angels competitive is not realistic Accordingly you cannot compare then to now. The analysis is 100% different and requires a completely different approach.
CAoldskoll, yours is a very good comment. However, it has been that way for many years now. The rich teams with huge payrolls have controlled everything for the last decade. The gap between haves and have nots is widening. Take the top 8 payrolls in 2025. You have a 99 percent chance of having the WS winner. Rinse and repeat in 2026.
Maybe Trout is in the best shape of his life …..
https://x.com/ClownWorld_/status/1873199690633887873
That’s awesome!
This just in. Roki Sasaki met with the Doyers.
The first thing he said was “Where am I? Who are you people? I’ve never seen you guys before. Your voices…. they are so alien to me. My agent, he looks so confused as to why we are here. It’s as though he has no idea who you people are either and has never discussed anything like a huge contract with you or anyone you know before today. I am a little afraid because I am so lost here.”
When he signs for 10/300 with 270M deferred it will come as a shock to everyone including him, his agent, Freidman and the Googs. When he shows up for Spring Training they’ll all be like “Who the fk let you in here? Oh. You’re on the team.”
It’s a total mystery who might sign him.
Sasaki is doing the proverbial tour, wined and dine, with other teams to help shave off the appearance this is all pre-scripted from their WBC championship collaboration. Ohtani, Yamamoto, Glasnow, Snell and Sasaki? Pretty deadly. Dodgers signed Snell over Burnes to add a lefty to a right hander dominated staff. Or, this may all be B.S. and Roki signs with the Angels.
Here’s a scary thought. What if Jordan Montgomery isn’t washed up? Add him to Burnes, Gallen and Kelly…. that’s pretty damn firm. With Naylor and Pavin Smith at 1B they won’t miss Walker much and otherwise have a fairly strong line up…. fast too.
THIS is a team that could stand to do one more SPLASH and get a good pen arm. They’d be a dark horse to take it to the Dodgers if they have good health. Maybe put Nelson in the pen?
Perhaps Pfaddt takes another step up to secure the No. 3 slot behind Burnes and Gallen followed by Kelly. That is a nice staff. To me, Monty’s time seem to have come and gone, flip him for pen depth.
The big SPLASH could be Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Toronto needs to move him now.
They got Naylor for 1B. But yeah, if they wanted to really “splash for the Ring” they could trade for Vlady Jr and DH him. That’d be a thick AF offense.
I also agree, I think Pfaddt could be really good. I just didn’t mention him because he’s still a semi-prospect who hasn’t made it all work yet and it’s been over a year. On CtPG that makes him a wash out who needs to be sent down to AAA till he’s 27 and moves on to another team.
He’s their Detmers.
Agreed. Even if Monty has returned to being a solid 3/4 that is simply overpaid, that is still a really nice rotation.
Doyers already signing the baby to a huge contract…most of it deferred to 2077.
https://x.com/MLB/status/1873110080218177786
Dipoto will sign Baldoquin Jr. and we will not be able the offer Ohtani Jr. and contact.
call him ‘Ippei’?
That dog looks like a piece of shit. Who is this guy and why do I care if he has a kid? Unless of course having a kid makes it so he never plays more than 70 games a year for the rest of his life. I hear that’s a thing.
Ohtani can suck it.
Good for Burnes. Big guarantee, ability to opt out, and he gets to pitch at home.
Free agent pool is pretty slim now. Hopefully trades start going down.
things about Taylor Ward
— just turned 31 this month
— under team control for 2 full seasons (2025-26)
— averaged 2.4 WAR/season in the last seasons
— 2023 cut short bc Manoah can’t pitch, 2024 fully bounced back from horrific injury
Ward is a legitimately good MLB corner outfielder. Perry has options:
— trade him now
— Ward has a strong 1st half and ups trade value
— traded after 2025 season
— we keep him thru 2026
I vote trade now because we are bored
If so hoping that partner is Orioles, Nats, or Red Sox. A deep prospect pool team or generous trading party.
Boston and Toronto were supposedly in on Hernandez.
And hand the LF job to Soler? That’s probably fine. Soler had better splits against RHP in 2024 and seems kind of redundant to have both on the roster. Soler is the lesser fielder, tho?
If Perry puts Soler in left, he’s lost the remaining slim credibility I have left for him
Yeah? Based on his defensive shortcomings? Maybe need to sign a FA outfielder, then, before trading Ward.
Yes and at some point the GM should focus on the value of a good defense and what that can do for team ERA
Move Trout to left and/or give Lugo a look.
Unless and until they have 3 quality OFs they can play instead plus sufficient depth, they should keep Ward. Trading him midseason or before next year seem to be the best intervals.
HT to the Babylon Bee….
“In lieu of coal, Santa Claus gave naughty children season tickets to the Los Angeles Angels”
Good to know Angela, while banned here, will be in attendance all season.
Get him or go for another 8 in a row+Jayce Tingler
2 WS rings>78yr old rich guy nada
Toots You must drive your mom crazy with your blathering repetitiveness
Why do we want to sign Dalton Varsho…. that’s him right?
MLB News: Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks Reportedly Agree to 6-Year, $210M Contract
Good for both parties.
Even better that we didn’t do it 😇
Never be afraid to be against the status quo!!
When the doodle chump punk points a finger like a stump tell him step off, I’m doin’ the Hump.
You’re a true edge lord Tootie. So disrupt. Very Martin Luther.
My son is 8 and even though he likes his Dodgers, he’s been keeping up with free agency , he loved his trading cards for Christmas and he’s practicing for spring baseball season. This holiday season was peak child Christmas for him so I’m there with you Jeff. He’s my little man and he’s recently found an affinity for the Clippers (I remain a Lakers fan from the era gone by) so I think he gets why I love the Angels so much. Maybe he’ll come around… come on Arte, go for a WS !
That’s awesome. We’re also getting up for spring ball.
The more I think about it, they need offense. They can roll out a mediocre rotation and survive , but they need offense to be a threat. They need one monster bat. I wish they had the guts to get Bregman.
Bregman is not worth 1/3 of Ohtani……
“the guts” is not what I think of when I think of us signing Bregman.
Burnes to the D-Backs, more film at 11:00pm
some teams are willing to compete and aren’t afraid of the doyer dogs.
Go Snakes!!!
Good for them, was hoping the Giants would sign him.
Teoscar Hernandez back to the Dodgers with a third of the contract deferred.
That leaves the corner outfield market extremely shallow. Hays is the best guy out there.
If Ward gets moved (and I’m doubtful) the window is now really open.
Toronto, Boston, Cincy all need corner help.
Another ridiculous signing by the Dodgers via printing money and deferring salary. They paid by far the most for their roster last year and will be doing so again, unless the Mets keep spending. It really isn’t fun to watch.
Don’t worry Kevin, after a few more purchased WS Championships, deferring salaries will be outlawed, but the Blue Crews contracts will of course grandfather in.
Why would they be outlawed?
* Owners want them because they can then offer YUGE contracts to players to entice them.
* Players want them because more YUGE contracts would be available.
The only people who don’t want them are the fans and the pundits. And we know how much the owners and MLBPA cares about them.
Why is it ridiculous? They have the money, they fully utilize every clause in the CBA, they have outstanding baseball executives, they have a baseball development program that keeps turning out prospects to play or trade, and they can market the hell out of their brand.
We have the petulant Arte Moreno who thinks he’s the smartest person in the room.
Completely agree.
They also assume the risk as some of these players will also become injured, wake up old and/or grossly underperform. Then they’ll be hamstrung for a significant period of time.
Risk/Reward. Both are in play.
Dave Dombrowski.
Actually their farm system ain’t very good anymore, but they’re MLB’s version of LIV golf and can just print Bitcoins. Willy Calhoun wasn’t very good with us last summer, was he? The buyer team usually ends up with the better end of the deal except for Billy Beane in 2003 as said by the MLB Network or Jeff Passan. Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, Will Smith is overrated so don’t start, Julio Urias are the last 3 players they developed that were really good. BTW I DON’T CARE ABOUT WAR, SPELLING, AND GRAMMAR BECAUSE NEITHER DID GRADY FUSON.
Half the guys on CtPG should just give up and go Blew. All their ideas/demands are pretty much what Arte has done for the last decade and a half and it won’t work unless you have the Dodgers funds.
If they think about it they’d just put on the blue, they can start calling Ohtani cute pet names again, they can make stupid “If Andrew doesn’t sign BLAH and starts Blah at third this year I’ll lose all respect for him!” comments to their hearts content and even post about their demands for a winner and tell each other what winners do.
It’d be perfect for them and me.
Tagline: “Dave Kaval, the public face of A’s exit from Oakland, to resign as team president”
Please let the puns ensue on this thread
Will this have any influence on their winning ways?
Doesn’t Arte need a POBO?
He already has one…..HIMSELF.
I can’t wait for the chance to cruise out to UCSB and watch Bremner. My sister in law, the RallyManatee’s wife, handles UCSBs sports scholarships and I want to see if I can get hooked up….
I’ll be pretty happy if we end up with him.
Nice. Just made me realize I can catch him at Long Beach or Irvine.