Something very big happened this week involving our calendars. Yes, the baseball equinox was passed. We are now further away from the last out of the World Series than we are to the first Spring Training game.
Yes, that one calendar flipped over but so did the baseball calendar.
The Angels report to camp on February 13th. That’s 41 days from now. Less than six weeks. Their first Spring Training game is February 22nd, an even 50 days away.
Check out the full Cactus League schedule here.
Beyond that, February 14th brings about another significant day of celebration. Yes, Opening Day for college baseball. With the Angels holding the 2nd and 45th overall selections in the 2025 draft, we’ll be covering more college ball than in year past. Take a look at the preseason Top 50 prospects in the college game.
In each of the last two links I’ve highlighted a player at the top of that board. A guy I think the Angels might take so we might as well get familiar with him. This week, look at FSU lefty Jaime Arnold.
Yes, that is an immaculate inning in the post season against a very tough club. Don’t think that looks overpowering, check out this angle:
We have a full season to go until draft day but the mathematical certainty of selecting either the highest rated bat or arm in the entire draft has me excited.
As far as the big league club, absolutely no real news this week.
Boras mouthpiece Jon Heyman is trying to create a market for Boras client Pete Alonso, but obvious schilling is obvious schilling.
Considering all the movement on the first base market last week, what is the current market for Alonso? I’m starting to think the Giants might swoop up and get him late like they did Chapman and Snell.
The same may or may not be true of the Anthony Santander rumors, but those seem far fetched to me as well. Apparently Toronto has thrown a 4 year $82 million offer on the table for Santander.
While there was no action on the Angels front this week, there are still moves to be made. Here’s a prediction and free agent piece from the main site.
In that piece Rhett picks the obvious choice in Moore as his prospect to watch. However, I’m looking at George Klassen and here’s why:
That stuff+ column is something to dream on. Every pitch this kid throws is a bit above average and that slider is really nice. Dominating A ball and dominating The Show are two different things but if a guy has 3 good pitches, he can generally get through the starts when 1 of them isn’t working well.
Each year I also have a guy or two I follow closely in Spring Training for one reason or another. This year, that guy is Chase Silseth. He lost most of last year to injury but has shown flashes of both brilliance and struggle. Like many I think long relief is his future, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he impresses us as a starter.
From around the league:
Jesus Luzardo is a Phillie, which is only making a really good rotation even better. The Phillies really need(ed) a right handed hitting left fielder (we have one of those). However, they signed Max Kepler, a left handed hitting right fielder. Going with talent over fit is an interesting scenario and FG’s article on this is very much worth a read.
This is the right time for Baltimore to be aggressive. Why aren’t they?
As the season approaches, here are the top 25 storylines to follow around baseball.
Happy New Year and link what I missed below. We don’t do much on this New Year, but when Lunar New Year rolls around it is a party. As far as 2025 goes the boy is signed up for Farm Ball, it looks like I’ll be a head coach or co-head coach of a team (poor kids) and I’ve booked a Spring Training trip for just me and Dad. So life is good and baseball is making it better.
