LA Angels Thursday News Crash: K’s Aplenty

Our Angels wrapped up a 13 game homestand by dropping the finale of a 3 game series against Tampa Bay by a score of 5 to 4. On the good side, Mike Trout crushed a hanging breaking ball for a 3 run homer.

On the bad side:

On the day, the Angels struck out 16 times. Logan and Moore each had 3 while Neto, Trout, and Bryce chipped in 2 apiece. Every Angel except Jo Adell managed to K, even pinch hitter Travis d’Arnaud.

The K’s were going around like baby oil at a Diddy party.

On the season, the Angels have struck out more than any other team in baseball. Yes, that includes the Rockies.

Fun with math: 1117 K’s in 115 games = 9.71 K’s per game x 162 games = 1573.51 K’s in a season. Rounding that to 1574, would put the 2025 Angels just outside the Top 10 of All time. That’s an interesting page if you’re a stats nerd.

To get to the Top 10 of all time, the Angels need to kick their average up to 9.81 K’s per game the rest of the way. And I think we have the talent to do so. Next up is 3 in Detroit followed by 3 against the Dodgers. That should help.

Perry Minasian should be on the phone with Zach Neto’s agent about an extension. The Red Sox locked up Roman Anthony for at least 8 years yesterday at a very reasonable $16 million per year base salary. Neto is more proven, closer to free agency, and only going to get more expensive.

I could go on, but I have Weekend Links to write tomorrow. Can’t have you getting sick of me, ha ha.

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Kevin
Trusted Member
1 day ago

This is why guys that can make contact, especially in key situations, are important.

DMAGZ13
Trusted Member
1 day ago

2027
1B Schanuel
2B Moore
3B missing piece
SS Neto
C Flores
DH O’Hoppe / Old Trout

OF Adell
OF Rada
OF missing piece

Bench: IF Guzman, free agent catcher , OF piece

In the future horizon you have OF Alvarez, 3B J. Lugo, C Davalillio who will emerge as the new top prospects.

SP missing piece
SP Klassen
SP Johnson
SP Kikuchi
SP Medieros / Dana/Urena

In the future TGA, Kent, Shores

Id say they trade Kikuchi at the deadline next season but they won’t so he’ll be the 4th starter that season. They’ll string along two struggling pitchers at the bottom in Medieros and Dana (who I don’t believe in) . Johnson will ball in AA next season so they’ll bring him back in ‘27. Klassen is now the top pitching prospect , only a 5 inning guy but there he is. Soriano missing with another TJ. Urena gets a couple spot starts.

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
1 day ago

Little Nelson Rada did in four games at Salt Lake what he only did once in 93 in Alabama: hit a home run.

He’s 3 for 5 tonight with a double and roundtripper, hitting .353 at the top of the order for the Bees.

Meanwhile, Guzman is 4 for 5, and a triple shy of the cycle, hitting .450, with his second HR in four games.

It’s early days, and the PCL is the PCL, but at the moment, Rada and Guzman are outclassing their Angel peers at AAA.

Pineapple12
Legend
1 day ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

Rada’s HR was 105 mph off the bat. The Denzer Guzman 2025 breakout warms my soul.

Hayden Alvarez 3-3 too tonight in A ball. These LATAM kids are pretty sick.

Rio Foster also turning it on in A+. .950+ OPS in his last 25 games

Last edited 1 day ago by Pineapple12
Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Pineapple12

That EV is pretty isolated for Rada – we saw little of that in neutral contexts (kind of the exception that proves the rule), but he’s at least making contact early against advanced pitching. As we saw with 5 HRs tonight, any struck ball can travel far at Smith’s.

Foster had a hot July. He’s growing more selective, though almost to the point of passivity. He’s only swinging at 38% of what he sees. It’ll be interesting to see if that approach plays at AA – I think that’ll be a tough jump for him.

angelslogic
Legend
1 day ago

The Angels go-to breakfast cereal?

Special K

TrojanBoiler
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  angelslogic

Dinner at Red LOBster

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  angelslogic

Product tie-in with their sponsor Circle K.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 day ago
Reply to  angelslogic

Team Moto
Swing and a Miss!

comment image

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 day ago

Who said we don’t give kids a chance? Well, we are giving Craig’s kid a chance.

Born_in_59
Trusted Member
1 day ago

Since May 4th, the Angels have played 82 games, winning 42 against 40 loses, and have scored 381 runs while surrendering 385 runs. These 82 games show to me a team that is still struggling but is able to pull out some wins that would have been loses in previous seasons. There are still lots of items on Perry’s wish list this off season, but some of the previous needs have been filled and will be for the next few years.

toad2065
Trusted Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Because they are all trying to hit dingers!

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  toad2065

“Chicks love the longball”

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Born_in_59

I don’t know where he is going to find the level of talent that will make a measurable difference in the w/l record In 2026.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Who wants four more years of Jansen!?!? He says that’s what he wants, and he’s so bro, so we should give him what he wants right? Cause real men of Angels baseball are all about sucking up to veterans who did stuff for other teams…. accept of course when we are hating a manager or FO for never giving the kids a chance….

Born_in_59
Trusted Member
1 day ago

Four more years? No, but I won’t rage if they sign him for next year, maybe with a mutual option for a second. The team needs a closer and doesn’t have a lot of choices. While Detmers could do the job, he’ll probably be back in the rotation next year. Of course, if Perry signs enough starting pitchers that Detmers stays in the pen, then I’m fine with that too.

Last edited 1 day ago by Born_in_59
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Born_in_59

This makes better sense. I don’t even want to guarantee Jansen 2 years….

MarineLayer
Legend
1 day ago

I agree, one year at this year’s price makes sense to me.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  MarineLayer

Problem is, he’s gonna want more.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
1 day ago

Yep and a 15M closer is not something we need right now.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
1 day ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

We had the be in Raisel, or close to that, and ditched him

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 day ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Yikes Stripes, one more year with slight raise or he walks. 👣 

Mikeal1st
Trusted Member
1 day ago

Thought you might like this from the Athletic…

Since RBI became official in 1920, Shohei Ohtani is the only MLB player to:
– hit a home run
– strike out 8+ batters
– drive in more runs (2) than he allowed (1)
– draw more walks (1) than he allowed (0)
The Dodgers still ended up losing.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
1 day ago
Reply to  Mikeal1st

Just like the Tungsten O’Doyle posts when he worked here

Mikeal1st
Trusted Member
1 day ago

Diddy comment, best of the year.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
1 day ago

If you could convince Neto to sign an under market 16M/year 8 year contract I would do it in a heart beat but I don’t see any chance of Zach doing that. His real value is last year, this year and the next 3 years because he’s under market. After that, he’ll cost more than he’s possibly worth. Plus defending SSs who can hit are very valuable so he’s maybe the one guy presently on the team I would consider doing that with. The only concern is his durability. 8 years would take him through age 32 which is probably a decent risk. Hopefully we have learned not to commit to contracts well into the 30s.

MarineLayer
Legend
1 day ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

Up to 32 is okay. I don’t want to pay starting from there.

Phil
Trusted Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

Bobby Witt Jr. signed 11-yr, $288.7M contract in 2024 (or 26.3M/yr). He signed the contract extension in his 3rd year of MLB career.
In his 4 MLB years, he’s averaging 27 HR, 97 RBI, 0.288 BA

In Neto’s 3 years (2023-2025), he’s averaging 16 HR, 52 RBI, 0.249 BA (note: he’s still has August and September to increase those stats)

If Neto wants $26M+/yr = NO.

note: For the top 10 highest paid SS, they all make $23.3M/yr or higher.
After that, the next highest paid SS is Wander Franco, at $16.5M/yr and Ha-Song Kim, at $14.5M/yr

I’d be OK with signing Neto to a long term contract at $15M/yr.
Otherwise, no. Trade him, and move on.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Phil

I agree

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 day ago

Happy 34th Birthday 🎂
Mike Trout

Fansince1971
Legend
1 day ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Well technically we have “watched” him for 11 birthdays given the amount of time he has missed.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 day ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

You using the Pujols Birthday chart?

red floyd
Legend
1 day ago

I think we’re using the KMo chart, where August 1 is not included.

Biggiswrth
Trusted Member
1 day ago

People I can’t belive we are burying the lead for discussion today… The Angels signed Cavin Biggio!
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/08/angels-cavan-biggio-agree-to-minor-league-deal.html

HalosFanForLife
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Biggiswrth

We might make a run for the playoffs after all.

Born_in_59
Trusted Member
1 day ago

In spite of?

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 day ago

Run to the ticket line…

HalosFanForLife
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Biggiswrth

Oh yes…

dumb-and-dumber-comedy
tanana40
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Biggiswrth

That family name might make the casual fan think that he is worth something.

YOUknowulovetheIE
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Biggiswrth

You know you’re a poorly run organization when you pick up every teams cast off bums… every year.

MarineLayer
Legend
1 day ago
Reply to  Biggiswrth

Maybe Minasian thought he was signing Craig.

Phil
Trusted Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Biggiswrth

It’s amazing to see the IMMEDIATE decline of Cavin Biggio.

In his 2019 rookie year, he batted 0.234, with 16 HR and 48 RBIs.
From 2020-current, he’s not matched these numbers.
He’s had a (-) WAR in the past 2 years.

He’s basically an older version of Rengifo, with slightly better fielding ability.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Phil

So our new Rengifo, only older. Got it.

toad2065
Trusted Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Biggiswrth

He already caved in!

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
1 day ago

“Every Angel except Jo Adell managed to K”

Anyone expect to read that sentence a few years ago? Adell has his K-rate right at 25%, lower than Trout, Ward and Neto.

It’s a mark you’d happily tolerate for a 30+ HR hitter, especially if he could notch that walk rate up into the 8-10% range.

Last edited 1 day ago by Turk's Teeth
steelgolf
Legend
1 day ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

So, what I learn from this is that it takes roughly 8 years to take a high school athlete / football player and turn him into a serviceable baseball player.

Born_in_59
Trusted Member
1 day ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Should be “it takes the Angels roughly 8 years”.

steelgolf
Legend
1 day ago
Reply to  Born_in_59

😆 That is a valid point! I still remember seeing him play at a minor league game in Lake Elsinore, and thinking that his stance at the plate and his swing are not going to work against MLB pitching.

grichmanpoorman
Trusted Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Born_in_59

Derpy derpy do.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  steelgolf

Adell wasn’t just a high school football player with tools when we drafted him. He’d have been solid much faster if we had just left him playing CF and hitting/learning in the MiLB a couple more years…. but we had to both dance him around expensive veterans and get him up fast because we needed to make a Poo Hole and then Unicorn smile.

The org gummed him up pretty bad for an extra three years.

PedroCerrano
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

100% The five year plan that has also been the standard is no longer but the Angels take it to the extreme. It’s more understandable with college kids as the training tools have really come a long way but he was raw-raw.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

He was some sort of “High School Prospect Baseball Pudding Flavor of the Year” type guy too…. not just a guy who decided to try baseball because his mom cried when he played football.

FungoAle
Legend
1 day ago

100%, Dana might be a victim too. Perry needs to go.

HalosFanForLife
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

I didn’t think we’d be seeing Adell’s name in an Angels box score three years ago. I stand corrected and like the path he is on.

milehigh
Trusted Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

At the beginning of the season I hoped he would improve his K rate by 2%. Kudos to Jo for all the hard work he has put in.

BannedInLA
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

With a K rate of 25%, I’m a bit perplexed why he’s a .220-.230 hitter. Anyway, I agree with you on the whole.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  BannedInLA

Well, part of it is that the first quarter of the season I think he hit under .100 or something gross.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

Yup. Adell is threatening to be a good player. It’s why I was OK with the idea of trading Detmers for better prospects if that was a thing. I was, in my coldest heart, OK trading Jo too. But I liked the idea A LOT less. He may eclipse that “2-3 WAR Guy” we can find when we need him. Detmers has potential too, but is also likely to be about as good as guys we can find later when we need to fill out a staff.

But I had totally failed to take into account how important it is to keep both, plus Ward and Jansen, because we have built a winner here.

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 day ago

Was it Detmers and/or Jo that was going to get us these +50 future value prospects?

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  RexFregosi

Well, I dunno. Let’s use a keyboard and figure this out shall we?

Just a quick dirty sim. Not taking into consideration teams that would trade with us or position need etc. I’ll just ignore pitching prospects. Trade both those guys to the Brewers.

We can get back two 50 grade guys in 3B/1B/OF Luke Adams, who has a 50 hit tool and 55 power, and CF Braylon Payne who has a 50 hit tool and 70 speed. Plus we can have us some 3B Brock Wilken, a 45 grade guy with 60 grade power, and C Marco Dinges who has 55 grade power and a 60 grade arm to go with very high average exit velos.

And they’d all be in AA or higher next year.

We would have gotten a similar prospect value plus a pen arm prospect for Ward and a similar prospect to Dinges, maybe a little better for Jansen.

So yeah. I mean what I say because I know what I’m talking about. It would have been really nice to have guys like this in the upper minors right now instead of the same team in The Heim in 2026.

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 day ago

At the deadline, the two highest prospects moved were both 50 FV

De Vries (+ more) for Mason Miller (0.7 bWAR)
Khal Stephen for Shane Bieber

Flat out I think Detmers (0.9 bWAR) has more value than either of them, and so does Ward and Adell, so on paper, 50 FV guys for those three isn’t a stretch. Got it. And its plausible while the other 29 teams saw just two 50 FV guys moved, being aggressive Perry could have gotten two just for us.

Fair. But I’d rather have Adell, Detmers and Ward in 2026 than in three kids in Hope, Alabama at AA.

Arte and Rex I guess are just two peas in the same pod:

We’re old. We’re cheap. We sit by the pool in Arizona sipping ice tea.
We see our Angel games in Spring Training in Tempe and don’t visit Anaheim. We’re jealous of the D-Backs.
We like super stars, tacos, and the Yankees.
We don’t like Progressives nor the Dodgers.
And know we could be off the planet at any moment.

2027? That’s when Arte puts a cap on salaries! Or simply, he’ll let them strike away the season.

Focus on 2026. Spend money on 2026 (Framber!).

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  RexFregosi

Leo Devries is a 60 grade prospect and the #4ish prospect in baseball with 56.6 trade value. So no, we weren’t gonna get him. Khal Steven was Cleveland’s #7 prospect with a grade of 50 and a value of 9.8 and is exactly what we could have gotten for our guys.

Eduardo Tait, Tyler Locklear, Braden Nett, James Tibbs, Jesus Baez…. those are just the guys I can name of the top of my head that were traded at the deadline with a 50 grade.

Wouldn’t it be easier to just say “I’m an old man and don’t want to trade for prospects” than it is looking just about nothing up and just declaring the guy who does look up shit is wrong? Cause I have no idea where you got this “the top two prospects moved at the deadline were 50 grade thus…. durrrrr.” shit. Beiber landed a 50 grade for Gah sake.

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 day ago

😂 I’m using Fangraphs.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/ranking-the-mlb-prospects-traded-at-the-2025-deadline/

not as reputable as your source I guess 🙄

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
1 day ago

I am interested in seeing how Adell finishes the season but I would have traded him while his value is high. He currently has a 107 OPS+ and is on the way down. If he finishes at 105 or below, I’m not sure he’s a long term solution. If he finishes 110 or better, I would definitely want to see what he does next year. He had a monster June but he’s headed back to the historical Jo Adell.

We can’t keep hoping the same players somehow become something other than what they are. People here know that barring significant changes to the roster, I believe 2026 will look a lot like 2025. I’m very interested to see what happens in 2027. We have about 40M coming off the payroll this year and 80M coming off next year. If we don’t just go year by year and we actually have a long term approach, there is a possibility for us to get better over the next 2 years. After next year, Ward will be gone though and Adell will be gone after 2027.

For those who want to seriously compete, we need at least 2 starting pitchers, 2 middle of the order bats, a closer, 2-3 bull pen arms, and some depth. That is a lot.

PedroCerrano
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

I like him a lot more in right field and believe that his WAR will improve due to that alone. Teodosio has got my attention with his speed and defense. If he can hit even a little, he can make them a better team.

The Angels haven’t had an elite defensive center fielder for a while.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

If we want to make progress we will need to make trades that hurt.

FungoAle
Legend
1 day ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

He’s even avoiding a high rate of K’s during his month long swoon

MarineLayer
Legend
1 day ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

I can’t think of too many other hitters more than him on the current roster. Neto. Maybe Ward. Not Trout.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 day ago

Atrocious fielding is fair label to lay on O’Hoppe. Do what the Halos did all those many years ago to Brian Downing, move him to LF. Downing was a blood and guts player and was super competitive player and processed a great arm, though like O’Hoppe was not known to be a speed racer but could go first to third with deserving speed none the less. O’Hoppe can be the guy to hit .270-.280 with 30+ HRs and 100+RBI. He has more value to the team playing LF.

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
1 day ago

Its an interesting idea, Grandpa, and seemed to work for Ward. 2026 would be the transition year to try it.

Might need to pick up a couple defensive catchers in the offseason to bridge the gap to Flores (Davalillo is further off).

Born_in_59
Trusted Member
1 day ago

I don’t mind the team trying to see if O’Hoppe can be a catcher. A catcher that can hit like a corner outfielder means there is room for another bat in the lineup. Downing had his up and down seasons behind the plate and was neutral overall in his career. And wasn’t it missing four months due to injury that prompted the team to move him to the outfield?

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Born_in_59

Yes. Injuries moved him.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
1 day ago

The problem right now is that, defense aside, Logan isn’t all that good of a hitter. In addition to being a much better hitter, Downing was an on base machine.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

Brian Downing was and is one of my favorite Angel players but if you look at his career, he was highly likely a steroid user. All of a sudden at the age of 28, he became really good overnight and stayed that way until he retired at 41, much the same as Justin Turner who did the same thing at 29 on into his late 30s.

Born_in_59
Trusted Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

I won’t argue that Downing didn’t use steroids, anyone lifting weights would have been exposed to them, but he didn’t show increased power until a few years later starting with the 1982 season. His 1979 batting average seemed to be fueled by some good luck since he had a .348 BABIP, a mark he never got within 30 percentage points of during his career.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Born_in_59

Yes, It wasn’t’t meant to be critical or negative, just an observation based on his career. He’s in hall of the very good and one of my favorite all time players.

Born_in_59
Trusted Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

Downing’s one of my favorites too, behind a pitcher that finished a few wins above .500 for his Angels career and a couple of fish. In fact, the outfield of my all-time team would be Downing, Trout and Salmon.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Born_in_59

No “Disco Dan”?  🙂 

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Born_in_59

I would probably agree with you but Jim Edmonds, Chili Davis, and Fred Lynn were also big favorites of mine.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

And we can’t forget Bo Jackson.

red floyd
Legend
1 day ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

No love for Fregosi?

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  red floyd

He was talking about OFs.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  red floyd

Fregosi was a 6 time Allstar and a gold glove winner so he would have to win out over Neto.

Born_in_59
Trusted Member
1 day ago
Reply to  red floyd

Fregosi is still my all-time short stop. Maybe Neto will do enough to take that spot, but not yet.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Born_in_59

It was a different time, but for a 10 year period of time he was a 6 time All Star and was the best hitting SS in MLB. He was second defensively probably to only Aparicio.

BannedInLA
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

This is the larger problem IMO. I suspect that he can make incremental gains defensively over time but, he looks like garbage in the batters box and has for months.

I think I’ve drawn more walks sitting on my couch that O’Hoppe has thus far.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  BannedInLA

Yah. Sadly, if he were hitting, I’d say try him in the OF or something. But does he need more to think about right now when the outside corner is a deep mystery to him?

PedroCerrano
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

I agree, I really want to like him but it seems that he’s regressing on both. Ton of potential still but glad that the Angels didn’t extend him early.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

I’d be totally cool with trying Logan in the OF. Hell, try him at 3B too. I know he won’t be Brooks Hayes there, but he has footwork and an arm, may be worth a try. Make it so he can shift between OF/3B/C/DH. He does seem to have the work ethic to semi-survive all that.

We’d need to get another catcher though. Man it would be cool to, you know, have some prospects for that. I think if they have Pereza actually hit and then get another “play lots of spots” guy who hits OK then it’s a little safer trying O’Hoppe as a bopper at a new spot.

But that would take deciding on that now and making him work all winter.

Totally our MO.

FungoAle
Legend
1 day ago

I would not want to see O’Hoppe in left, not that good of a hitter. Contact issues along the lines of Ward and Paris.

Fansince1971
Legend
1 day ago

Those who swing to hit HRs….
Are bound to K a lot.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 day ago

I love Neato Neto and proud to say that he should be our draft choice even before Turk and was over the top excited when PTP picked him. I knew he was a decent hitter, but it was his fielding that caught my eye. I started calling him “Neato Neto” because it fit and I do believe that he is the best SS in the American league.

I think he needs work on pitch recognition to achieve more Base on Balls, improving his OBP. He is already the best fielding SS in MLB, hard to improve there as he is always a step ahead of everybody on the field.

There are two issues that I have with Zack that prohibits me from endorsing a contract offer for 8 years and that is Zack is injury prone and no player, not even Ruth-Mays-Aaron was worth an eight-year contract. And just because it is done does not make it the best option for a team. Once a team goes down that rabbit hole there is no going back. Is Harper worth a 13-year deal or Machado worth a 13-year deal, no. Depending on age of the player and playing history 5 to 7 years is even a long time. I would sign Zack up for 7 years ASAP. What say you, should the Halos sign Zack up long term now and for what length of contract?

Born_in_59
Trusted Member
1 day ago

I would have no problem with signing Neto for 8/$160 million after the season is over, but I don’t think the team has the payroll space currently. I think the team will take advantage of the remaining pre-arb year and then make an offer after Rendon is off the books.

HalosFanForLife
Super Member
1 day ago

I agree with him being elite defensively and being “a step ahead.” I give that moniker to three players, Neto, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Gimenez. They are always on time, don’t take pitches off (while almost everyone else does), and play with intent. A good first step is worth a few feet – and those three are so good at it. Errors are based on what a scorer thinks is routine. These guys have a wider routine. Witt does too – but I think it’s more his superior athleticism.

People would see Squid make exciting plays with his quickness, but not realize he was not a great first step guy and took off a lot of pitches. A lot. He could make plus defender plays with that quickness, but was not a true plus defender if that makes sense. Gimenez might be the best defensive infielder ever, he’s that good.

Last edited 1 day ago by HalosFanForLife
BannedInLA
Super Member
1 day ago

Signing for 8 years a is a “no go”, but, signing him at 7 makes sense? I didn’t major in mathematics, but a one year difference doesn’t seem like much of a difference.

I agree that we should move to re-up him, soon.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  BannedInLA

Yup. If you know you want him long term it only costs more to wait.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

I loaf Zach Neto. But he’s not even close to the best defensive SS in the MLB. He’s not really even, well, good.

I mean, these are just stats and they are for nerds, but Outs Above Average is a pretty good indicator of this stuff for a position as busy as SS. The best in the game is Maysn Wynn with 20. Bobby Witt JR is pretty awesome. He has 16.

Xander Bogaerts is supposed to suck. He has 7 and is ranked 5th. Mookie Betts? 15th with 2.

Our boy Zach is down at #30 with -5.

Jeremy Pena is 1st in success rate at 82%. Zack is 31st at 72%. Right there with the wizard, Brayan Roccio.

Zach looks cool, and guys like Gubby like to talk him up. But he is not even close to the best.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

I do still really want to sign him though. He’s clearly a good over all player and a leader.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

The question is – would we do the same with Neto?

Yes, I’d do that same deal with Neto.

Neto means more to the Halos future success than Anthony likely means to Boston (ie. Boston has more talent depth than the Angels).

In the last year, Boston also signed prospects Kristian Campbell (six years, $60 million) and Ceddanne Rafaela (eight years, $50 million) to long-term deals early. They are intent on not letting a star (ahem, Mookie Betts) leave the franchise again. Smart risks.

Last edited 1 day ago by Senator_John_Blutarsky
HalosFanForLife
Super Member
1 day ago

I would do the same deal too – but I think it’s going to take more.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
1 day ago

On the other hand there are many good shortstops which is why Neto didn’t make the all-stars. What kind of offer do you make to the 5th best SS?

HalosFanForLife
Super Member
1 day ago

It doesn’t matter where he ranks – it’s the wins in the stat driven era. He’s a 3.9 WAR (not playing the entire season) this year and on the rise. He’s in the Gold Glove running, but Walls and Witt have to be the front runners. Adding Witt’s range, especially on fly balls, would make him the favorite in my book. I’m not a big fan of WAR, but I don’t see us getting him for $4 million a win. Because of his elite engine, he is the one guy I want to make sure we keep. It’s probably going to be in the $20 million per season range I am guessing.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Right now Fangraphs has Zach at 2.3 WAR. Ranked 15th, just ahead of Otto Lopez. Sure, he was hurt. So he’d really be around 3?

That’s pretty good. Vander Bogaerts/Bo Bichette numbers. Ranked 10th in the MLB. I’m not gonna go all “Jetah” on him just cause I like him. He is good/mid.

I would totally extend him though. Hell, I’d even give him 10 years if we could get that to average out to around 25M a year. Move him to 2B/3B if we get some crazy good fielding SS down the line. He’s pretty clearly the team captain.

MarineLayer
Legend
1 day ago

Yeah, then we can move Ethan Holliday in at SS. Oh wait, I think Minasian drafted a low first round pitcher with that pick. Never mind.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

It will take more now. If we had done it after his rookie year it would still have been more, but not that much…. but he had an injury…. then had a shoulder injury…. so I can see it’s not the same thing.

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
1 day ago

I’m out here in Massachusetts this week for a family vacation, hanging with a lifelong Sox fan who didn’t like the Anthony extension, but cried like a baby when Mookie was traded. I get it, after all the drama with the Devers trade this season and the Sox fan mentality of expecting it all to quickly go south.

I probably would have waited until next year, but the kid has already put up close to 2 bWAR in fewer than 50 games at age 21. You want to keep a player like that in the fold.

Last edited 1 day ago by Turk's Teeth
HalosFanForLife
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

Going to Cape Cod league playoffs? I heard the kid from Marshall that’s transferring to Arkansas is flying up the prospect lists. Cape Cod League is awesome.

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
1 day ago

(grins, eyebrow raised)

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
1 day ago

Assuming you’re talking about Maika Niu, Cape Cod MVP – his team didn’t make it to the playoffs this year.

I’m staying in Chatham, a short drive from Harwich, where the Harwich Mariners are playing the Brewster Whitecaps in perfect weather under a full moon. 5-5 tie, bottom of the ninth. Few offensive standouts tonight, but a helluva relief appearance from Florida’s Christian Rodriguez.

Hometown kids walked it off.

HalosFanForLife
Super Member
1 day ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

Yeah that’s him. I didn’t look at the playoff teams. I envy you. The cape league is so cool. The other college summer leagues aren’t close to the intensity. Even though the players enjoy their summer there, at the Cape, you get more dudes that are serious and not just on vacation. Scouts in the stands will do that.

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