Mike Trout intends to play center field in 2026. The Angels added Adam Frazier on a minor league deal.
The Brewers officially announced their signing of Luis Rengifo.
Here is the MLB guide to watching games on MLB.TV.
The Mariners acquired left-hander Josh Simpson from the Marlins for cash. The Dodgers signed Santiago Espinal to a minor league deal. The Pirates finalized their deal with Marcell Ozuna. They DFAd Jack Suwinski to make room for Ozuna.
The Padres signed Ty France to a minor league deal. They extended A.J. Preller for multiple years.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
Hell, why not? If his record is any indication, he may end up on the IL 1/4 into the season anyways. I love trout, but d@mmit he gets hurt too much.
I was disturbed by the article that had star players Harper and Machado stating they support what the Dodgers are doing over spending on players. Even saying ‘it’s great for baseball, every team should do it’. Both those guys are on teams chasing LA for a championship, so at first it didn’t make sense. But obviously, it’s all about the next CBA. Who cares about the organization, hometown fans or a league of haves and have nots; it’s more about free agency options and top payouts. Harper has already been quoted saying F the salary cap to Manfraud. Yep, there is going to be a lockout. Guess I would have been more disappointed if Witt Jr, JRam or Trout were in that article.
Even harper and Machado are smart enough to know that if they didn’t hold the Union line Guido and Vito would pay them a visit. In all seriousness, they are only thinking of their next contract/extension. MLB has got to get ahold of the over/under spending teams ruining competition.
Re: Trout in Center. Why not? Let the guy ride into the twilight of his career in style. We’re not competing for a playoff spot and no one expects him to play 80 games anyway. I say go try to snag the extra WAR from the more difficult defensive position and put a smile on the face of some elementary school kid who will now get to tell his grandkids he saw the GOAT roam center.
The way Minasian has constructed the roster it’s the best option. There’s no evidence Trout playing CF adds to his injury risk.
In a
perfectreasonable world, Trout playing CF unclogs the OF logs a great deal. However, will he be going back to his injurious ways?Lmaooooooooo 😂😂😂😂😂😂
MLBPA executive director Tony Clark resigned after an internal investigation revealed he had an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law, who had been hired by the union in 2023, sources tell me and @DVNJr.
https://x.com/i/status/2023859163185758452
Class EEEEE. He has a future in politics. Union head. NGO corruption and magic money escapes. Plus the crowning jewel, fking his brothers wife who is also an employee. Full on winner who will fight for the concerns of the concerned and shake up the system so it works for the as yet unnammed “people”.
His brother’s wife… or his wife’s sister? Did the article specify? Seems like the latter would be less ruinous, because it would destroy only one family relationship.
https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-buzz/tony-clark-family-all-on-wife-frances-clark-brother-greg-clark-wife-sister-in-law-mlbpa-scandal-article-153632507
You’d think that detail would emerge since the sister in law worked for the union.
Damn.
I’m not seeing the problem, it’s clear he was only preparing to run for office in 2028.
That seems rather personal and not sure why the MLBPA would have an issue with that. Maybe a clause somewhere to not break a commandment? Truthfully, happens quite a bit. My sister-in-law just lit up a cigarette.
A lot more to this besides bad behavior with a sister-in-law.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/47954830/sources-tony-clark-resign-mlbpa-executive-director
Yeah, I see. Looks like there is a lot of dirt here. Looks like the sister-law-in was employed by the union as well.
Looks like Tony the Tiger Clark liked double-headers. I can hear Phil Ruzzuto now in Meatloafs song “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.”
The Twins look like they will regret not trading Pablo Lopez. Should have sent him to the Yankees or Doyers….
I have a hard time ranking basketball, tennis, baseball, and soccer ahead of rugby in overall sport difficulty. Also, fishing not getting nearly enough love.
Played tennis for 3 years in high school and from a cardio standpoint it is insane. But the reaction time needed to return a 100 MPH serve is a lot greater than it is to hit a 90 MPH fastball.
“Rugby is a hooligan’s game played by gentlemen, and soccer is a gentleman’s game played by hooligans.”
Seems pretty funny to even try to come up with a list of difficulty in sports. At a world class level they are all hard. I don’t know how to separate, for example, world class gymnastics and world class baseball. Imho, the strength needed for gymnastics is much greater than baseball. But flagging down a baseball hit at 90+ mph with all kinds of spin is really hard. Hats off to both.
Maybe I’d start by differentiating team vs individual sport. Then add in Mike Tyson’s everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face. Not hating on any of them. I’d just sort the apples to apple and oranges to oranges.
Played baseball and football in college. Of everyone I know that played both at a reasonably high level, everyone, and I mean everyone, would say baseball is way harder. I would say getting punched in the face does require a special kind of athlete. I still would put hockey number 1. What those guys do on skates is so impressive – including their “boxing”.
The skating is hard enough, but simultaneously handling the puck with a stick is nuts. Then add in some goon giving you the old “face wash.”
Hockey is my favorite sport to watch in-person. There is always something going on. GO KINGS GO! GO REIGN GO!
I think hockey players are drastically under rated athletes. Those guys are incredible and play as many games as NBA players.
Just a heads up. I am still really in favor of the Angels picking up Adam Frazier. He’s full of stubbly grit that will turn on the old men. On top of that he has nice Rdrs numbers at 2B/RF/LF. I think he capable of more offensively than we bitch too, he’s a career .726 OPS against RHP, though that’s fallen down to the .697 range lately. I think if he actually plays on one team and gets semi-regular ABs he can pull off .700+.
On a team where we will be shifting around lots of old men and rookies in the IF/OF I think this was a solid pick up.
And it looks like he loves hitting in Anaheim. That psyche can have a huge effect.
I’m with you. A bit surprised he couldn’t land an MLB deal.
Frazier will be knocking Peraza back to AAA. Down goes Peraza, down goes Peraza!
I’m hoping Frazier and Neto get a lot of work together on the field.
It’s really interesting actually. Peraza, Frazier, Grissom, Denzer, Paris, Moore. Really, what the Angels have bought is some time for Paris, Moore and Denzer. Say they want Denzer to get regular reps at 3B for two months, or they want to send Moore to LF, realistically they have a starting 2B and back ups at 3B, 1B, 2B, the OF between those three guys. Peraza’s done over 500 games at SS and they may work him there this spring as a short stint back up to Neto.
The chances of it happening are slim, but the Angels may not even need to carry a 4th OF if all three of those guys hit in tempe and could let some rookies get off to a soft start if they want.
Peraza is out of options I think. I’m not convinced he needs to be kept, but he’d probably get claimed if he’s DFA’d and placed on waivers.
His real value is being the only non-Neto on the roster who can handle SS. Guzman can in case of injury, but he really should be playing everyday in the minors.
if they’re need to cover an off day for Neto, Peraza is really it (unless they keep Paris who should also be playing everyday in the minors).
I hear you. So I have CMo starting at 2nd, likely leaving 2 backup infielder spots. Before the Frazier additional the consensus was Grissom and Peraza, now its pick 2/3. The strongest argument for Peraza is he’s the only one who can play 1st. I want Grissom partially because we gave up an actual asset for him in our 2025 8th round pick.
Idk. Pumped to see how the backup infielder battle plays out!
In looking at past histories, I noticed that Grissom has played a fair amount of SS including 22 games in the minors last year. He could probably handle it for a game or two if Neto needed a rest. They could probably afford to lose Perraza.
Frazier is fine, but he is 34. I’m not going to get too excited about a 34 year old 2nd baseman.
Are we sleeping on Madrigal?
Dude has been hurt but he’s only 28 and had decent batting average and OBP marks prior to his injury year in 2024.
I’m not. I so want him to come out on fire. If he can stay healthy, he is the type of guy that can contribute, both on the field and in the clubhouse.
Peraza was flat out terrible last year, no more gaslighting the former Yankees prospect, cut him
Would have preferred Urias
Thinking I’ll have to make my first trip to the Intuit Dome for Rousey v Carano
Incredible venue. Didn’t realize Rousey was still a thing.
Rousy does not realize she is not still a thing. Carano too. This just seems more like a famous faces expo fight.
I think the game has passed them both by.
Rousey had/has the absolute worst stand up I’ve ever seen at a top level. Like striking 101 level flaws. Hand placement. Stance. Basic stuff.
I get it, she was everything the UFC wanted. A cute white girl they could promote big time. But the second she had to fight on her fight she was toast.
Perhaps Rex is on to something with his Chase Shores crush (see pic below).
If Perry hits on Bremner, Shores, and at least 1 of the HS pitchers, then his 2025 draft will compete with the 2022 class (Neto, Joyce, Dana) for his best one.
You want hopeium? It’s rests with Soriano, Detmers, GRod, and our pitching prospects. Easily the most exciting part of this organization imo.
Good. Now let’s take a couple mph off pitches and go for more movement. The strikezone is smaller this year. More movement is better than mph, imho.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/47954830/sources-tony-clark-resign-mlbpa-executive-director
Baseball in 2027 is cooked 😶
Looks like there is a contingent of players in the MLBPA who don’t have confidence in Tony Clark. Now both management and the players are set to dig their heels into the ground and not budge.
yay. baseball.
Funny stuff dept. Yesterday we received a foot+ of fresh snow, but by next weekend we will be in the 60’s, so much for the first snow of the season. So, the Halos are going to play Mikey in CF, what’s the O/U for games played? What type of injury will he come down with? Adam Frazier is a decent pick up all things considered. Arte is trying hard to make the Angels appeal to a potential new owner by putting up the I know nothing Angels with very low payroll. Neto could be an MVP this season and could bat third. Trouty and Schanny in the one and two slots. I still believe Schanny will be an All-Star this year. Everyone have a great day today, if you want to shovel wet heavy spring snow-oh never mind the berms are only 3 foot, no hill for climber. 🏂 ⛷ ❄
Would he be safer not playing? Sure. In fact, if we keep him from DHing, we could keep him on the roster the entire year. It seems like such a strawman to say centerfield will put him on the IL. I personally want to see the guy play – even if that means risking injury. I admit, it seems like it’s just a matter of time before he gets injured, but so could playing RF and so could sitting on the bench – not being warm and trying to leg out an infield single. I want my superstar in the best mindset possible. He wants to play CF – perhaps that’s where he feels the most confident in the game. Perhaps making plays helps fuel his hitting. There are so many arguments. Stay warm gramps.
Yup. Mike Trout is injury prone. Very suddenly injury prone. Got a contract. Had a kid. Got injured. Stayed mostly injured. He’s an injury prone CF, RF and DH. You gotta just roll him out there and hope for the best. One thing is for sure, he sucked in RF. I don’t think he wanted to play there and I don’t think he really tried to play there. Soler looked better than him. He looked like he showed up in Tempe and it was the first time he’d stood there. Ever.
I think Trout’s kind of done trying and he’s just gonna coast like Pujols. Sometimes that will mean a 4 WAR season. Generally not. Especially when he’ll spend 2026 being a below Av center fielder, takes most of 2027 off and shows up in 2028 still believing he’s not a DH.
At this point, Mike should not be considered a “superstar” deserving of kid gloves treatment. He is an asset that needs to earn his keep. The Angels are a better team with him in CF with Adell in RF and someone serviceable in LF. Any other approach has too many negative ripples in the pond. So keep him in CF because it’s best for the team and not because it’s his preference.
For sure. I’m suggesting he might play better if he feels more comfortable and he still shows signs to have the potential to have superstar results.
Why are people so anti Trout playing CF?
It’s clear he wants to play CF. Baseball is as much mental as it is physical. You can tell he doesn’t like DH’ing and he doesn’t really like playing the corner. Let him play where he is comfy so he is in a good headspace.
Not to mention his injuries have not even come on from playing defense. They’ve pretty much all come from hitting/base running
I’ve been banging this drum since last season. The anti-CF thing does not make sense to me either.
For someone who pulls muscles a lot while hitting or baserunning, the worst thing we could be doing is sitting him for innings at a time between moments of maximum effort physical activity.
If he was out there in CF laying out for liners and throwing his body into the wall then I would understand the argument more, but Trout hasn’t shown much of that style of play in years.
Sure, I’ll take a WAG at it. I figure Trout is good for 120 to 130 games until a hamate injury takes him out for the rest of the season. Of that, I say he puts in 300 to 400 innings in CF, less than 100 in the corners and DHs the rest of the time. I would love it if Mike could produce at half what he did in his prime (4-5 WAR) but don’t think we’ll see even that.
I don’t think it will be a hamate. I think he will get hit by a pitch in the hand, breaking some sort of some small bone. I am feeling less than 65 games.
Are you thinking of hamstring? The hamate bone is in the hand.