Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson passed away at the age of 65.
In keeping with the recent run on signing former Angels, Gio Urshela got a one year deal with the Athletics for $2.15 Million plus incentives. The As also signed Ben Bowden, but in his case it is a minor league deal.
The Yankees traded Jose Trevino to the Cincinatti Reds for Fernando Cruz and Alex Jackson.
The Phillies just designated left-hander Tyler Gilbert for assignment. Maybe he will be an Angel in a couple of days. The Phillies acquired lefty Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins in exchange for a couple of prospects. Starlyn Caba is a shortstop and Emaarion Boyd is an outfielder.
Right-hander Brendan White re-upped with the Tigers on a minor league deal with an invite. Tomoyuki Sugano signed with the Orioles for one year at $13 Million.
First Basemen
Carlos Santana hung up his guitar and got a one year deal with the Guardians for $12 Million. Speaking of first basemen, the Guardians traded Josh Naylor to the Diamondbacks for right-hander Slade Cecconi and a Competitive Balance Round B draft pick. Spencer Horwitz got traded twice in one day, ending up with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Christian Walker went to the Astros and he got a three year deal worth $60 Million. Paul Goldschmidt signed with the Yankees for one year at $12.5 Million.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
Our top 2025 international signee if we dont screw it up (or surprise everyone and Sign Roki instead)
https://x.com/Jared_Tims/status/1871326611636981856
And you guessed it….He a catcher!
Woo hoo
Jeeeezzz…. he’s got the lower body of a friggin horse. Vlady Jr size legs. I doubt he stays at catcher….
So you thinking sumo wrestler?
Honestly I’m thinking he can have a strike out rate anywhere below 30% and he’ll still have an .800 OPS.
https://x.com/Jadenhardin5/status/1871336327280730357
https://www.milb.com/player/cesar-avila-826934
The University of Cummerbund?
The fighting “Crumb Catchers” dominate the Vatican intramural league
I’ve come to the conclusion that the Angels aren’t going to compete for the playoffs the next couple of years, so signing free agents isn’t what they should concentrate on. Instead, they should build up the development pipeline like the Cardinals were famed for and create the homegrown talent needed to compete. Yeah, I know this isn’t anything new, but it is a way to be competitive year after year and isn’t thar what Arte is looking for. So, let’s play the kids and continue to draft high floor choices until we luck out into a Royals World Series Championship. After all, buying free agents didn’t bring one.
For those of you concerned that Phil Nevin would be homeless for Christmas:
https://x.com/BNightengale/status/1871259455545114801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1871259455545114801%7Ctwgr%5E0bff6eaae3e46227df7f0ba88044616c58ee5753%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Flos-angeles-angels
Other than “Disco Demolition” night – when has anyone said “the Chicago White Sox make shrewd move“?
EastSPiN finally gives us our flowers:
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43062978/mlb-2024-10-most-frustrated-fan-bases-angels-mariners-cubs-cardinals
The Angels were once a model franchise. From 2002 to 2009, they made six playoff appearances in eight years and followed that up with a bunch of winning seasons, including a 98-win campaign in 2014. Since then: nothing but bad decisions, bad moves, bad player development and a whole bunch of losses. The Angels are now riding a streak of nine consecutive losing seasons including a franchise-record 99 losses in 2024. They wasted the Mike Trout-Shohei Ohtani years. There is rarely any kind of coherent plan from owner Arte Moreno or the front office, with Moreno’s interference a key reason for the decade of failure.
The Angels have made moves this offseason. They signed Kyle Hendricks (35 years old) and Travis d’Arnaud (36 years old) and traded for Jorge Soler (33 years old). Their big move has been signing lefty Yusei Kikuchi (34 years old), who did finish 2024 with 10 terrific starts for the Astros but has never had a 2-WAR season. Trading for Soler as a full-time DH means Trout has to play the outfield on an everyday basis, even though it’s clear he needs to spend more time at DH in an attempt to just keep him in the lineup.
In other words, it’s the usual grab bag of players, repeating the pattern of recent history that hasn’t worked. Of course, all this is in stark contrast to the success of the Dodgers, a reminder that the Angels could be doing the same thing, with all the benefits of playing in the Los Angeles area with a large fan base (the Angels drew over 3 million fans every year from 2003 to 2019). Indeed, just over a decade ago, it was the Dodgers who were a complete mess, before the Guggenheim group purchased the franchise in 2012. That’s when the organizations splintered in opposite directions. The Angels now have the longest playoff drought in the majors. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have made 12 consecutive trips to the postseason and Angels fans have to watch Ohtani playing across town. Most frustrated fan base indeed.
We did it bitches! All that sniffling finally got heard by the press and this sad donkey has finally been recognized as a truly sad donkey. Sure, we’ve been acting grievously wounded since about 2006, but now it has been confirmed that we actually have solid reasons to be sad sacks now.
Can we keep it up? How long can the juju last? I think the first thing we need to have happen, after we get a core of kids, is we sign a free agent at some point and say “Oh cool.” then we actually root for him instead of hoping he snaps in half because Arte reminds us of our dad. Maybe then said FA will not regret coming and trying to make the team better. Maybe playing here will become fun! Then more people will want to play here or stay here. Then…. more fun.
Will CoachDad, Sad Donkey, KeyBoard Genius, Won’tBeFooledAgainGuy and CtPG Guy be able to fight the urge to anal eyes everything and nothing and allow the rest of the world to enjoy baseball? Maybe, maybe not. But it’s still worth a try.
Hey Perry, lift your head up from the feeding trough for quick second. Make a strategic offer to Alonso, I am reasonably sure he’d rather get a nominal to decent offer from someone else than go back to the Mets.
This is not a very good idea you have here. And I actually love me some Alonso.
Strategic as in lowball offer for 1-2 years, Alonso apparently is asking too much and FAs almost never go back to their old teams.
Why does anybody think Trout is a highly sought after commodity after 4 straight injury plagued seasons and a gigantic contract? It’s will be 2025 in less than a week not 2017.
I don’t
If Arte deferred his salary out another ten years, and paid more than 3/4 of his contract, Trout may be nominally sought after…..
I like that deal. Maybe the new Arte can reacquire him from the old Arte.
Seriously – when it comes to valuing Trout, who cares what anyone around here thinks or says? Since Trout likely waive his NTC for NY or Philly, the only voices that matter in valuing him are Dombrowski, Cashman and Stearns.
Who are you talking about? I have not seen these declarations you speak of. Where is your IIWPM?
RIP Rickey B Rickey! We were kidding last week about athletes third person references and I had no idea he was ill. Regardless of your fandom Rickey had a huge impact on how the game was played.
I knew a guy who played in the A’s system back in the day and I recall him talking about how he viewed himself as an entertainer first. He consistently self promoted himself but did always seem to be a guy you wanted to watch.
My sister lives in Danville and a few months ago Rickey just popped into the Little League fields and spent an afternoon talking to kids and signing autographs. My nephew met him and got a ball signed by him.
According to many, this was a pretty regular thing for Henderson. He loved to stop by various Little League facilities and talk to kids.
He was definitely must watch TV.
over 50 years ago, Frank Robinson popped into my LL practice – a great memory and remember it to this day.
That is great!
It was easy to mistake the showmanship for a lack of humility but him pushing through until his mid forties suggest a guy that just loved to play. I got talked into playing again in my early forties for a couple of games in an unaffiliated league and my ego wasn’t sufficient to overpower old man time.
I remember being at a game at the Big A right behind the A’s dugout and seeing him, McGuire and Canseco. I don’t know what kind of vitamins he was on but his thighs looked like Tony Dorsett in his prime. If I remember correctly he hit a lead off home run.
I heard Jesus chose to be born in the off-season so that people would miss baseball so much.
Yes, and he rose on a Sunday so NASCAR would take that weekend off.
We’re number 1! in ESPN’s rankings of …. Most aggrieved fan bases.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43062978/mlb-2024-10-most-frustrated-fan-bases-angels-mariners-cubs-cardinals
Nothing we don’t know but….yeah.
Arte “interfering” is something that has happened a handful of times we know about but now that we’ve entered Longest Playoff Drought in the majors territory, its clear this wasn’t about a Joc Pederson trade or other individual moments.
It is a systemic failure to understand how to develop minor league talent in the analytics age. We were very successful as it was starting to come on the scene and have floundered as its become entrenched as the baseline standard across the league. Hiring inexperienced first time GMs and giving them small staffs continues to be short-sighted.
Avoid pricey free agents for *one* year and instead give a bag of cash to premium GM with experience and a mandate to hire whoever he wants and spend whatever he wants behind the scenes. The Dodgers went and poached Friedman. The Mets flexed their financial muscle and got Stearns. It is a fraction of the cost of a failed free agent and would yield 10x the benefit.
LOL, yeah I saw and read that article.
I expect Perry to pick up a couple of bullpen arms, maybe sign a few minor leaguers with spring training invites, and call it an offseason. Unless something falls into his lap for dirt cheap.
Yeah, right up until ST there are usually some moves and shifts in the 40 man.
You mean opening day? For example Cheese Shits & Tony Watson were signed right before the start of the 2021 season after their spring training clubs dumped them.
We typically have new spots available on our 40 man roster around that same time period once the 60 day IL is opened up and we know Stephenson will take one of those spots.
Yeah. He may trade guys, but I don’t think major FA signings are happening. This is good. There aren’t any guys left I’d want on a real contract.
Buehler to Red Sux.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/walker-buehler-chooses-red-sox-1-year-deal-after-winning-2nd-world-series-dodgers-reports
Very interesting upside play. I figured he’d get one year at decent coin on a prove it type deal, didn’t think decent would start with a 2 though.
I think that’s a good signing for the Red Sox and, being an avid fan of anything that makes the MFY look bad, I hope he has a great year when not pitching against the Angels.
And I’d be happy if he does great against that other LA team too.
Yeah. If he returns to form the Roidsux are pretty stacked and they have the cash to throw at him mid-season if they all like each other and want a long deal. Same with Crochet.
Agreed. Red Sox staff on paper looks good.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Pete Alonso to the Rangers. Bregman to the Tigers also seems like a perfect fit but they were burned by the Javi Baez deal. Nobody with budget limitations wants Arenado, so he’ll force his way to the Dodgers. Corbin Burnes also might take the Dodgers money if they don’t land Roki.
I would like to see some Feats of Strength today from Perry and Arte – sign Corbin and Pete.
Or, if we are playing strictly by the rules, I challenge Arte to a wresting match.
When is the Airing of Grievances?
Oh, wait… that’s every day here! 😀
I’m mad there isn’t a schedule for the airing of grievances!
All year round OPEN SCHEDULE for the “airing of grievances “ is the best! It’s like Festivus never ends! And that, in itself, could be considered a “Festivus Miracle”!
Yeah, the complaint box at Anaheim stadium doesn’t have a slot….
I voted with my lack of attendance.
I GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH YOU PEOPLE!
….what do you mean by “…you people!?”
But we have a Festivus Pole…..we actually have 2.
81 opportunities to gather around the “Festivus Foul Pole” for the airing of the grievances…..Let me get a start for the 2025 season.
DAMN YOU LOBsters!
Great trAdition!
Add hiring a strong medical staff that understands baseball injuries to keep Trout and the rest in working order for a full season.
You would have better luck asking for World Peace.
They literally hired away the #2 guy from the best med staff in the game at the time a while back…. it helped nothing. We need a priest to battle the ju ju.
I thought it was the result of a stadium built on an ancient Indian (er I meant Guardian ) burial ground.
I think it’s probably that AND some other stuff. Looking at how Angels fans act and talk I am willing to bet there are some serious OC Wine Wife ghosts wandering the halls disapproving of everything and wondering why no one recognizes that they give and give and give. Some dead bro ghosts who died doing stupid stuff too. God only knows what kinds of magic the Disney people got up to in that stadium. It’s probably a vortex of sun tanned, Kenny Logins loving evil in that place PLUS angry native Americans who got rid of the other native Americans who were there who had gotten rid of some even older native Americans who were there even earlier and they’re all pissed ghosts now.
There’s also almost certainly a dead Moto X kid buried under the mound.
I actually think the Angels pull another mid to upper mid move, using Anderson or Ward, and then that’s it. I actually think they want Hendricks here for Dana’s development since Dana has that pitch tipping problem. So I wouldn’t be shocked to see Dana in the rotation which means they dump Anderson. They also said they want Moore around Washington which won’t happen in AA. He’s a June call-up I think. I wonder if Trout is telling them he doesn’t want out of CF which would mean Ward stays in LF and is at least a decent bat. Ward for an equally power hitting CF might not be a match anywhere. Or you think Adell can play CF then there’s no need to move Ward tbh. Honestly I think the biggest power hitting hole in the lineup is 1B. I think Schanuel should be a super ouch hitting bench player that plays OF and 1B
In addition, Gubi relayed the message that Perry thinks Kikuchi will have a positive influence on Detmers.
https://www.mlb.com/angels/video/mark-gubicza-on-the-angels-signing-yusei-kikuchi
Thanks for the link.
Gubi also said that in that interview that the Platypus isn’t done.
https://x.com/BeyondTheHalo/status/1870245887693520902
Maybe a BP arm or 2, and another IFer?
The note about Detmers is significant imo, as it means his spot in the rotation is secure going into ST.
I love the support system Perry is building for our young pitchers — Wash, Barry, Hendricks, Kikuchi, and the new pitching lab in AZ. This is how you establish a culture.
If the intent is to compete (cough-cough), Perry will also move to boost the infield performance. Either 2nd, 3rd or 1st. Just too many, “plug this guy in and see what he does” types. I suspect they are committed to another year of Shauny Singles but what is the clear plan for the other 2-spots.
“From your mouth to God’s ears.”
I really like what they’re doing with the pitching, I just wish they were doing the same thing with the hitters.
Yes, the City of Industry has dumpsters Perry missed during his last scavenger hunt
“GM isn’t done” statements always make me laugh cause, you know, GMs can’t really dance alone.
And 3B.
There were like 20 teams without a 3B slugging at least . 400 and only 10 without a 1B slugging .400. Yrs 3B is a hole, but compared to the league, we have one of the weakest 1B situations.
Yeah, I love Schanuel, but he’s gotta work on being better @ AAA and we need an impact 1B.
I dont agree that he’s gotta work on being better @ AAA
Schanuel needs to work on being better in The Major Leagues.
They aren’t sending him down unless he craters in ST. I know it doesn’t match the sense of butthurt required for CtPG but Nolan was actually middle of the road offensively last year among 1B.
In his first pro season at any level.
They are almost certain to see if they can get him to hit the ball with a little more anger this year and see what happens. He’s far from washed and isn’t bad enough to demote, especially since he got better as the season died.
Rangers signed Joc Pederson. I think they play Burger at first, Joc at DH, an hope for better health.
Overall a pretty solid lineup.
Word is they’re gonna play Foscue and some other guy (I think an OF?) there some too… it’s a list of like 4 guys that can take innings there.
The Rangers literally have 4 guys who can play 1B, hit, and play other positions too. I think that’s the rout they are heading.
Phillies are rumored to be shopping Marsh and are showing no signs in re-signing Estevez.
Moniak for 2 months of Thor.
O’Hoppe for Marsh.
Aldegheri and Klassen for 2 months of Charlie Sheen.
Perry should give Dave Dombrowski a call and see what he has in store for us this holiday season.
Marsh would be a great addition here. He’s average 3 WAR per year for the Phillies albeit with a drop off from 3.5 to 2.4 over the last two. He’s 27 and certainly moves Trout to left field and improves our outfield defense tremendously.
As a result, he’s a pretty valuable trade chip. Per the sim, Ward plus Caden Dana is a tad bit light on our end.
The Phils are looking for corner outfield help, though. Ward could net us Johan Rojas and a pitching prospect like Seth Johnson while saving the Angels Ward’s salary.
Adell for Marsh-“Make it so #1!”
(Wants to start a riot)
Still to be played out but I still believe Perry traded the correct Angel OF to the Phillies
is there any indication that DD even wanted Adell?
I know Perry would have traded him but I thought the Phillies said no on him.
True, DD wanted a CF which was Marsh. From an Angel POV as I as a fan, I liked that Adell stayed behind. This may all change of course.
we kept Adell and traded Marsh – we started to see why more in 2024 and will continue to do so.
I think Adell will become/stay a decent 4th OFer.
At the time Perry’s family back and forward 10 generations were cursed for trading away Captain Caveman by many on this site.
Ward & Dana for Marsh who cant hit Lefties and cant hit replacement level outside of Citizen Band Box?
Thats a hard pass for me.
Out of curiosity how does an O’hoppe straight up for Marsh now work on the trade simulator?
Ya, I’m with CB on this one.
I’m not giving up 6 years of Dana for 3 years of Marsh.
Agree, big NO on Marsh. Don’t quite understand the pro-Marsh cult here on CtPG. Must be the long hair.
Logan has a value of 23.6
Marsh has a value of 41.7
I like Marsh a lot and obviously value defense more than most, but I think Marsh’s value is too high on the sim.
So we got mega screwed on that trade?
F*ck the Trade simulator
But science man (sarcasm font)! It’s an app on the interwebs. That makes it science, right?
That trade sim definitely has a Ghost in the machine (All apologies to The Police)
I wouldn’t trade both Ward and Caden Dana for Marsh.
Yusei Kikuchi = 3 years, $63 mill
Frankie Montas = 2 years, 34 mill
Sean Manea = 3 years, $75 mill
Walker Buehler = 1 year, $21 mill
It’s becoming harder to complain about Tyler Anderson’s 3 year, $39 mill contract. Perry also beat the market once again grabbing Kikuchi early on a reasonable deal.
With SP prices skyrocketing, it’s nice knowing that we have a real depth building in the farm. Selecting Bremner or Arnold at #2 makes sense as well ….
I’d like to complain about Anderson’s performance more than the AAV. He had a great 1st half last year and Perry stubbed his toe trying to trade him. Anderson’s second half in 2024 is a better indication on what 2025 will look like. Historically as well.
1000% agree. History will be kind to the TA signing; history would be even kinder if we can extract a prospect or 2 in a trade
I think extract is the correct term P12.
Rizzo club option declined.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/players/anthony-rizzo
Shocking news….
After the Holidays, we have about 6 weeks until pitchers and catchers report. I highly doubt we do anything of significance. This year will be much like last year without any new young players. We’re not rebuilding and we’re not competing. We’re waiting for Rendon’s contract to be gone. I’ve been optimistic and giving the benefit of the doubt for a long time. Until I see evidence, I’m going to be the glass half empty guy regarding the team’s success. Perhaps at the trade deadline there will be reason to be optimistic. I would be very happy to be proven wrong.
Sorry kids, money is tight and there isn’t much money for Christmas.
Heck, we were lucky to sell 2.5 million tickets for a 99-loss ball club.
So don’t go complaining we only got Soler. And you didn’t even touch the Stephenson we got last year, why, he is as good as ‘new’ and that definitely counts too.
We’ve been rebuilding, it’s just not the “teardown, burn it all” type.
Outside the failed Giolito trade and reluctance to move Shohei, everything Perry has done (not said) has been in the spirit of rebuilding for 2026 —
20262030 is the year they will be ready to competeSeems like yesterday that we were saying that 2019 would be the year they compete and make the playoffs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izQB2-Kmiic
Hell yeah. Let’s hope so. Gotta keep those sacks sad. I for one will never be fooled again. With any luck we just keep losing till every fanbase has had their way with us and once the Rockies fans heave themselves off our sticky half dead pile of flab they’ll all gather round and acknowledge how right CtPG Guy was about Arte all these years and slow clap for him. Then it will all have been worth it.
Actually I don’t agree with that. Everyone gets to draft and we got to draft higher because we have been really bad. We traded expiring contracts at the trade deadline which everyone does when they are not in contention. We’ve been doing what everybody else does and what we should have been doing all along. The only thing that we intentionally did was take a year off last year to see what we had and unfortunately, that didn’t work out so well. We haven’t traded any non expiring assets for prospects. We didn’t rebuild. last year, we just didn’t try to compete and still really aren’t. This year, we added a few pieces around the fringe. We are rebuilding if rebuilding means not trying to compete but we are not aggressively trying to acquire young talent. At least not so far. We have not been trading from the farm for established players like teams that are competing so there is that. If ceasing to compete is the equivalent of rebuilding then you are correct we are rebuilding.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all, stay safe and healthy and enjoy a cup of cheer, from both of us to you and yours. GPB & GMB. ⛄ 🎅 🕯
You and everyone else too GPB.
The amount of money being paid out to older players and to sign and cross your fingers type players is pretty impressively high by anyone one’s standards. Carlos Santana is worth 12 million dollars, how do I know? Simple the Cleveland team just gave him that much. They unloaded their first baseman to the Astros (Naylor) and signed a player that has shown he is done.
Yankees rolled the dice for one year of Goldy @ 12.5 million. Arenado wants to be a Dodger-along with most of the MLB players out there, as playing on a winner is most desirable, especially if you have not ever been to the WS before.
money – money – money – mon – ney – money 💲
Yes, it’s amazing how much money other teams are spending. OTOH, Urshela for $2 million plus incentives sounds attractive. Halos could have considered that. I know he wasn’t healthy here but he plays 1B and 3B still I believe.
There will likely be some decent fixed cost signings in the next 30 days. I hope the Angels get one or two.
The “amazing or stupid how much money is being spent” is said every offseason. The fact remains that there are a dozen or so clubs with very deep pockets and can significantly outspend the “poor kids” and still make money (marketing and merchandizing”.
Baseball is not changing anytime soon – there’s too much money in the current game for ownership and the players.
We could have 3-4 of those players for what we’re paying our washed up player.
Carlos Santana is done? He may be old, but you are writing his obit prematurely.
2024 = 2.5 WAR, 146 games played at 1st base.
2023 = 2.7 WAR, 135 games played at 1st base.
Rangers to sign Joc Peterson
Someone here is going to be upset the Angels didn’t sign him
And others will be thrilled they didn’t.
Only those who hate winning 😠😠
It’s not your money . . Right Toots?
2 years, $37 mill for Joc is pricey. We got Soler a tad cheaper
But Soler can’t hit RHP’s nearly as well as Joc . It seems like all of our hopes and dreams are resting on the Greek god of strikeouts
Did someone say….
But Tooty wants him so it would have been a great deal.
Meh. If he came here, he’d likely tear his labrum signing the contract.