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Angels News
The Angels signed someone again! Kenley Jansen on a 1y/10M deal. The long time Dodger went to Atlanta for a year and Boston the last 2. Still good as of late, so no idea why he came here?
Angels also made a minor move of swapping a RP for another RP. Michael Peterson is British but big at 6 foot 7, and has been on the move a ton, going from Dodgers to Miami to Toronto to Anaheim.
Around Baseball
More rule changes because Manfred cannot stop himself. First, no running through 2B. Alright, fair. 2nd, illegal shift punishment is a balk now. Interesting…
Cleveland got lucky, no more blackouts, you can buy all their games now straight from them. Only 99 dollars a year. I am envious.
Ty France is now a Twin. Funny, didn’t know France had a Twin.
Kershaw stays with the Dodgers. Everyone pretend to be shocked.
Latest MLB mock draft. I have no idea who I should root to get, but I am sure you all know who is the future stars are, right?
What should the bar be for the HOF starting pitchers? Because we won’t be getting those 300 win SP any time soon.
Anything I missed? Post below for upvotes!
Fortunately, because the Astros’ luxury tax situation, their compensation pick is after the fourth round. Meanwhile, Boston forfeits their second rounder, but also gains a QO pick after the second round with the Padres signing Pivetta.
Net result: the Angels retain all their picks, and in the same slots prior to these FA signings.
#2, 47, 80, 106, 110
Now let’s see some July dealing to gain the team another pick in the 32-37 CBA range!
This summer could be so instrumental in another contention wave. If Perry is able to get some prospects and a competitive balance pick out of Rengifo, Ward, Anderson the farm could see a really nice influx of talent.
Milwaukee, Minnesota, and Detroit have tradeable picks and should be in contention. Perhaps Seattle as well. All have payroll limitations.
If there was ever a year for Arte to eat some salary and get a better return it is this one.
The compensation round and PPI extra draft picks is bullshit and one reason why I think tanking is now a failed strategy. We finally accept our suckage but instead of drafting 34th as our record should dictate we have to wait until the 47th pick.
BTW Perry doesn’t do sell off deals in early July before the draft. He only does the last minute trade deadline deals to extract “maximum value” . Marsh, Iglesias, Synderguard Estevez & Garcia all came in at or days before the cutoff.So unfortunately that dream will not become a reality unless you are hoping for a 2026 supplemental pick.
$40M a year for Bregman seems insane to me. Glad that wasn’t us.
because it *is* insane. Opt outs will ensue
YES WE DIDN’T!!!
My guess is the actual contract will read differently and this is a favorable spin by the agent. Something has to be amiss via the small print.
From a pure baseball standpoint, why are people upset that Rendon is out again. A healthy Rendon at this stage is at max a 1 WAR player anchored at 3B, slow footed and a ticking time bomb. His power is zapped. He’s toast. I’d rather go with Moncada, if that doesn’t work out, you give Moore a chance to make the roster at 2B, move Rengifo around.
Bregman is a cheater and a dick. Perfect for Boston.
Not that I wanted the Angels to sign him, I got no issues with Bregman, he’s legit, solid 3rd baseman and 2-time champ. Cheating saga is old and was a practice of many teams. Just happy to not have coughed up a pick but man, he would sure fill a position of need. Our 3rd baseman signee comes from a team that lost 121 games.
Happy the Red Sox signed him, helps my 2025 45-1 WS ticket.
Our pick is ours, gentlemen!
A++++ offseason ! 😇
Yeah I really don’t have a complaint.
We kept the kids, kept Ward, added some nice vets, and Arte avoided his worst impulses.
Also avoided long term deals and picked up some pieces that could be trade chips in July.
The kids who need AA seasoning should get it but none are blocked long term.
It may not FEEL like it, but that was some pretty good GMing this winter. Sure, some trades have yet to happen that I want, but it’s OK. We only signed a pitcher to a long deal. Fine, it’s good to have pitchers. Everything else is moves I would have made… wrong or right in the end.
Bregman and Cora reunited.
Someone padlock the video room and account for all the trash cans in the park.
😆😆😆😆
Breaking: Bregman to the Red Sox, 3 years 120m
Apparently turned down 6yrs/170M earlier in the offseason.
BREAKING: Right-hander Nick Pivetta and the San Diego Padres are in agreement on a four-year, $55 million contract that includes a pair of opt-outs, pending physical, sources tell ESPN.
https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1889859851721043974
$1M salary and a $3M signing bonus in 2025 vs a one-year $21M+ contract if he had just taken the qualifying offer. Talk about betting against yourself.
Tyler Anderson-ish
These damn opt-outs, lose-lose propositions
Obviously Rendon needs the surgery if he is getting it. Only a fool gets unnecessary surgery. The timing is brutal. Of course it could be worse if it had been in April. I’m sure someone wonders if he could have gotten the surgery in October or earlier. From the announcement, the condition came after that. There likely was an effort to avoid surgery. Not much else can be said. Don’t expect to see him anytime soon or maybe ever again for the Angels.
There is a good chance that this ends his baseball career. Body made of glass.
Even better chance that A’s fan was right, calling Tony a pu$$y
Yes…. it would go totally well for just about any of us real men of baseball if we called Rendon a pussy to his face. We can all totally take that wuss.
There’s no “brutal” timing for Rendon. He signed a quarter of a billion dollar contract and is set for life. Statement after statement, he made clear that he didn’t want to play baseball everyday, and has considered retirement for years.
Surgery at this point is a blessing for him. He won the lottery, and now he can just stay at home with the family, and according to his prosperity gospel, the Lord has blessed him according to plan.
Sad. I followed his career at Rice University. Best college hitter at the time. After missing out on Garrit Cole, I got sucked into thinking Rendon signing was a good move. Trout needed someone else in the lineup to help protect and that duo NEVER got it going.
From Fletch ..
TEMPE, Ariz. — Zach Neto got some encouraging news on his shoulder, although he wouldn’t say exactly what it was. “I can’t say it,” Neto said with a smile Wednesday. “Everything is coming along very well. Ahead of schedule.”
The Angels’ shortstop underwent shoulder surgery in November, and the Angels have been protective of details about the exact nature of his surgery or when they expect him back.
For now, Angels fans can simply take comfort in the fact that Neto seems to be happy with how he’s recovering. Neto said he was cleared to hit off a tee last week. He hasn’t started throwing yet.
Neto was hurt in the final week of the regular season. He didn’t have the surgery for more than a month, though.
“I thought I was able to come back from it, hopefully avoiding surgery,” Neto said. “Everything felt pretty good until the last week. It started not feeling so great. I came to see a doctor in L.A., and we kind of both agreed to go into surgery, and get it done.”
General manager Perry Minasian echoed Neto’s enthusiasm over the most recent report on his rehab, calling it “great news.”
“He’s important a part of this team,” Minasian said. “We’re going to take it day to day with him, but he’s doing well. It’s nice to be 23 isn’t it? (Neto turned 24 two weeks ago.) You recover a little quicker. We’re excited where he’s at. That being said, we’re going to go through the process. We’re not going to rush him.”
The Angels have a few choices to play shortstop until Neto is ready, including Kevin Newman, Tim Anderson and Scott Kingery. Although Luis Rengifo has played shortstop, the Angels would prefer to use him at other positions.
TROUT’S POSITION
The Angels won’t make any definitive statements on their use of Mike Trout until after Trout arrives in camp. The first full-squad workout is scheduled for Monday.
“We’re going to talk to him when he gets here,” Minasian said. “Obviously, we’ve had conversations over the course of the offseason, and we’ll figure that out.”
Trout has been hurt for most of three of the last four seasons, including two tears of his meniscus last season. There’s some thought that moving him from center field to a corner or to DH could help him stay healthy.
The Angels did not acquire another center fielder, though. If they decide to move Trout, that would leave Jo Adell, Mickey Moniak or Taylor Ward to get the starts in center field.
STEPHENSON UPDATE
Right-hander Robert Stephenson, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, threw off a mound for the first time in his rehab Wednesday. Stephenson said he’s expecting six to eight weeks of throwing before facing hitters. He said his estimate of when he could return to the roster is around the middle of the season, but the Angels are hoping it will be sooner than that.
“It’s felt really good,” Stephenson said. “I’ve had zero issues throughout the whole process, and honestly it’s been a lot smoother than I expected it to be.”
NOTES
The Angels claimed right-hander Michael Peterson on waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays and designated right-hander Kelvin Cacares for assignment. Peterson has a 5.95 ERA in 19⅔ major-league innings, with 14 strikeouts and 11 walks. …
Left-hander Victor Gonzalez will be delayed arriving in camp because of visa issues. …
Left-hander José Suarez looked noticeably slimmer on the first day of camp. He said he’d lost 10 pounds. …
Chili Davis is going to be in camp as a special instructor. Davis spent 19 years in the majors, including seven with the Angels. He has also been a major-league hitting coach. …
The Angels’ upgraded facilities in Tempe received rave reviews from players and staff members who saw what it was like before. They now have state-of-the-art technology, including force plates, for pitchers and hitters, along with an improved weight room, video room, dining room and clubhouse. “It was really cool seeing all the guys walk in who had been here in the past, and seeing their faces light up,” Minasian said.
https://www.ocregister.com/2025/02/12/angels-zach-neto-encouraged-by-progress-after-shoulder-surgery/
which is worse? Paying somebody $38mil a year who’s always been hurt? Or paying somebody $25mil a year to a) play for somebody else and b) be on somebody else’s DL for 2 more years, never seeing the field again? Which is worse? Paying somebody $38mil a year who became injury prone and who said he doesn’t care all that much about playing or $25mil a year to someone who causes his own problems by coking himself up? Which is worse? 3.8 bWAR over 5 seasons or 2.7 bWAR over 2 seasons?
An argument can be made over which signing turned out to be worse, Rendon or Hamilton. I’d say Hamilton although it’s close
Rendon likely cares about playing. I took what he said as “This sucks, but I do have more important shit in my life, like my family.” Which is fairly… sane? But then I am not desperate to dislike the guy and I don’t need him to start crying on camera and shake his fist at the sky in order to make me feel my feels I want.
Arte is the worsty’ist. And we always knew he should have made Rendon get an accountability buddy (24 hour nurse) like he did Josh.
I say Hamilton due to the fact it was completely foreseeable and created an off the field PR nightmare. And let’s face it Josh just quit on the team.
Rendon was a flop but he’s actually done what the team asked of him. The dude has endured multiple surgeries and countless hours of PT, which sucks balls. I’m sure he’d rather be out playing baseball than doing that.
Right. Hamilton was a hypocrite which rankled me. Rendon, at least!, stuck his injured hand in Winker’s face after Wanker incited that brawl by walking to the Angels dugout.
I can’t dislike Rendon. He’s been unproductive, especially for that money, but I would enjoy being on a softball team with him, whereas Hamilton, no thank you!
The Hamilton signing made no sense from the start. The Rendon signing made sense but hasn’t worked out. So I agree, Jeff.
Yeah, Angels were not really hurting for OFs at the time.
Need a poll to be posted. Are we happily posting in big numbers because:
1) The dark shadow that is Anthony Rendon is about to clear?
2) Pitchers and catchers reporting?
Both
Both!!
Here’s picture from today. Lots of position players showed up, and with limited access to the pitching side of things, they are mostly pictured of position players.
Ecstatic to see them all on Fields 1 & 2 and not the lower ones.
Thanks for this as always. I am envious that you get to see the first day of spring training each year. I always look forward to your photos. Spring is on the way!
seeing these pictures reminds me that baseball is superior to football.
Don’t care what the calendar says. Rex has posted his first pictures, Spring is here!!!
Thanks once again, RF, for taking my mind off of the cold spell here in Denver.
Schanuel looks a little built. A lot less lanky.
Adding some man weight.
It’s really nice these position guys showed up early
Neto
Schanuel
Ward
Adell
Moniak
Anderson
Moore
Davis
no Trout, Geefy, Soler, or Moncada yet. Everyone else I think is here.
And on the surface, it seems kind of obvious that Neto shouldn’t miss any time.
Trout having Visa issues again?
You always have a hang over the season after winning the Super Bowl.
And maybe Rengifo has to send an advance team to make sure no Venezuelan agents are waiting in the parking lot with a kidnap kit.
Mike has a wife, kids, etc. Not sure the other guys do. Maybe one or two but I couldn’t name them
No, that’s fine. It’s his MasterCard he’s worried about.
Seeing Zach out there already gives me hope!
the 🐐
You are the true hero of the site every February. Thank you.
my pleasure lol.
after Christmas Day, it’s the best day of the year. even for a 99-loss team
only place i’d rather be is in Tampa, watching Gerrit Cole practice pitchers fielding drills over and over.
If Trout was a leader, he would have been there yesterday
O’Hoppe has been here since January
HUGE! Nice to hear.
That is excellent!
Radio today said Moore has been there for 8 days working with Wash.
Would have been a nice gesture with all his time lost
Side note, at first I was anti rule changes implemented by Manfred, but I’ve actually found them to be positive over time. I’m all for eliminating and punishing the shift. Nobody wants to see hitters line out to the 2B in shallow right field.
Except for the Ghost Runner rule.
I don’t even mind the ghost runner. Makes bullpens more important as a whole AND I don’t have to watch for 5 hours before the Angels lose.
The runner adds immediate drama.
I would get rid of it in the playoffs, but when it’s August and we are 15 games under .500….eh.
Yeah, that is Nintendo baseball. Dump the ghost runner.
Honestly, not even mad at the Rendon news. For one, it’s not my money or insurance rates he’s getting/jacking up. I didn’t want him back, even if he was healthy. His attitude stinks and he’s a black hole in the lineup considering Wash had this weird obsession of batting him leadoff.
Addition by subtraction. Good Bye and don’t come back.
Yes! We finally have a long needed “Cancer in the Clubhouse” as anointed by the experts of CTPG! One of the features I have missed from the HH days.
Why are you twisting words? I never said locker room cancer, just that his attitude stinks. Between his interviews to reporters and comments about baseball not being his priority, this isn’t debatable.
I bet Rendon was pretty excited to get the news from his doctor.
huurrrr durrrr
Do I think Rendon wants to be injured, or that he’s lying about it? No.
Do I think he’s upset he doesn’t have to play baseball? Also no.
I’m only guessing here, but I am guessing he’s pretty bleak and frustrated by all of this…. last year.
Oh i’m sure, no one wants to be in pain and have their name dragged through the mud.
But he also quite obviously lost his passion for the game even when he is healthy.
huurrrr durrr
I like the Kanley Jansen signing for one year at $10 million. At the very least, he can be an asset to trade at the trade deadline for prospects. We don’t need to rush Joyce into the closer’s role. The bullpen has potential to be decent as the season starts.
The news about Rendon is what we would expect.
If he’s healthy mid-season, he’s every bit as valuable as Estevez was at the last trade deadline, and that was the best prospect haul the team has received in half a decade on a single trade.
Wait you’re saying Packy Naughton wasnt the man?
Think I might have a reason to hit spring training now. Anybody think 80 wins is a possibility? Maybe. Gotta be better than last year.
It’s certainly a possibility but not very likely. Other than Trout though, I’m not sure where all the extra wins will come from. Something that hasn’t been mentioned is that the best case scenario might also be the worst case scenario depending on what the club decides to do. What if everyone does well, especially the veterans and the team is within 5-6 games of the last wildcard spot in July. Are they buyers to try to make the playoffs or are they sellers of all the assets to really benefit the rebuild. I would do the latter as the former would likely set back the rebuild for 5 or more years because they would get nothing back for any players with expiring contracts. The best case scenario for the rebuild is everyone does well and they have lots of good assets to trade regardless of the team’s record. You also have to realize that once we trade some of the players, the team is likely to not be as good for the remaining 2 months of the season. Which is another reason why I believe the 80 wins is not likely.
And bitches gonna bitch either way. Traded away players when “ONLY” six games away from getting your ass kicked by the Yankees in round one? Didn’t make trades now revived Moncada and Anderson leave? Team just sucks and played the kids?
All pretty much the same level of wank. I’d stick to the plan, trade veterans, and hope everyones happy for a few years once those kids develop.
Considering nearly every post is banking on a 140-game season from Trout, which defines “hopium”.
Let the kids work it out, suckage builds character and winning.
I don’t see how Soler, Kikuchi, Moncada, Jansen, and other spare parts = 17 wins. Having Trout healthy for 100+ games would help, but sadly can’t bank on that these days.
Why are you supposed to see that? Yes. Your eyes work. This team may be better, but it’s not gonna be good.
Subtracting Rendon’s bat might help the team this year. The players on this season’s team would have provided average production last year, but it’s pitching that I’m concerned about. A lot depends on getting innings from people that haven’t provided many at the major league level yet, so I think 72-73 wins is a more likely scenario.
For us to win 80 games, we should have to see dramatic development by Adell, O’Hoppe, Schanuel, and the young pitchers. It is not impossible but some players will regress, etc.
But if the Angels get off to a 4-2 start like last year, I will be on the bandwagon even it is only for a few days.
If Rendon had an ounce of class he would retire.
I agree, but also would you leave damn near 100 million on the table?
He can’t need the money.
Have you ever known a wealthy person to proclaim they have enough money?
Relative wealth doesn’t matter. MOST people won’t proclaim they have enough money.
Fair enough.
Yeah no way he’s giving that up.
Yeah. Exactly. Sure Billy Big Balls. How much money have you been leaving on the table so you look classy to a bunch of people who were treating you like shit for not being a pitcher long before all the injuries set in?
I talked to all of our bosses. They would all like us to realize that we are mostly all replacement level at everything we do and would like us to do the classy thing and not demand a raise just because time has passed.
Nah, we weren’t talking too much shit when he signed before the Covid season. We were disappointed to miss out on Cole, but we also recognized the benefit of having a stud 3B after years of turnover at the position.
The cemeteries are full of indispensable people, as they say.
So now Stephenson and Rendon to the 60 day IL cures the roster crunch.
Really this is about the best case scenario unless you had the fantasy Rendon would play well. He’s off the roster for the entire year, insurance will cover part of his salary, and he’ll get DFA’d next off season.
Rendon’s day here are essentially over.
Actually The best scenario would be if Caceres clears waivers as well. Especially with the Flotsam and Jetsam still remaining on our 40 man.
But what the Rendon move does do is open up the door that much wider for Christian Moore starting the season on the big club. And with Neto’s injury there is no reason that TA cant make this roster unless he really is beyond Washed (pun intended)
Yeah, I’d really like to see the kid get at least a few months in AA but the door is wider now.
T Anderson, Moncada, Newman, Rengifo… eventually Neto. Possibly Kingery. I don’t think they have to rush Moore to fill out an infield. Hell, if we’re really worried go sign Brendan Rogers or Jose Iglesias or Whit Merifield to play 2B and let Rengifo and Moncada handle 3B.