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LA Angels Tuesday News Crash: Pitching

December 2, 2025

Zac Gallen anyone? MLBs official site thinks he is a good fit for the Angels. They also think he is high risk.

Center fielder Jake Meyers might become available but the Astros want pitching for him. I guess we can forget about him. The Royals are interested in trading a starter for an outfielder. Can the Angels afford to trade Jo Adell at this point? I saw a week or two ago that Cole Ragans would cost Zach Neto plus maybe a minor leaguer or two. I decided, “So what?” Kansas City has absolutely no need of a shortstop. Ragans would cost about five or six of Jo Adell. Other than Kris Bubic, they don’t have a starter in the range where the Trade Simulator has Jo Adell. Some of their guys are only worth David Calabrese.

Pitchers are becoming less available. KBO’s Samsung Lions signed Matt Manning. The Chiba Lotte Marines signed Jose Castillo. It looks like the Minasians will battle it out for the “modestly priced” pitchers. Dylan Cease signed a seven year $210 Million deal with the Blue Jays. (Video link)

Brandon Hyde got a gig as the Senior Advisor To Baseball Operations for the Rays. Corey Ray will be the Nationals first base coach.

MLB and the MLBPA released last season’s drug testing results. They caught two guys who were on 40 man rosters, both for performance enhancing drugs.

UCLA’s Maya Brady was taken #1 in the AUSL expansion Draft. She’s going to Oklahoma City.

I guess the Dodgers get testy if you say they bought the World Series championship.

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

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Legend

Jeff Joiner

5 hours ago

Blue Jays sign Cody Ponce for 3 years $30 million.

Seems like a pretty decent gamble. $10 million per year is back end starter money nowadays and Ponce was great in the KBO last year. We’ll see how well that translates over here.

Editor

Legend

Jeff Joiner

7 hours ago

Alek Monoah, come on down.

Welcome the newest Angel.

Legend

FungoAle

6 hours ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

$1.95M…I cannot hate it too much but not a fan of this guy. Worst case, SLC Bee Baybee.

Editor

Super Member

Turk's Teeth

6 hours ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

We all knew something like this was coming. Tend to agree with your MLBTR comment that this is likely to cross the rotation off Arte’s and Perry’s shopping list now, but we’ll see.

I did as much in my IIWPM piece when I was going to pick up Erasmo Ramirez for $1M. But Ramirez at 35 is more likely to take the mound every fifth day than Manoah as age 27.

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FungoAle

6 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

A non-tender from the Braves, of course

Trusted Member

2pints

6 hours ago

Reply to Turk's Teeth

I always chuckle when I see JJ’s MLBTR comments due to his old screen name. Must not be easy to change, otherwise he could give this site some good PR with a change.

Editor

Legend

Jeff Joiner

5 hours ago

Reply to 2pints

Yeah, I could do it but then I’d be a new guy ha ha.

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Pineapple12

6 hours ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

I like it. Good thing Ward is gone because that would have been an awkward interaction

Member

dontbatvlad4th

8 hours ago

The Dodgers absolutely are buying championships. I’m certainly not impressed with the string of success like I would be with a team who is spending closer to what the other teams are.

But the bigger sin to me is the outright abuse of deferrals. I don’t think any Dodgers fan can thumb their nose at the Trashstros scandal anymore after the Ohtani contract.

Editor

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Jeff Joiner

7 hours ago

Reply to dontbatvlad4th

The deferrals make a mockery of the luxury tax. I completely get the math from an accounting standpoint, but let’s be real the team does it because it gets them an advantage.

I do think this situation will be addressed in the next CBA. All for a handful of clubs would be fine saying the luxury tax number needs to be the actual contract amount divided by the number of seasons played no matter how the money is actually paid out.

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

7 hours ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

The stupidest thing is they and their fans keep saying “there’s nothing keeping your team from doing it!”.

Well, yeah, there is. For one thing, my team isn’t owned by an old blue blood family that made a massive fortune killing workers and polluting the world in the mining and refinery industry, with a little war profiteering mixed in, for more than a century. My team is also not the second biggest market team in the sport.

So no. Mine and most fans teams can’t just defer a half billion dollars and smile at that debt down the line.

Trusted Member

CAoldskoll

5 hours ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

Same idiot Dodgers fans who have to be reminded what happened the year before they committed a billion dollars to Ohtani and Yamamoto: Sweep by DBacks. Oh and losses to Padres and Braves after that fake covid WS 2020.

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Eric_in_Portland

6 hours ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

We think about the Angels as a team that competes in baseball games. Billionaire owners think of their teams as assets. There is always the possibility that an owner would sell off his asset. It makes such a sale more difficult when you tell a prospective owner “also starting in 10 years you’ll need to pay $68 million a year to a retired player.”

Arte has toyed with the idea of selling so he’s not going to create that type of situation and I would think most owners are like that. It’s interesting that only the richest owners are in a position to defer.

Trusted Member

Mikeal1st

9 hours ago

I understand that the Doyers development is great, but they did sign players with a total of 4 MVP’s and 2 Cy Youngs to their Roster, through huge contracts. Snell-2, Ohtani – 2, Betts – 1 and Freeman – 1… I doubt they win the WS without these guys. So yeah, they bought it, but they also bought it really well.

Super Member

PedroCerrano

7 hours ago

Reply to Mikeal1st

The Mets spending is the cautionary tale on how you can spend badly. I still think that the Dodgers chose wisely on a lot of guys with way more room for error than others. Could be that envy is in play as Arte, in some alternate universe where he makes good decisions, could have capitalized in the same manner to where we would all be applauding their business acumen and vision. The irony is that the Dodgers are going to make more money than anybody in baseball for years to come.

Legend

FungoAle

7 hours ago

Reply to Mikeal1st

To me, the guy who stirs the drink is Freeman. A blue chip FA where an owner would not have any remorse. Signed in 2022 and he raised the floor of the organization. Ohtani chased a ring with an already made championship contender day 1 as did Yamamoto. Snell and Sasaki piled on. Betts, Glasnow were acquired in a trade, later extended. The filler around those guys are pretty average to me, outside of Will Smith.

Here is a look at WS winners with the highest amount of bought players:

https://www.mlb.com/news/world-series-champions-built-through-free-agency

Trusted Member

Mikeal1st

6 hours ago

Reply to FungoAle

Thanks for the article!

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Jeff Joiner

11 hours ago

The Angels can definitely afford to trade Adell for a multitude of reasons.

For one, we have 3 guys who play RF but nobody in LF or at 2B or 3B. Also we need rotation help.

Secondly, the odds of this team competing for anything in the next 2 years is so low we might as well get something of value for him.

Trusted Member

cookmeister

10 hours ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

While I somewhat agree, have to keep in mind the Perry is fighting for his job. If he trades Adell (arguably one of our best players), and our offense stinks again, the players we get back don’t do particularly well and Adell has a monster year somewhere, Perry is fired. Does he want to take that risk? Also creates a new hole.

Trusted Member

milehigh

10 hours ago

Reply to cookmeister

I think Perry isn’t thinking about being fired, at least that is what the Ward trade tells me. I think Perry would be fired for the lack of production of the all pitcher draft rather than trading Adell.

Trusted Member

cookmeister

6 hours ago

Reply to milehigh

trading Ward is a unique circumstance. He had a year left, and a good chunk of $ tied up. While he had a lot of homers, he wasn’t exactly stellar in any particular area. It also filled a need with a SP, and a high upside P at that.

Trading Adell would require a similar type of haul in regards to what is given. Something that fills a need, while also having good upside.

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Jeff Joiner

9 hours ago

Reply to cookmeister

If he trades Adell he needs to add some power somewhere, but adding OBP and pitching would also be a net gain.

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Charles Sutton

10 hours ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

I’m joking with this. O’Hoppe should probably have gotten that guy.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/q3clG26XuEw

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FungoAle

10 hours ago

Reply to Charles Sutton

Logan tried to swipe it on the hop but the shame also applies to our man Heefo with a crap throw, like 6 feet up the line while standing just outside the infield.

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FungoAle

10 hours ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

On board with dealing Adell. From what I read, he was the preferred Halo outfielder to acquire by teams looking for RH OF help. Time to move him, now

I do not think there is a 3B MLB ready-made player out there to help, hoping this trade would help stock up the farm while bring back a playable piece. And no, not expecting Adell to reign in a trove of prospects.

Super Member

TrojanBoiler

10 hours ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

TRADE THEM ALL!

Legend

Fansince1971

10 hours ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

Third – the chances of Adell hitting 30+ HRs in 2026 is pretty low imo.

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Jeff Joiner

9 hours ago

Reply to Fansince1971

Hmm. I’d say 50/50 but that is somewhat team dependent. Put him in Cincy and he’s over that. Put him in KC and he’s probably under that. Keep him here and I can see it either way.

Super Member

RexFregosi

8 hours ago

Reply to Fansince1971

It took him a few months to figure things out in 2025, but there was definitely a much improved Jo in the second half. He should have even a better 2026 as he’s about to hit his prime.

Legend

FungoAle

7 hours ago

Reply to RexFregosi

I’d say 30 home runs is a floor for Adell next year

Legend

Fansince1971

5 hours ago

Reply to RexFregosi

There’s that optimism again Rex.

Super Member

RexFregosi

8 hours ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

We’ve lost Ward and his HRs. It would be hard to lose Adell’s HR too so they would need to replace the SLG.

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Jeff Joiner

7 hours ago

Reply to RexFregosi

Yeah, there’s no perfect answer. Adell and Ward combined for 326 K’s last year, though, so there’s a chance to have a more well rounded offense where some walks and contact make up for some dingers.

I think right now the plan is a Trout/Rada/Adell outfield with Soler at DH. I really don’t like that plan due to Trout’s injury history, but if Trout stays healthy, that’s not a bad trio.

Super Member

PedroCerrano

7 hours ago

Reply to RexFregosi

I go back to the question of whether Ward and Adell have led to wins. I don’t believe either of them make a significant difference. They are okay players who could be a cog in a good team, but they aren’t the type of players who can lead the Angels out of the cellar.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

7 hours ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

I’m too busy to add images from the SIM, etc but the Angels could literally trade Adell to the power starved Pirates, if they want to “go for it with Skenes”, and get creative.

I’d take Bryan Reynolds contract off their hands. He’ll make about 15M a year over the next six years till he’s 36 years old. He had a down year last year. But he’s not so old he’s broken, and he’ll be “not career year Ward” for most of that contract. He’s not a very good outfielder but he can play all three positions and he’s passable in RF.

But the contract imbalance would also net us a package like Nick Yorke, Termarr Jahnson, Levi Sterling and Sammy Stufara. I’d move either Moore, York or Johnson (or hell, all three) to the OF and shift them around between OF and 2B/3B. York could probably come up to the MLB and play pretty soon. Sterling is a good pitching prospect. Stufara is a pretty great SS prospect.

So we’d get a solid prospect return and Reynolds manning an OF spot, at a level that is likely more along Cole Clahoun’s WAR than Wards, and we’d have to give up 2 years of Adell and the 15M a year we have to pay Reynolds.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

11 hours ago

Why are some of you guys so fixated on pitching? You realize our offense sucks too right? And almost all of our solid prospects are pitchers and none of them are hitters accept Moore and Rada?

If you add a solid starter now with three years of control what do you get? Probably a 74 win team with a slightly lower team ERA for the next three years…. and not much after.

Just as this roster sucks too much in too many spots to just add Kyle Schwarber and call it a day just adding a pretty good front of the rotation pitcher isn’t gonna do shit. Stop the reloads.

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Charles Sutton

11 hours ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

This is why I asked if the Angels could afford to ship Jo Adell out. Thirty homers is thirty homers. Somebody else needs to start getting on base.

We do need to replace Hendricks and Anderson, but maybe it’s time for Dana, Silseth, or Aldegheri to get their act together.

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

11 hours ago

Reply to Charles Sutton

Yeah. If we got a high OBP lower power OF to replace Adell AND picked up an IF prospect with a couple more young arms that may work out in exchange for Adell THAT I’d do. Sign Austin Hayes for a little less than we pay Adell and get three or four prospects for Adell… that’s rebuilding on a team that has some money to spend.

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FungoAle

9 hours ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

Or by signing Bellinger. Just sign some bats below $10M and deal Adell and anyone else who can expand the talent pool.

Angels also are void of athletic players, which is why I like Teo but I recognize his hit tool needs to improve. Speed brings a dimension which would help get us away from the station-to-station approach. Speed won’t slump and is easily addressed.

Super Member

RexFregosi

8 hours ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

Why are some of you guys so fixated on pitching? Because I want to win now and even have a shot in a short playoff series. The last decade we’ve gone nowhere with sometimes decent hitters and offense. Time for FA money on pitching now. FA money on hitting won’t help in ‘2026.

You realize our offense sucks too right?
of course. but not as bad as pitching. I expect all the guys including Trout and Soler to be better in 2026. But yep, still big holes, too many Ks, and rookies in CF/3b is insane. My IIWPM would be figure out in May where to shore up the offense.
And almost all of our solid prospects are pitchers and none of them are hitters accept Moore and Rada?
Counting on Neto, Schauny, Adell, Hop, Guzman to develop further – they’re young too.

If you add a solid starter now with three years of control what do you get? Probably a 74 win team with a slightly lower team ERA for the next three years…. and not much after.
yes so we need at least two of these.

my imaginary IIWPM is different from the rest because I want to do my damnest to get a playoff spot in 2026, and the only chance is better pitching

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

7 hours ago

Reply to RexFregosi

Win now. I want to be on the crack you are on. The only way we win now is if God reaches down and touches this team.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

11 hours ago

Jason Kelce – “The Dodgers won the World Series but who cares? It’s boring when a team just buys a championship.”

Stan Kasden – “Poppy cock. That is pure balderdash! While I will admit Mr Kelsce is a fine specimen of a man and our board acknowledges that he could likely harvest a great deal of mineral wealth from the ground for years before it gives out, he knows NOTHING about championships. We didn’t just buy the best players. If that worked more teams would try it. Why doesn’t your team try it? Hate them, not us. But what you really have to do is buy the best development staff, medical staff, scouts, buy the best facilities and equipment at every level, pay for housing and food for everyone, and pay off the best busco’ns in Latin America. That’s what fans should demand their teams do. We promise we won’t then just double their paltry spending efforts again. Now won’t that be an absolute pip!?”

Super Member

TrojanBoiler

12 hours ago

So where are we at on the Skaggs trial? Do we want The Angels to be required to pay a huge sum of money to the Skaggs family?

Personally, I would like for that to be the outcome. It’s not really that I think Skaggs was innocent and not responsible for his own death. It’s more that I think Arte runs a shady corrupt joke of an organization and I would like to see him held accountable for being a shitty owner.

Plus, who knows, maybe this is the straw that breaks the camel’s back and forces him to sell the team

Legend

Senator_John_Blutarsky

11 hours ago

Reply to TrojanBoiler

No matter the outcome, the decision will run through the appellate courts for years….

I think if this trial were going to be an impetus for him to sell, he’d already be gone.

Author

Super Member

Charles Sutton

11 hours ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

The appellate courts can be kind of liberal about granting extensions of time for filings.

Trusted Member

cookmeister

11 hours ago

Reply to TrojanBoiler

So you want the Angels to pay a bunch of money because you don’t like Arte. You want him to pay up even if he isn’t “guilty” of anything, per se

yikes.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

11 hours ago

Reply to cookmeister

Remember. Fan is short for Fantastic Idiot. We just can’t help it we love the Angels so hard.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

11 hours ago

Reply to TrojanBoiler

“I don’t think Arte is guilty of what he’s being sued for, but I don’t like him, so I hope he loses the suit and goes broke, which will totally fix my favorite baseball team.”

I assume you’re allowed to vote in elections? I’ll even bet you’ve complained about our broken ass justice system at some point. This is a great example of why I for one am waiting expectantly for our mercilessly logical AI Robot overlords to take over the world. Sure, they may wind up killing me, but at least their reason for doing so will make sense.

Super Member

TrojanBoiler

11 hours ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

I guess the way I see it is that you can still be a scumbag without breaking any laws. I am on the side of the scumbag having to pay for being a scumbag even if maybe they didn’t do anything illegal. I can simultaneously think Skaggs is responsible for his own health while also thinking that the Angels organization clearly didn’t care about the rampant drug use going on in the clubhouse.

It’s not a guilty/not-guilty issue for me. It’s appreciating that someone that constantly pushes the line of what is fair, good, or morally acceptable is finally getting his comeuppance for being a piece of trash.

Not only the Skaggs thing, but the issues in the minor leagues with pay and living conditions, the bribery with local governments, all of it.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

11 hours ago

Reply to TrojanBoiler

So, as long as I decide you are a scumbag it’s OK for the justice system to fk you. Hell, I can root for it. Sounds good. Expand that out across 300 million people, it’ll work great. Actually, it’s working great now.

Arte didn’t bribe anybody. Minor league pay is set by contracts same as all the other systems. Arte doesn’t actually run our MiLB facilities and only a handful of teams have actually built housing for MiLB players… But why actually look that stuff up?

Sure, Arte is a douche who sucks at owning a baseball team. That’s true without me having to reach too hard for extra shit like a teenage girl talking about the weird boy at school.

Last edited 11 hours ago by gitchogritchoffmypettis

Super Member

TrojanBoiler

10 hours ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

If you think I am a scumbag, then sure go ahead and be ok if the justice system screws me. A little schadenfreude never hurt anyone.

You’re right that Moreno never was charged with bribery. He just got the stadium deal he wanted in exchange for campaign contributions (allegedly). Again, maybe not illegal but definitely morally questionable.

Legend

gitchogritchoffmypettis

7 hours ago

Reply to TrojanBoiler

I have no idea if you’re a scum bag. But I do know that “Enough people have decided you’re a scum bag” is a dumbfk way to decide legal decisions. Right up there with “She LOOKS like a witch…”

Tell me more about these campaign contributions and how they were different from any other campaign contributions and how that bought him a stadium deal. I’ll wait….

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

13 hours ago

I would make the Ragans acquisition, and trade Neto if Ragans had the same 4 years of control as Neto instead of only 3. Especially with the possible 2027 washout.

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

13 hours ago

Reply to Roy Hobbs

If we could trade for another starter with 4 years of control, we would have some starting pitching stability with 2 starters with 4 years, 2 starters with 3 years, and Kikuchi with 2. 3 years to get the pipeline up and running. Let’s have a plan. In the mean time our pitching would be relatively inexpensive and we would be able to use the budget to primarily address position player needs. if we had a plan and didn’t worry about 2026, we could look much different in 2028 and beyond.