For my IIWPM, I am starting with the reality of this team finishing last in the their division, yet having a 200 million plus payroll. This and the fact that this team has been just running on a hamster treadmill every season since 2016, the “treadmill of futility”. With the lockout looming after 2026, the time for change is upon us, bring in steelgolf, the “Hatchet Man”
Angel’s 2025 payroll was around 209 million, give or take a few million. Far too much money for a last place team, that changes today. Fans will hate me, Arte will love me, yet still probably fire me. So be it. I want a team of league minimum salary players + The untradeable Trout contract, and the last of the nightmare Rendone disaster.
I’m starting with a hole of $75,688.098.00! I need to shed payroll, and EVERYONE is going unless they are on a league minimum payroll (This is the part where the fans hate me and I have to wear the fake nose and moustache disguise whenever I go to the stadium) I’m too cheap to pay for the trade simulator, so I’m going to fly blind on these trades.
My first problem to tackle is Jorge Soler. He is a bad fit for this team and his game is one dimensional. His defense and strikeouts make him a burden, but I’m stuck eating salary, so be it, I don;t want his taking up a roster spot. Where to find a dumping spot for him : Soler and 11 million to the Miami Marlins for AA 3rd baseman Dub Gleed https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gleed-000dub. and Fenwick Trimble https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=trimbl000fen At this point I’ve added 11 million to the above base number but I save 2 mill. Arte bucks and rid the roster of Soler and the DH backlog, as Trout is the DH regardless of what he says, unless there is multiple injuries.
Now onto Yusei Kikuchi and his $21,225,000.00, now I may have to also wear a low brimmed hat along with the fake nose and glasses disguise. Yusei and his $21,225,000.00 salary to The SF Giants for Nate Furman https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=furman000nat, and Bo Dav https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=davids000bo-idson Yusei can now help The Giants against The Dodgers/
Next – Taylor Ward and his $13,700,00.00 projected salary – I’ll defer to real Perry with the Rodriguez trade which fits my league minimum salary if he is on the big club.
Next is Robert Stephenson, a very expensive ghost, a contract just slightly, very slightly, less immoveable then Rendone’s. This one has me stumped, as I don’t want to take on any other teams bad contracts (The Angels have been hoarding bad contracts for an eternity). So it looks like I’m eating another 11 million in the hopes of getting 2 innings of relief pitching, but I’m probably releasing him by May. Now I’m at $97,688,098.00 ( I wish this was my total payroll for 2025).
Next is Travis D’Arnaud and his $6 million. After perusing the Rays, Phillies, and Yankees, I just don’t see these teams wanting a 37 yr old catcher, even at a discounted rate, especially with his 65 OPS+ in 2025. I’m stuck with the 11 million – Now $108,688,098.00
Now we come to fan favorite, and good lead off hitter Zach Neto and his $5,200,000.00 Zach has value, especially as a first year Arb player with his track record. I’ll contemplate adding to my disguise when I head to the stadium. Zach to the Detroit Tigers for Max Anderson https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=anders000max, and Josue Briceno https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=bricen003jos Add a catcher to the system. Tigers are close, Zach may help them get over the hump, $5,200,000.00 gets replaced with a league minimum player.
Next is Jo Adell – Adell makes more than league minimum, so he is gone – Adell to KC Royals for Dustin Dickerson https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=dicker002dus, and Felix Arronde https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=arrond000fel. Hopefully I don’t have to throw any money in.
Jose Soriano is next up, a player with a ton of value at only 3.25 million, so I’m looking for a big return and definitely a disguise upgrade. Soriano to The Yankees for Bryce Cunningham https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cunnin001bry, Pico Kohn https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kohn–000pic, and George Lombard Jr. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lombar002geo
Logan O’Hoppe – 2.75 million, a big question mark as there is nobody ready to step into the position. Looks like I’m adding his 2.75 million, but after 2026, he is probably gone unless he really turns it around. Now $111,438,098.00
Next on the chopping block is Reid Detmers and his 2.75 million. Reid to Toronto Blue Jays for catcher Edward Duran,
Next is Brock Burke and his 2 million salary, yes, old steelgolf is a cheap bastard who doesn’t even want to spend 2 million for a reliever on a last place team. Brock has some, but not much, value because he is a lefty. I’m looking at Detroit Tigers to trade for Lucas Elisalt https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=elissa000luc. Will Detroit do the trade to get a lefty relief pitcher now? Will the trade simu;ator allow it or ANY of my trade, salary dump proposals? I don’t know because I’m too cheap to pay for the service (my god, I just realized I’m far more of a cheapskate then skinflint Arte!!
My final salary hit minus the benefits, etc. is roughly $130,578,098 and maybe bumps closer to 150 million. And the next obvious question is what kind of a line up are you going to field? well, we have the new, young manager, so he gets mostly a new young team, that will have probably have the same last place result as last year, and the year before, but will drastically lower the payroll and after 2026, another 38.5 million drops off. young team, off of the 2016 hamster wheel, and start drafting for need.
Trout – DH (Maybe he plays 20 games in the field due to injury to another player)
Lugo – Left field
Denzer Guzman – SS
Max Anderson – 3B
Schanuel – 1B
Christian Moore – 2B
Bryce Teodosio – CF Give him MLB plate appearances and get that OBP up.!
Campero / Paris – RF – Or any spring invite who challenges them for the position.
My starting pitching will be the top 5 from spring training, the rest will be bullpen or on the shuttle back and forth to the minors.
Will this team go to the playoffs? NO! Will they be young and hungry, and prone to errors, why yes, but they could be fun and create the foundation for a winning team for 2027 and beyond, without the burdensome contracts that blow up in Arte’s face.
Now I will peak outside to see if there is a mob with pitchforks, tar, and feathers.
