By trading Mark Trumbo to the Diamondbacks, the Angels freed up about $4MM in payroll, MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez notes. Now they're approximately $20MM underneath the $189MM luxury-tax threshold. Even after acquiring Tyler Skaggs and Hector Santiago, then, GM Jerry Dipoto says the Angels will be "very aggressive with how we fill our pitching needs."
Gonzalez notes that the Angels could sign a free agent like Matt Garza or possibly Masahiro Tanaka. Lower-tier free agents like Jason Hammel and Paul Maholm are also possibilities. The Trumbo deal also means that Howie Kendrick (who had previously appeared to be another trade candidate, due to his salary) will very likely stay with the Angels. To replace Trumbo's offense, Gonzalez suggests the Angels will likely turn toward a relatively inexpensive hitter, like Raul Ibanez or Michael Morse.
Nice job by DiPoto to get some pitching for a good but sort of replaceable player. He needs to do this one more time to bring in some depth. Conger could go next.
What exactly are you hoping for? .249 average is about his only quality, but he’s got no plate discipline like Trumbo given the near 25% k rate, under 7% walk rate, and no power. Whatever depth conger brings in may be better to do without.
I get what you’re saying about probably not getting a huge return on Conger, but I’m not sure that superior plate discipline, K rate, and walk rate is the argument you want to go with when making the Trumbo comparison.
Trumbo had a higher k rate but a higher walk rate as well around 8%. Point is trumbo and his horrible plate discipline you can stomach somewhat when he bangs in 30 homers. He’s pretty much slightly better than Adam Dunn- all power little discipline. Conger has no discipline and no power. You’d get maybe a prospect in double or single a who’s bottom of the barrel but has limited upside for conger.
Conger has some power, but not like McCann.
You just described a lot of catchers. Lol Conger has quite a bit if power and has one full season of experience. He’s a better pitch framer and is quicker at throwing runners out on defense, which is where you should be starting when evaluating all catchers.
*better pitch framer and quicker at throwing runners out than Iannetta.
Except there aren’t that many catchers that are near 25% k rate. Other guys that are similar to conger in their limited offensive capabilities but are better for defensive reasons are closer to 20%. The whole point is you don’t expect much but you’d hope a catcher they’d be between 17-22% k rate at best. The fact he’s over that range and doesn’t get walks any runs he saves seems to be mitigated when he’s up at the plate. Guys like jp arencibia horrible k rate and not great defensively but his power is attractable. Most teams can find a defensive catcher rather than trading for conger elsewhere.
So who is the third outfielder? Did Calhoun earn that spot?
Shuck/Calhoun.
Yes.
definitely Calhoun, Shuck is a 4th OF.
Good trade by DiPoto. One note: I wouldn’t necessarily assume Mike Morse will be “relatively inexpensive”, as I read earlier he may be asking for $7 to $8 million, which would be too much.
I would rather save the money for more pitching.
No way any team will pay him that.
Texas paid Lance Berkman more than that last year, and you have to think Morse in 2014 will be better than Berkman this year. When pickins are slim, the prices go up.
Morse will get about $7m. Watch.
If JP lands Tanaka I would say he has done pretty good job filling the holes in the pitching staff.
NO! Tanaka would be the next Pujols/Hamilton contract.
I don’t think Tanaka will sign for 125 or 200+ million. Hasn’t done anything in MLB yet.
Exactly.
5 years 80mm. Thats my bet.
Garza or tanaka. Tanaka higher upside more money. Garza super consistent cheaper
How? Tanaka is 25
About 6-7 fan bases are saying “if we sign tanaka”.
It should be more like “if Tanaka is even posted…”
So glad my Mets didn’t trade for Trumbo. That’s moving AT LEAST Jon Niese and Rafael Montero. What an overpay by the DBacks for a guy who will be playing out of position and made the third-most outs in the American League last year. Not quite sure that’s the guy I’d want to give up two top young pitchers for…
Arizona didn’t give up 2 top young pitchers. And trumbo will hit 40 homers.
He would have hit 40 HR with the Halos if he wasn’t traded…
And yet still runs the risk of being worth less than 2 WAR due to how bad he is in the field and how little he walks.
Except that his 8% walk rate last season was exactly league average, and the advanced metrics have him as a slightly positive defender in LF and 1B. His low OBP comes from low BABIP and Ks, at least one of which will likely regress to the mean. Not sure what “the risk of being worth less” than one has ever been quite means — that could be said arbitrarily of any player. Is it likely? No. It’s likely Trumbo will continue to be a 2.5 WAR player with strikeout issues and elite power.
In order to get that 8% walk rate Trumbo’s slugging, wOBA, K rate, and contact rate at balls in the strike zone (and overall) were all career worsts though. Except for that walk rate, everything else in Trumbo’s offensive game is trending in the wrong direction (more Ks, less contact, even less .ISO).
And, the advanced metrics have him as slightly positive at 1st base but below replacement level in his extended time in LF in 2012. I’ll admit after further review his time in RF skews his 2012 defensive numbers (his majority non-1st base year) to be worse than they are but he’s definitely not average out there.
Finally, 2.5 WAR is Trumbo at his best defensive position. I think you’ll be looking at that as a career ceiling not an average for him in the outfield.
Trumbo’s the type of player that will play well whatever park he’s in. Good luck Mark!
Easily hit 40 homers. He is the next Ritchie Sexson.
Nope. He’s Alfonso Soriano. Not young Alfonso Soriano, Alfonso Soriano right now.
But a worse outfielder.
Adam Dunn hit 40 homers. You want him? I’m sure the White Sox would love that.
So 40 homers makes him worth the trade? And who says he’s hitting 40? Last year was his worst offensive season and he’s trended downward, plus he is a defensive weakness in the outfield, despite being a plus-defender at first base. I’m not saying Trumbo doesn’t have value, but Santiago and Skaggs are two tremendously talented young pitchers. (And while Santiago wasn’t technically with the D-Backs, he was traded straight up for Adam Eaton. Arizona could’ve held on to him, which would’ve been the better move.)
Trumbo is likely to be overvalued in arbitration because of his home run numbers, which will restrict payroll. He’s a 2.5 WAR player, which puts him at about average for an everyday player. That number is in danger of decreasing now because he’ll be out of position, so he likely to be nothing more than an average-value position player with the D-Backs. Santiago posted a higher WAR in 149 innings last year.
If he hits 40+ HRS in Arizona, everyone will be regretting not trading for Trumbo. Let’s wait and see.
Not necessarily. After accounting for park factors, if he hits 40 HRs but continues to have a sub-.300 OBP and provides negative value in the field, it might be closer to a Dante Bichette, 1999, type season.
fangraphs.com/blogs/dante-bichettes-unbelievable-1…
Park factors never work out. Pujols was supposed to hit 40 in Anaheim but doesn’t take into effect the air and what not
The marine layer is a killer. Especially to right-handed batters in Seattle.
I honestly have no idea what’s going on in Kevin Towers’ head, but I’ll bet it’s scary in there where things don’t make sense.
The best move the Angels can do now is sign Matt Garza. I think Michael Young is better that Ibanez/Morse because he is an impact bat who can play all of the infield. If CJ Cron can step up and play 1B, Young would be a perfect fit in Anaheim, which is near his home town.
all around good points here ….I think Garza would round out the rotation perfectly. Michael young is a good player all around as far as backup is concerned…
Michael Young “impact bat”
Heh
This might be his last year so he may sign for cheap to get a ring.
The best move is for the Angels to build the team with the farm system. See A’s.
Sign Garza or Arroyo and we keep our 1st round draft.
I was interested in arroyo but now with the background of Garza in central California….im thinking Garza
Good idea. We’ll check back in 5 years, that’s about how long it takes.
Michael Young isn’t an impact bat, just no. All he does is hit ground balls and hits into double plays in the most crucial situations.
Kendrys Morales for Jason Vargas; Mark Trumbo for Tyler Skaggs and Hector Santiago; Mike Trout for…?
The league.
Both Verlander and Cabrera would be a good starting point
You would need to throw in Joe Blanton to even out the trade. The Tigers would need front line pitching in return.
If the Angels wanted to destroy the luxury tax then sure
Obviously it would never happen. Trout is untouchable. I was just thinking in terms of even value short term.
Send Torii back too
We also send about 1000 baseball along with Joe Blanton knowing he will give up alot of souvenirs at Comerica Park.
You can have him for free.
What’s scary is the kind of return Trout could bring. Remember how the Hershel Walker trade eventually resulted in 3 rings for the Cowboys? Trout could bring back a bigger haul than that.
Didn’t the A’s win the division the last 2 years? How did they do it?
Why don’t you just tell us. You’re obviously smarter than us.
Ask Billy Beane.
*Obviously…
thanks. i’m tired
hey, obliviously may work as well.
Good pitching and more offense out of a lot of guys who probably shouldn’t have put up those numbers.
Angels are a poorly run org. M’s are winning the AL West this year baby!!
How about those A’s?
Please tell me that was supposed to be funny.
comedic post of the year?
Speaking of poorly run organizations, you must have missed that article on the Mariners that came out a few days ago.
That article was an inside rouse.
People will take the M’s for granted, and be BLINDSIDED by their success!
I voted ^ ‘cuz you’re too darn funny!
Laugh it up!
The M’s have you exactly where they want you to be.
Trying to beat the Astros for the cellar? Is that where we’d like be?
Does your team have a Robinson Cano?
Nope.
Recognize, respect.
His team has a Mike Trout judging from his profile picture, and let’s be honest here, who would you rather have?
Could’t have said it better.
Baseball is a team sport.
Yes but the A’s have never been able to hold on to a core of guys for awhile.
25 to a roster last I heard.
The 2001 Rangers called, they wanted their ridiculously expensive publicity stunt that didn’t work back.
…in 1st and 2nd place, to which the Mariners are looking up?
Look at your roster please… Cano would have to be a 20 WAR player to turn the team around
oh, in four year he might make that….little late though.
Nah. If Halos don’t win then the ‘Stros win the west “baby”
Uh the M’s just gave out a 240 mil contract?? That’s never a good thing
Isn’t that what Mariners fans said after they signed Chone Figgins in 2010?
Ibanez is dynamite in LF.
The dude is 41. How many miles does he have left?
Oh, I agree, but look what he did this year. Who’s to say he can’t be productive next year?
And yes, that was sarcasm. Unless from the word “dynamite” you inferred “likely to explode in a cacophony of incompetence”.
He’s a great DH. I just wouldn’t play him in left.