Here’s the latest from around the AL West…
- The Angels are “kicking all the options around” on adding an outfielder, GM Billy Eppler told reporters (including Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times). Eppler also said he’s still “having conversations” with the agents of such players as Justin Upton, Yoenis Cespedes or Chris Davis. DiGiovanna wonders, however, if Eppler’s other comments about the importance of “getting guys who make contact, who have an idea of the strike zone” and don’t rely on power could be a hint that the Angels may really be targeting Alex Gordon. Gordon brings excellent defense, a high OBP and (unlike Upton or Cespedes) is a left-handed hitter that would help balance the Angels’ mostly right-handed lineup.
- Athletics executive VP of baseball ops Billy Beane and GM David Forst spoke to reporters (including Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle and CSNBayArea.com’s Joe Stiglich) about the team’s signing of John Axford. Between Axford, Ryan Madson and Rich Hill, Beane said the A’s are pursuing a strategy of pursuing players who enjoyed comeback years in 2015 but whose poor recent track records could scare other clubs off. “If we’re right, we’re gonna be smart. If we’re wrong, you’ll know why we’re wrong — because we dealt with a small sample size,” Beane said.
- As for other potential A’s moves, Forst said “Starting pitching is something we’re still looking at. We’re having those conversations, but I don’t have a great sense of how long they’ll take or if anything will come of it.”
- Astros GM Jeff Luhnow tells the Houston Chronicle’s Evan Drellich that he thinks his club is “going to look at either bringing in another pitcher for the rotation or a bat of some sort” as the next item on the offseason to-do list. As Drellich notes, the Astros have enough financial space and roster depth to make any number of moves to address their needs.
finally the Angels have some sense and can go get Gordon¡ they better add some OBP to this lineup cuz right now it ain’t looking too hot.
1. simmons
2. Calhoun
3. trout
4. pujols
5. cron
6. Escobar
7. perez
8. gentry
9. giavotella
not saying that’s the lineup for sure but seems pretty barren if we wanna out-win the Astros and Rangers
I can’t conceive of a reason to have a guy with a career .305 OBP lead off. Not if you want to win the game.
My thoughts exactly. I’d imagine against lefties you’ll see Gentry leading off with Calhoun or Escobar batting second. Against righties it’s a bit tougher, maybe Escobar. Gordon would be a great option at the top of the lineup for the Angels.
Apparently the part about that not being the line up was missed…
Not for nothing, but if you don’t want people to think it’s a proposed lineup, you probably shouldn’t number it.
Simmons batted 8th for the braves and you won’t him to lead off heheh
That’s a weak lineup, for sure. Even adding Gordon isn’t going to help all that much.
The lineup will be likely
1: Calhoun
2: Escobar
3: Trout
4: Pujols
5: Gordon
6: Kendrick
7: Alvarez
8: Perez
9: Simmons
Pretty sure they want Escobar leading off. At least at this point.
So you think their gonna add Pedro to DH?
And sign HK?
I personally don’t see either of those….
Maybe sign PA if they don’t sign Gordon or another current bigger FA for LF…but they don’t like to have DH only guys and they already have Cron and Pujols to cover 1st/DH
I see
Escobar
Kole
Trout
Pujols
Gordon or Upton
Cron
Simmons
Perez
Johnny G
Kendrick told his agent his preference is to sign with the Angels. I think they will package Santiago Cron and a couple of other players to get a front line starter. Or package them with Wilson to free up money.
that package won’t land them a big front line starter, maybe if the padres were up for trading tyson ross
Maybe Marlon Byrd could be a good platoon fit and land him cheap.
Has low avg. 250’s but 70 rbi’s 24hrs
That’s not too bad batting behind Albert. I would like to see E. Navarro get some time in left and some at first with Al DHing a lil more
I think u almost got it
But I like this a lil better
Escobar
Johnny G
Trout
Kole
Al
Cron or new LF?
New Lf or Cron
Simmons
Perez
I don’t think they bring Kendrick back, I say look at cheap options like pedro alverez and maybe a reunion with mike napoli
Would rather see Kole bat in between Trout and Al but other that that sounds pretty good. Well I also like Johnny G in 1 or 2 hole too. Dudes got a ton of fire
The Angels’ BEST left handed hitting left fielder is Josh Hamilton. But our owner got a chapped ass and butthurt, so to “punish” Josh, he sent him to a place he loves, agreed to pay most of his salary and leave himself without left-handed power and a solid left fielder. WTF?
Josh didn’t do anything when he was healthy playing for the Angels and didn’t help the Rangers either cuz he shouldn’t stay healthy
I’d rather see
Johnny G
Simmons
Trout
Kole
Albert
Cron
Escobar
*
Perez
Johnny G hit in the range of .300/.380obp in the 9 spot last season compared to .270/.315obp w/ equal amount of AB
No way on Gordon
Rather have Byrd for cheap and platoon him. Only big name I like is Cespedies, if not him might as well go cheap
Wonder how the rotations gonna look for the A’s.
Gray / Hahn / Bassitt / Graveman and someone perhaps?
Maybe they’ll sign Fister too, and go all out with the reclamation projects. I would enjoy seeing him back in the AL West if not in Seattle.
Well I’m assuming Hill will be in the rotation. That’s why he signed in Oakland.
Been hearing through the org that Hahn is still experiencing forearm soreness and might not even play next year, thats why the A’s are very much in on the FA market, Kazmir, Colon and even Maeda on their radar to go behind Gray.
Right this second it looks like: Gray – FA/trade #2 – Hahn (maybe)- Hill then one of Bassit/Graveman/Manaea/Nolin/Parker/Brooks/Doubront. Personally I think Manaea will be in the rotation permanently by June..
Beane’s team of geniuses traded away Donaldson so they’re capable of more mistakes. I hope.
Eppler is right, we already have 4 25 home run guys. Time to improve OBP. Too early to look at the lineup, Gentry is a good potential bench piece on a non-Guaranteed contract and shouldn’t be listed.
The Orioles should trade for Prince Fielder. He’d be a monster in Camden Yard.
One of the stories on the site mentioned Cody Ross trying to get himself healthy for the season. He’d be a sweet rehab pickup for a guy like Duquette on the cheap and low floor/high rewards type guy for less money than Johnny Gomes would cost. Gomes is about finished and Ross’s swing could possibly put up some really nice numbers at Camden yards IF his hips are finally healthy. I’d love to see The Duke take a flyer on him as a corner OF and DH backup.
Trade for Omar Infante and sign Gordon,Yoenis or/& Daniel Murphy
Escobar
Kole
Trout
Pujols
Gordon or Yoenis or Parra
Cron
Simmons
Perez
Infante or Daniel Murphy or Jonny G
that lineup would be golden with just the acquisition of two quality, consistent players like that^^
the Astros are going to get Dickerson. that would be a great bat to add to the Stros lineup.
The Angels need Gordon to lead off and get on base for trout/pujols
It was pretty clear in 2015 that the Angels needed base runners in front of Trout/Pujols. Something like half of each of their HR totals were solo HR’s. Of course, with Trout also hitting 40, Pujols might have been stuck with the amount of solo HR’s he got anyway. But if you figure additional OBP at leadoff, Trout probably drives about 110-120, and that’s still not a huge difference considering they had a negative run differential. But at 85-77 and only missing the playoffs by one game, a leadoff hitter would’ve at least gotten them a WC. Another thing to consider is the fact that the Angels got no production from their bench whatsoever. So adding a bat in LF will help, but it’s really the bench that needed to be plugged with better options along with the positions in the lineup that needed to be filled. A productive bench was a key reason they led the majors in runs in 2014. They were just able plug Collin Cowgill into LF to spell an injured Josh Hamilton, and get a .330 OBP from him. But Cowgill was hurt all of 2015 and couldn’t limit the damage from the awful season from Matt Joyce. So bench is just as key as that left fielder IMO.
Which is why Trout should always hit second and Pujols should hit cleanup.
Well part of their lack of bench production was Taylor Featherstone and other soft hitting INF and the poor hitting LF platoon…
If the angels got gordon and possibly another bat, then they will be ready to make another deep run, But I would still like them to get another bullpen arm and starter. What does everyone think on a Napoli reunion?
He can’t play LF, he’s going to get better opportunities on a team with a more open 1B/DH spot, like Baltimore..
I HOPE they pass on a Nap reunion….can’t catch/have too many 1b/DH already/will not produce for the Angels like he does vs the Angels…
I’m starting to believe Billy Beane spends his offseasons wandering the Himalayas searching for baseball wisdom. He seeks the Baseball Gods so they may reveal the next brilliant market trend. Sometimes he finds them, sometimes he just gets lost.
If indeed the Angels spend some money on one of the LF FA, it will have to be a LH hitter. I just don’t see Eppler and Arte Moreno spending 15+ million and not balancing the lineup. So if they do, will have to be Gordon, Parra, or Fowler. IMO, for the money, Parra makes more sense, but you never know what Moreno wants. The lineup would look like this Escobar, Parra, Trout, Pujols, Cron, Simmons, Calhoun, Giavotella,Perez.
If it is Parra I can see them making a move to upgrade 2B also….if it’s Gordon/Upton/Cespedes it will be Johnny G at 2B
I think Fowler could be a ok fit!
I actually am glad someone said it finally. What about Byrd? He could be inexpensive and with about 70rbis that don’t seem like a bad fit for a year or two till the Angels can get a young upcoming fit
trade for Cargo!!
The Rockies like hector santiago, holy crap what are you waiting for Eppler!!
If he could’ve gotten Gonzalez for Santiago, I’m fairly certain he’d already have done that
Angels are better off passing on Cespy, Upton and Gordon. Keep the draft pick and sign Denard Span to play LF and put him on top of the lineup.
Potential Angels 2016 lineup
1.Span
2.Escobar
3.Trout
4.Pujols
5.Calhoun
6.Cron
7.Perez
8.Simmons
9.Giavotella
They can even make it better if they trade for DJ LeMahieu.
Potential lineup with a DJ LeMahieu trade
1. Span
2.LeMahieu
3.Trout
4.Pujols
5.Calhoun
6.Escobar
7.Cron
8.Perez
9.Simmons
Now that I like. Not to mention DJ LeMahieu brings gold glove caliber defense. Perfect fit for Simmons.
Yoenis doesn’t have a draft pick attached
With that said Arte has made it clear they aren’t going after a big name FA….
I believe I read that the team is only $4m under the $189 threshold so before they could sign Span they would have to clear some space via trade. The market for CJ has been small and the amount teams want the Angels to eat ($15m of his $20m) is a JOKE….
Angels fans need to prepare that this current roster is the opening day roster(baring injury or minor leaguer earning a spot at LF or 2B).
Even w/ the sorry platoon in LF I believe this team is better then last season…
I stand corrected on Cespy. But yea even still I wouldn’t want him because of the money. Angels can sign Span. Arte is willing to go over the tax as long as it isn’t by much and not a lot of years attached to the player. A 2 year deal for Span would be nice. I love that Arte has realized the 2018 free agent market will be the best one and his sights are set on that off-season already.
My concern w/ Span is him having to do a workout for teams in Dec to prove he is healthy. That and he’s a Boras client and even if healthy now can he stay healthy w/ his track record?