After re-signing Hisashi Iwakuma, GM Jerry Dipoto is satisfied with the Mariners‘ rotation, MLB.com’s Greg Johns reports. The Mariners had already added Wade Miley and Nate Karns in trades this offseason. “Now if you line up a rotation with Felix (Hernandez) and Wade Miley and James Paxton and Taijuan Walker and Nathan Karns and add Hisashi Iwakuma, that gives us the kind of depth and innings we want to get out of our starting rotation,” says Dipoto. “We’re very happy with that group.” Dipoto notes it’s crucial to have more than five pitchers capable of making solid starts. He adds that, even though it had looked like the Mariners were already at their budget limit prior to the Iwakuma signing, it took “less than five minutes” to get the Mariners’ ownership to approve spending once Iwakuma’s deal with the Dodgers fell apart and it became clear he was available. Here’s more from the AL West.
- In an offseason in which salaries for setup men have skyrocketed, the Rangers‘ bullpen is talented and cheap, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes. That means they could potentially use a reliever to upgrade elsewhere, or they could keep all their current talent to provide the team with a variety of strong relief options. Wilson notes that GM Jon Daniels said at the Winter Meetings that other teams asked him about ten different relievers. And even beyond closer Shawn Tolleson, the Rangers have plenty of other bullpen options with at least some closing experience, including newcomer Tony Barnette, who registered 41 saves for Yakult in Japan last season.
- It might be in the Angels‘ interest not to exceed the $189MM luxury tax threshold for next season, if only because of the headache it could cause this time next year, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register writes. Fans might argue that if the Angels exceeded that threshold for 2016, they could get back under it when Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson‘s contracts expire after the season, meaning that they would avoid the escalating penalties for repeat luxury tax offenders. The problem is that they’re already committed to spend a significant amount in 2017 (and will have non-mandatory, but necessary, expenditures for arbitration-eligible players like Garrett Richards, Hector Santiago and Kole Calhoun). They’ll also likely have to spend to bolster their rotation, infield and bullpen.
With all the money coming off the books next year for the angels, they will have to use that money to spend, But I wouldn’t mind keeping weaver around, he’s an angel for life
But you’d acknowledge Weaver is pretty much done, right? I’d love to see him bounce back, but I think the writing is on the wall.
He’s not the same weaver anymore but he can still get the job done, He’s not a number 1 anymore but a solid number 3. He’s the heart and soul of the team right now and a great mentor to the young pitchers the angels have. They could make a run at strasburg next season.
The Weaver from last year was hardly good enough to stay in the rotation. How does that make him a solid #3?
Because everyone knows what the real jered weaver can do when he is healthy. If he can come back strong next year then everyone will be happy.
Throw a batting practice fastball? I love Weaver but unless he develops a knuckle ball I don’t see him as more than a number 4 pitcher
Weav is a 4 at best….
Yeah but next seasons Free agents are trash. And with a farm system as barren as y’all have, you aren’t likely to get any big names.
I didn’t know a weak farm system had anything to with signing free agents. Hmmm…
That’s not what he said. He just means that you can’t trade for any good players with a farm system that can best be described as ‘desolate’. Even still, I do suppose a weak farm system could push some free agents away. Some free agents want to play for a contender for many years, not just the first 2 years they’re with a new team. But basically, he just meant trading will be impossible.
$40m is coming off but w/ raises by arbitration players and contracts have their next season salary at $142m w/ 2 sp to replace (Weaver/CJ) and left field to fill again…
There isnt as much available funds as you think
The Angels had better do something. I don’t mind if the Angels don’t make a run at a big FA, but I’d still like to see someone decent in LF. The platoon thing is just frustrating.
But I do mind the team being in somewhat of a limbo situation. Arte needs to decide if he wants to be a contender or not. Bringing in half-ass players to platoon in LF just kicks the can down the road. Potential winning seasons are being wasted by not adding just a few key pieces when they’ve been sorely needed. Trout is Trout, but pretty soon Pujols won’t produce what he produced this past year and then there’s another hole to fill.
I say either trade for prospects or try to win now, but let’s not keep the fans stuck in the hell that’s between.
Cron needs to step up in 2016 to fill in the shoes when pujols is on the dl
They already are contenders and they’ll be contenders for a long time. Platooning has worked in baseball for over 100 years. Potential winning seasons are not being wasted at all. The realities of baseball have finally set in again for Angels fans. They’re no longer the beneficiary of a weak division. They actually have to fight for it down to the wire. And they have. And are just a season removed from 98 wins and another playoff appearance. It really doesn’t matter what the Angels do, they’re going to have to scratch and claw until the day the rest of the division becomes weak again.
Which is exactly why they should have made a move when they’re so close. I realize they don’t have tons to work with, but the past two seasons may have turned out differently with a move here or there to help them out. Yes, the division has gotten a lot better, but we’ve failed to get better with it.
And yet the Rangers had no business winning any division with so many injuries, no starting pitching depth, and a pitching staff that was 13th in ERA, but their offense got red hot down the stretch. The Mets were probably the weakest roster of all the playoff teams but got to the World Series. It doesn’t matter what the Angels do. It’s a stronger division. And it’s going to an all out battle. And since the Angels are the richest team in the division, we’ll probably just have to wait until the rest of the division gets weak again to have the same kind of success they had a decade ago. Welcome to the realities of baseball.
If the Angels are not to committed to winning while we still have Trout, why is there any reason for Trout to stay past his contract?
I think they are committed to winning, they just can’t afford these type A free agents everyone wants. When you look at the moves that have been made so far, you can argue that each position has gotten a little better/stayed the same. With Hamilton, Aybar, and Murphy still being paid for, it’s hard to be paying for ANOTHER left fielder.
But I would hate to see Trout go back home. Especially if it meant he might play for NYY
I disagree w/ your pessimist view….this team as currently assembled is better then last years team even w/ the poor acquisitions of Nava/Gentry….This team(ownship) is comitted to winning…they just don’t agree w/ what your opinion of committed winning is…they look ate bigger picture w/ more details then you or I are privy to…..rather then bich and complain…why not support and cheer on the team they put out there and let your positive support lift the twam to success rather the letting booing and negativity tear t down….just. thought….
What specifically is better about this current team? Other than SS, can you specify what is better? The bullpen is weaker, we have basically stayed the same at 3rd depending on who you ask, we have question marks at catcher, and LF is the same hole it was before.
No more or less than any other contender. There is no Golden State Warriors or New England Patriots in baseball right now. The competition is well balance so it’s more of a crapshoot than anything. How do the Mets get to the World Series? How does a Rangers team that’s 13th in ERA win their division? No super teams anymore. It’s about who plays the best in the final 6 weeks. The Angels are built to contend going into every season. But with a stronger division all we can do is hope and pray.
What specifically is better?
I feel Escobar is an upgrade over Freese and company
Soto will be better combo w/ Perez (who I fell will also be better this season then last
Nava/Gentry will probably put up same to slightly (and I mean slightly) better offense as Joyce but will have a much better DRS
I expect Giavotella to show improvement
the loss of Gott won’t hurt very much
As for SP
Richards will be improve over last season
As will Heaney and Tropeano
Shoemaker is a wildcard imo and could/should be moved to BP
Weaver will still trend down
CJ will pitch better then next year after cleaning out his elbow
Santiago will remain about the same
Skaggs will interesting to see how he rebounds after TJ
Specific enough?
I’m interested in how we use Skaggs, shoemaker, and weaver as they will all probably have around 4.00 eras as starters. One of them will be the 5th starter but for the other two do we use them as middle relievers since without gott we basically have none. Unless you count salas, do you use them as spot starters/ long relievers, or one as a middle and one as a long reliever
Who’s bumped from the rotation on opening day? Paxton, Karns, or Iwakuma?
I think it is safe to say the Felix, Miley and Iwakuma are locked into the rotation. I would say the final two spots are going to be competed for in Spring Training between Paxton, Walker and Karns. It is hard to see them starting the season so right handed heavy and have Miley being the only southpaw in the rotation but we’ll see. Should be an interesting competition to monitor in March.
I think Rangers offseason to this point has been very risky, to count on guys like Hamilton, Choo, Chironos, Deshields, and Moreland to be adequate starters is extremely risky. They have some guys that seem like safe bets for regression ( Choo, Deshields, Fielder, and especially Moreland).
The rotation should be good but not spectacular, Darvish and Hamels is a very strong 1/2 though both have risks for different reasons (Age/Health), Perez/Holland/Lewis is an ok backend.
Good news is they have depth in the minors, but I don’t think it’s realistic to expect Brinson or Mazara for much time or for them to make big impact, Gallo could however. When they traded for Hamels it pointed to looking towards this year well they shouldn’t stop now, that outfield is bad.
Derek Holland when healthy could be a TOR arm actually. The rangers are strong with their starting rotation in my opinion. Also, i disagree with you when you say moreland is risky as a starter. Hes been consistently solid throughout most of his career. He isnt a top 1b but certainly not a risk.
Moreland had never had a 1+ fWAR season till last year. In fact other than last year only other time he really came close to average as a regular was in 2010 when he was called up and had a 115 wRC+. Other than that he has been consistently well below average and was below replacement level in 2014.
The outfield is bad if you think they are supposed to play the whole year. But Banny has shown that he likes to pla they match ups and put his players in the best position to succeed. And he will get the most out of his players. That will make the difference. They still need a young starting pitcher. If they do that, I will call this a successful offseason!
OF is bad because they have 0 above average regulars and a ton of risk with little upside, that doesn’t change even with Bannister being smart, Ruggs is a really good bat against lefties but the regulars are bad.
The Angels’ biggest problem overall is their division has become more and more competitive over the last 5-6 years, and the second wild card evens the playing girl over the entire league. So the days of the super team that the Angels were apart of for a decade are over. And the current Angels team is just as strong, if not stronger, than those teams. But the their divisional competition is stronger, and league wide competition is more balanced. Even the Yankees haven’t won 90 games in 3 years. Expectations may have to be lowered based on those things alone.
*evens playing field
lol
Moreland when healthy has done pretty well and has a great glove at 1B. Plus, he’s in his FA year so he’ll be plenty motivated to produce. Choo has been a solid player over the last few years. His first year in TX was a washout because of injury. DeShields? who knows if he’ll have a sophomore slump. Hamilton you can’t count on at all. Fielder is on the decline but who knows when the big dropoff will happen. His dad went into decline at age 32 and that’s where Prince is now. Cecil’s career ended after age 34. Chirions isn’t Pudge but very few were. He was competent. The rotation is a huge question. How will Yu, Holland & Perez do? The bullpen could be awesome.
You’re forgetting Hamels and Cobra in that rotation btw. Hamels makes the rotation a lot less of a question mark and Colby will at least be competent.
I’m not forgetting Hamels and Lewis at all……they are a good #1 & #5 starters. But 2-3-4 are questions right now. Yu may not be ready to go until May and even then, how well will he do after TJ? Holland was a real puzzle last year and Perez flashed some reason to hope but was inconsistent coming back from TJ. Plus, they’ll need to find a way to give Colby more than four days of rest. Last year, working on four days of rest, he was pretty bad. But with 5 days or more—-he was very good. I’m not suggesting a six man rotation because you do want Cole pitching every 5th day …..but….altering the rotation to suit both.
BTW…..I’m not trying to make a case for Moreland being in the HOF….only that he’s a decent 1b when healthy. He’s not the Rangers problem. They need a RHB with some pop. Maybe Ruggs can be an asset. We’ll see.
Angels want outfielders. White Sox and Halos should talk about CJ Wilson and maybe Melky Cabrera.
I think if we were to trade cj we would have to trade him to a team willing to pay for his contract like the Yankees. I think we could trade for Someone like Brett Gardner for CJ, Kyle Kubitza, kaleb cowart, and cash. We get our outfielder they get a solid starting pitcher 2 possible future replacements for arod or trade chips and cash to make up for the difference of cj’s and gardner’s contract for the first year (about 5M dollars)
Should the angels make a run at strasburg next season?
all depends on how much the Halos have to spend. Strasburg has not lived up to the hype (maybe no one could) he had coming into MLB. He’s been the pitching version of Hayward and we just saw how much a team was willing to give for a player with potential even he hasn’t produced the numbers expect. Interesting that both Strasburg & Hayward had that one season that showed what they can do but haven’t matched it since.
with weaver and wilson combined that is over 40 million, but I actually would want to bring weaver back on the cheap.
Heyward has been a 5+ fWAR player 3 of the last 4 years.
Strasburg’s problems have been injury related, when healthy he has been extremely good. He’s not Kershaw but he’s already been worth 18.7 fWAR over 132 starts, a very good ratio.
sorry, but i’m an old fart who pays no attention to stats like war,waa, rar…etc. I pay attention to what is actually produced on the field and the last three years, Heyward has averaged about 12hr, 52rbi and a .275ba. the last three years, Strasberg is 33-27 3.17. they’re good but let’s be honest…..the contract Jason has and the one Strasberg will get (unless he has an injury or monster year) is based on potential—-not actual production the last few years.
So in other words you prefer contextless stats with little to no value, and ignore the importance of defense, got it.
Heyward’s deal was a bargain from a pure money standpoint, but it’s hard to consider the value of opt out. He’s produced a lot, it’s not based on potential. If he improves it will be one of the best 50+ million FA deals in history
Obviously, if he improves, Heyward’s signing will be a good one. But based on the last three years, Heyward isn’t that big a deal. As for “contextless stats with little or no value”……without WAR, how could people have ever known that guys like Mays, Aaron, Clemente were great players with just things like Runs, RBI’s, HR’s…and BA? As for their defense—-I sure didn’t need WAR to tell me how great those guys were in the OF. Having a good defensive player in the OF is a nice bonus but production at the plate is more important. As for his ability to opt out, if Jason is still producing 12-60 .270, he would be a fool to opt out cause he would have trouble finding someone willing to pay him more. Elvis Andrus has that choice to opt out in a couple years and after the last couple disappointing seasons, I seriously doubt he would try that.
angels shoul pick up uribe and move Escobar to second base