The Angels are still in the outfield market, but it’s not clear whether the team will strongly pursue the top available options, as MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez reports. A source tells Gonzalez that owner Arte Moreno remains unwilling to exceed the luxury line, meaning that the team would not have the payroll capacity for a major addition — at least without trimming existing salary first. When asked whether the team was looking at a major addition or less expensive move, GM Billy Eppler responded: “I don’t think you look to do one and not the other. I think you’re constantly looking to do both. Your circumstances and timing might dictate what you can and cannot do, but I think you should always be looking to do both.” Meanwhile, Eppler noted that the team is not committed to platooning Craig Gentry and Daniel Nava in left field, saying that “we’re not at that point yet.”
Here’s more on the market for outfielders, which remains chock full of major names:
- Top free agents Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes have seen increased interest in the new year, according to ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden (Insider link). But both are still waiting to see what happens with Chris Davis, per the report, as their representatives see the Orioles as a plausible landing spot if the club does not land Davis.
- The Nationals have continued interest in free agent Gerardo Parra and have been in contact with him, MLB.com’s Bill Ladson writes. Washington has long been connected with the veteran, who would presumably share time with the aging Jayson Werth and unproven youngster Michael Taylor if signed.
- Former Nats center fielder Denard Span could still be considered for a return to D.C., but durability obviously remains a major concern. Meanwhile, he’ll surely aim for a full-time role. The veteran is set to show off his recovery from surgery at some point this month, but gave a preview recently on his Twitter account. From the video available at that link, Span looks to be moving well and is obviously progressing after the hip procedure. In spite of the risk, he ought to hold plenty of appeal given the high level of production he’s carried recently when healthy.
I like Span or Parra if we free up some cash via trade such as Wilson. or i like the idea of just trading for Cargo or even a Jay Bruce. Although i would much rather have a lead off or high OBP type guy
I like all of what you just said… I want Eppler to get creative and show off his GM negotiation skills. So long as Trout is healthy we need to be going all out… Arte has to bite the bullet with this luxury tax
I agree , he did get creative in getting simmons but I didn’t like the fact they gave up newcomb
And going all out has resulted in Pujols and Hamilton, neither of whom are playing up to the value at which they are getting paid.
Not going to lie, I was behind the Pujols and Hamilton signings. as a fan. It’s not my money and both are former MVP’s. That being said, I would not have handled the Hamilton situation last year the same way and I think that did cost Arte more money than if he wasn’t an ass about it.
I was behind the pujols signing but not Hamilton, at the time they signed hamilton, they didn’t need offense, their only problem was pitching and the bullpen.
What angelsfan said. It still galls me that we could have had Torii AND Grienke for what we paid Hamilton. Trout would have still had a mentor and we would likely still have one of the best pitchers in baseball under contract.
Cargo, yes! Jay Bruce? No way.
The angels would of had CarGo for Shoemaker last year, But I think in order for them to make a big move they need to trade wilson
Good luck trading Wilson.
If he shows he is healthy in spring training, then he could be moved
He could be moved, but they would still have to eat a good portion of his salary. No team is taking Wilson and his entire contract.
There’s no chance they couldve gotten CarGo for Shoemaker.
That is what I originally heard
Shoemaker coming off his 2014 and Cargo coming of HIS 2014? Heck yeah, that would have worked.
At that time the Rockies were indeed looking to get rid of Cargo, but his contract specifically. The deal could have been made and I was disappointed it wasn’t.
Dipoto was the reason the Angels didn’t get CarGo. He wouldn’t pull the trigger. Because he was trying to get Scioscia fired. As for Jay Bruce, CarGo may be injured prone, but CarGo puts up numbers when healthy. Bruce is an average hitter even though he hits in the most hitter friendly stadium in the majors.
I think CJ makes sense to the Orioles. They have the need and don’t want to give up a pick for Gallardo. They also don’t have the prospects it would take to get a legit pitcher where as it seems CJ wouldnt cost much in terms of prospects because of his salary.
Wilson makes a heckuva lot more than Gallardo would.
Yes but the Angels would obviously have to eat a portion especially if they want more than a bag of balls in return
I think the angels would have to eat atleast 12-15 million of it, who would the o’s give the angels?
It is hard to say because it really depends on the amount they pay towards it. I could see it being Brian Matusz if the Angels eat very little and Dariel Alvarez OF or Christian Walker 1b if they eat a good amount. They are both top ten prospects which unfortunately isn’t saying much (probably 12-15 range in a better system). They are both major league ready and Walker may be Davis replacement if they can’t ‘re-sign him. Alvarez has a fantastic arm and has proved himself ready for an opportunity at the major league level.
I think the Angels would gladly take a bag of balls. The real return for the Angels would be salary relief. Receiving anything of substance in return would probably cause more of the contract to be eaten.
I’d rather keep Cj if we aren’t getting anything of value in return.
Arte needs to smarten up. Span wouldn’t cost much, he would be less years and he doesn’t cost us a draft pick. He needs to just sign him and pay the luxury tax. Halos need his leadoff abilities. I also would prefer Halos to get a 2nd basemen. I was so disappointed Billy failed to trade for Neil Walker.
I like Bruce better than cargo
Why? Bruce isn’t good. League average hitter last year and he was terrible in 2014.
Bruce isn’t that hot, but he’s 2-1/2 years younger than CarGo and a lot cheaper (1y/$12.5M plus a $13M team option or a $1M option, vs. Gonzalez’ 2y/$37M). Neither one has hit well on the road – CarGo away from Coors is a .255/.310/.441 hitter,, while Bruce outside of GABP is .241/.309/.427 – and I wouldn’t give up much for either unless I had a good hitter’s park to drop them in.
That’s …. bizarre.
Cespedes is a great player, but he will definitely get over-payed
I think the angels or the white sox get him
There’s a couple of sneaky GM’s in the NL…..don’t be surprised if one of the top guys ends up somewhere that “hasn’t been heard from yet”……I’m not sure how they keep their negotiations secret…….but they sure do a great job (until the last few hours….at least).
Gordon’s name has been thrown around several teams in the NL…..Upton too. Cespedes not so much, but a little. I just HOPE that they start moving towards a deal soon!……..tired of being glued to my laptop….watching Twitter!……LOL
The Sox won’t be getting anyone if they are only offering 3 year contracts. 🙁
I agree
Even if they’re able to find someone to take Wilson, after his performance and his health issues, Arte is going to have to pay a healthy chunk of the $20+ million he’s owed in 2016.
Oh..and they’re only $4 Mil away from the luxury tax…and they will probably add someone to the roster during the season to replace someone already there now because of injury or poor performance…or to fill a need to stay in the pennant race. In other words, there’s already no slack in the budget.
Or they could trade him to LA for Ethier+cash to cover Ethier’s 2 years left. Fills their need another outfielder and a LH bat.
Yeah but the Dodgers don’t have much of a need for Wilson. Not even sure he’d make the rotation at first.
I would be ok w/ this trade and brought it up early in the off season…w/ that said the Dodgers don’t need another LHP in their starting rotation….
CJ pitched pretty good after he had his elbow cleaned out last time…I’ll put $$ that he does this season too….he’s also pitching for his next contract….
It seems everyone is waiting for Davis to sign but they are in a stand still. I have not seen any plausible spots for him other than Houston where he would be a great fit. I am happy with the Os so far this off-season but I wish they would stop waiting on Davis and go after Cespedes or Upton. Trumbo can play first. Davis had his shot and he decided to wait so it’s time for the Orioles to pee or get off the pot. While it seems unlikely maybe if they get Cespedes or Upton they can still come back and try to get Davis on a one year deal or a deal with an opt out.
They should go a little crazy and get two big names 🙂
Davis makes sense for Toronto, St. Louis, Houston, Baltimore, Seattle, and sort of Cleveland (~1% possibility here though, especially with them signing Napoli). Whether they’re interested in spending the money is another story. He also makes some sense for likely non-contenders in Milwaukee, Colorado, San Diego, and Miami (Bour sort of precludes this one, but you never know with Loria) in the sense that they have a vacancy or pretty replaceable option at first base.
Crush Davis is holding up the free agent market!
If Span is healthy, I’d love the Giants to get him. There have been Dexter Fowler sightings in the Bay Area as well.
Orioles – Cj Wilson
Angels – Dariel Alvarez, Brian Matusz
Then
Angels – Carlos Gonzalez
Rockies- Matt Shoemaker, Jett Bandy, Mike Morin
The Angels get the Outfield help they need in Cargo, a Solid Lefty in the pen in Matusz and a young outfielder with a great arm.
The Orioles address the rotation without losing a draft pick.
And the Rockies add to their rotation with Shoe, add to there very thin group of catchers and get another young arm for the pen, honestly I think they could get a better player then morin I’m just to tired to think of anyone else and he was the first one to come to mind
Why is the return for Wilson better than the return for Cargo?
I was gonna change that, instead I would do Shoe, Taylor Ward, Grayson Long, and Either Julio Garcia or Nate Smith
Ward? For Cargo? STOP! no dude. Ward is part of the future.
Platoon players
No need to get CARGO! Just STOP! Trade for Dj Lemahieu! We need a reliable 2nd baseman. Even if he doesn’t hit he is a gold glove defender and he puts the ball in play. Sign Span to play LF and he can leadoff for us.
i love that idea…