The Rays’ primary motivation in inserting themselves into the Athletics’ recent acquisition of Jurickson Profar was likely opening a spot on their 40-man roster, writes ESPN’s Keith Law (subscription link). In return for sending Brock Burke and Kyle Bird to Texas, the Rays received homer-prone reliever Emilio Pagan from Oakland and the Rangers’ draft pick in Competitive Balance Round A. Additional picks are always welcome, but the most important aspect of this draft pick is the slot value it adds to the Rays’ bonus pool. The pick comes with a slot value of between $1.6MM and $2MM, a valuable sum that extends beyond the pick itself. By boosting their bonus pool, the Rays have more flexibility should they want to go over slot, which is one way to snag a potential star. Given the Rays deep pool of young talent at the MLB level right now, they can afford to turn some of that excess prospect depth into further prospect wealth down the road.
A few other notes from around the American League…
- For the Athletics’ part in the above deal, Law notes they took advantage of their own area of depth, the bullpen, to get their new starting second baseman. The signing of Joakim Soria more than makes up for the loss of Pagan, and in Profar they now have an inexpensive, versatile player who may still have some upside. Functionally, he’s not all that different from the guy he’ll be replacing, Jed Lowrie, who was brought in as a similarly high-upside, low-cost, versatile option when they went out and got him from another division rival via trade (Houston).
- The Angels have had a tough time building a winner around Mike Trout, but they’ve suffered their share of bad luck too, particularly in the rotation, per Jonah Keri of cbssports.com. The history of injuries to promising rotation arms is disheartening: Garrett Richards with knee issues in 2014 leading up to Tommy John surgery, Matt Shoemaker getting hit in the head with a line drive near the end of a promising 2016 season, Tyler Skaggs with Tommy John in 2016, Andrew Heaney’s various ailments that kept him sidelined for most of 2016 and 2017, and of course, Shohei Ohtani’s latest injury – and that’s before even touching on the bullpen. Keri documents the poor performances of acquired position players as further misfortune suffered under Arte Moreno’s leadership: Albert Pujols, Vernon Wells, Zack Cozart and Josh Hamilton all disappointed relative to their pre-Angels production. It does begin to feel like the Angels are cursed, and yet poor major league scouting could also be the culprit in many of these cases. The recent deals for Matt Harvey and Trevor Cahill, then, nicely sidestepped the issues above by building pitching depth on short-term deals, and Keri suggests a furthering of that strategy by pursuing buy low candidates like Sonny Gray, Julio Teheran or even Yasmani Grandal, should his asking price come down.
The angels have had a dark cloud over them ever since they signed josh hamilton to that contract. They took a gamble on him instead of resigning Torii Hunter & Zack Greinke. Richards was prolly on his way to a cy young award in 2014 if he never got hurt. 2015 they fell short on the final day of the season. Moreno needs to build a winner soon before they lose trout for nothing, I won’t blame him if he turns down the extension that they plan to offer him. If he says no, then call the phillies or braves to make a trade.
I think it goes back further than Hamilton, remember the contract they gave to Matthews JR? And didn’t they pony up big for Vernon Wells?
Yea I remember that, traded Mike Napoli for wells. Then Mike Napoli destroyed the angels every time they played. But the angels need to change history.
I also think Scioscia was probably part of the problem too. Napoli, and more recently CJ Cron, never got enough playing time. They leave the Angels and hit 30+ bombs when given the playing time.
And the Rays let Cron go after he hit 30 home runs, The angels need to add another bat and possibly a bullpen piece, If everyone goes healthy I think they can give the astros a run for the money. The first two months of 2018 they were in first place, then injuries were piling up.
trading for wells was very unfortunate but napoli couldn’t be kept. not many managers would allow a player to play when drunk. and he was drunk often.
@
“I also think Scioscia was probably part of the problem too. Napoli, and more recently CJ Cron, never got enough playing time.”
@ RedSox4Life4ever
Scioscia turned Napoli into an acceptable ML Catcher. If not, Napoli could very well have spent his career in AAA. The reason Naopoli got limited playing time was that he had to be platooned as when he came up he was nowhere near a finished hitter..
In time Napoli became a very good ML player. He understands the game, is now coaching, and very well may become a ML manager.
If you think Mike Scioscia was a hindrance to Napoli and not a mentor, then you’re lost.
From what I read back then is is that Scioscia wanted a defensive minded catcher and that limited Napoli’s playing time, the defense not the offense. So manager’s decision to give up offense (limiting Napoli’s playing time) for more defense begind the plate.
Even back further, Mo Vaughn.
Mo Vaughn big signing then falls in dugout on a pop up. Angels then installed railings in front of the dugouts. Then also Kendrys Morales hits wall off grand slam then slips on home plate and breaks his leg.
Kendrys has lapses even to this day. Yet the Jays see him as a mentor to Vlad. Yeah, let the guy that cost himself a great career by his own stupidity teach a young guy how to be a tool.
Stupidity? Literally everyone celebrates, it was an enormously freak accident.
Reading all this, the Angels do seem to have some tough injury luck. Hopefully the new era changes things.
Kindly step on the plate. No need to jump in the air. It was stupid then and it’s stupid now. Wasn’t worth losing a year and a half of prime years. It was the beginning of the end for the Angels. More than likely they don’t become major players for Pujols.
Nothing in Morales’ game today screams leader or smart player. At all.
It actually goes back to 70’s. Spent money foolishly instead of building up the farm system. Every player that turned 40 signed with the Angels.
Stop crying,you won WS in 01 I believe?most teams don’t even sniff that in their lifetime,get over it
‘02
@ Michael Birks;
Since the dawn of free agency the Angels have a history of overpaying for FA position players, seldom getting what they paid for, and often finding themselves in a disaster. As awful as their signing history has been, the Albert Pujols fiasco is simply unfathomable…..and amazingly it still has 3 years to run.
They signed Hamilton because they were trying to get Greinke back and he signed with the Dodgers. Torii Hunter signed with the Tigers because the Angels were they don’t offer him a contract because they working to get Greinke back. Since they lost out on Greinke and Hunter already off of the market they signed Hamilton.
I remember Hunter called Moreno a liar , I think they would of got Greinke to stay.
Angels woulda offered more than the “free spending” Dodgers at that time? Cuz area isn’t much of a change.. $$ woulda been big difference I imagine.
dodgers was owned by the parking lot attendant. it wasn’t spending freely then.
So trading for Gonzalez, Beckett , Crawford and then signing Greinke wasn’t spending? .. umm ok
Also they sold before 2012 season…. soo they were definitely in crazy spending time
Hunter was a huge loss
Wasn’t Hunter pretty old by then? Did he play for another year or two for the Tigers? I think keeping Hunter would have been just more of the same.
Trout extension = Bryce contract + 0.35
Only big team pay, or foolish small team. Foolish because more no compete for Trout. Team need balance for win, Trout paid like big fish make no one else paid on small team. No balance, no win.
Can you try again? This time pay attention to grammer!
Grammar is definitely more important than spelling. lol
Arte covered the Rangers players and “stole” CJ Wilson and Josh Hamilton, while signing almost past his peak Pujols and look what all that interference cost his team? Owners should let their GMs decide who the team signs.
If you looked at all the transactions under Dipoto’s watch, your jaw would drop how bad almost every move he made turned out. Some of them might have been good gambles, but some were just him dealing to be a dealer. Kendrick for Heaney might turn out good- and has a good chance to, but it’s taken a long time. But so many bad moves. The big free agents, trading Segura for 13 Greinke starts, Pujols, Hamilton. Even moving Mathis just to show Scioscia he was in charge. Dude set us back for years and we’re finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
Gray would be wise, especially at the Big A.
Sonny Gray would bounce back to his 2015 form pitching at the big A.
Sonny Gray could not handle the pressure pitching for the Yankees. A majorly hitter friendly ball park did not help him either.
Gray just sucks…period
Ok? Yeah, his first few years in Oakland really sucked, huh. I guess I should look at his stats again.
Uh, there has been countless studies that show that this isnt real, ever. He had a season of odd splits and is a bad fit for the short porch. There isnt a lot of witchcraft past tat
how would you know?
I also like Dylan Bundy as a buy low candidate
Tyler Skaggs had Tommy John in 2014 and Andrew Heaney had Tommy John in 2016
I guess holding out and just watch how the market unfolds is the wise thing to do for the A’s. No sense of overpaying for SP.
Can someone help explain this further?
“By boosting their bonus pool, the Rays have more flexibility should they want to go over slot, which is one way to snag a potential star.”
I’m trying to understand why a team would go over what the specified bonus is for that pick slot. Also, if they have let’s say overall pick #37 in the competitive balance round A, throwing more money doesn’t happen until after pick is made. Meaning they will just take the best available at that point right?
Thanks in advance
Going over slot is generally something a team does with its third fourth or fifth rounders. These are usually raw tool gifted high schoolers who later go in the first round after they polish a little in college. Teams bet that they can develop them in their own sustem but generally have to split the difference between what the signee is expecting after three years of college.
It means they can offer more money to certain players they draft next year,
For example their first pick may want more money than the allotted amount for that draft slot, they can overpay if required
Or
In later rounds where some valuable players drop, they could substantially overpay to have that player sign instead of going back to university and retry the draft the following year
The draft money allotted to them can be spent as they see fit, either on 1 player or several players. Having a higher allotted amount gives them more flexibility
Say a player wants to go to college. Teams will offer more money to try and change their mind. Or
Thanks for the great explanation, much appreciated. So in a case like Correa with the Astros, he signed for 3 mill less than his slot.. I’m assuming this is agreed to before hand?
In the case of, Correa, anyone correct me if I’m wrong. The Astros wanted another player, but that player wanted too much money to sign, so they agreed with Correa before the draft.
correct. they used the excess to sign lance mccullers (sp), since he was gonna go to college unless he got a big bonus (and based on how the draft was back then, if the yanks or sox picked him up and signed him, would have left them with pretty much nothing to spend between rounds 2 and 10)
A lot of those agreements are made before the draft. So it’s not necessarily best player selected especially depending on a teams bonus pool. Many middle picks will be spent on college type prospects or lessser ceiling high school kids who command a lesser bonus in order to overpay on higher ceiling high school kids later in the draft.
The Angels are just not a very good team. They seem to prove that year after year after year.
they were doing good the first two months of the season last year then injuries started to pile up again,
Actually, the Angels got out to a 13-3 start, then went 3-12 and played below .500 ball, the rest of the way. They really only played well those first two weeks of the season. Houston and Oakland got off to slow starts (especially OAK) but blew past them.
I’m starting to think you’re really Shane Robinson haha
Im almost certain some in the FO assaulted HaloShane. He always chimes in with some emotional explosion. For real, was there an incident?
The A’s are destined for at least 100 wins this season. #cityofchampions
#cityofemptyballpark
ballpark of row sewage!
I have been to several ballparks and never seen a surrounding neighborhood as bad as Oakland.
So in 2014 when they led Baseball in Wins, they were not a very good team.
The Angels have been a league average team for the last three years. But thanks for playing.
If it wasen’t for richards getting hurt, I think they would of got to the world series. Weaver had a solid year as well, But I didn’t trust C.J Wilson at all. Only if the bats were alive in the royals series.
umps acted as if yankees winning was their lifetime goal.
People also seem to just not understand the fact that the Angels were almost a .500 team last year with 45 injuries.
I agree with a lot of these statements. Angels do need to sign another starting pitcher and a bullpen arm. Missed out on Eovaldi and Corbin so far. I thought they should have traded for Tanner Roark, but he went to the Reds. Any Angel fan think that stealing Dallas Kuechel away from the Astros is a good idea or no? Hopefully the Matt Harvey signing will rejuvenate some of his career with the Mets. Maybe he’ll save Gotham too.
I would rather sign Gio Gonzalez , maybe sign CarGo to play right field or DH some days. Then go after Britton or Adam Ottavino
Carlos Gonzalez would be a good fit, but I think we would have to trade Kole Calhoun. Yes Britton or Ottavio would be good options.
I hope that Matt Harvey could get back to his 2015 form, then that would be a huge steal for the angels.
Guys rarely revert back to what they were 4 season ago, especially guys with major injury history.
cargo would be horrible at the angels. 263/288/333 at the big a. besides, he would start a war every other game..
Part of why the Mets gave up on Harvey was his attitude. He got suspended for partying during a road trip and at the end, he refused to go down to AAA to get his mechanics in order.
Angels have 9 starters on their OD roster, 12 if you count Canning, Suarez and Bridwell. We should buy low on a BP arm or two (Herrera, Holland) and then fill Catcher and if we can snake a high OBP middle OF, sign them and move Calhoun and a prospect for Gray.
I was suprised the Angels didn’t make a play for Teheran. I would think he would be a better fit for his price than Harvey. I feel Atlanta woulda just looked to shed his salary in order to allocate it elsewhere.
But with the options out there now I would just assume keep Julio and put any money towards shoring up the bullpen and getting a RF.
maybe trading Calhoun? or is that too much
Bro you post something about Teheran everyday. Ease up.
Trading Calhoun would net us a decent starting pitcher.
he was worth .7 war. who would be decent but worth .7 war?
Who would the Braves want in a package for Tehran? Or would Calhoun straight up be enough?
Both on final years of the contract I believe, Jo Adell I think will be ready next season.
No.
Calhoun is a guy that showed lots of promise early in his career but has been awful the last 2 years. Julio has been pretty awful the last 2 years as well. I think a change of scenery would do both well. It’s a move that I wouldn’t mind the Braves making and taking a chance that Kevin Seitzer can get Calhoun back on track.
The Rays have little money – allegedly – and have not performed a rip down tank-for-the-pick rebuild yet they look young and more talented as a franchise than the Phillies who are filthy rich yet have spent seven years out of the playoffs and most of that ineffectively tanking-for-the-first-pick.
How does giving up a compensatory draft choice for Grandal fit into their overall plan of rebuilding the farm system?
Farm lacks catchers. Signing Grandal and giving up the pick allows the Angels to not have to develop another C on the farm for another couple of years.
How about bring Maldonado back? Or maybe sign Lucroy.
The loss of one second rounder might still outweigh not having a starting catcher of his caliber. You can still continue to build a farm without a second rounder.
that pick may bring us future ace. not very likely but possible!
Rebuild and compete at the same time. Trade Trout to the Yankees for Stanton, Andujar, Gray, Hicks, Frazier, and their pick of 2-3 of the Yankees top prospects, as well.
trade stanton and $400 million for kole calhoun. will also include a top 500 prospect.
A trade for Trout starts with Torres++.
They have definitely had terrible luck with their pitching and the injuries over the years, let’s also not forget about the tragic death of Nick Adenhart. I can’t believe it’s been nearly 10 years since that happened.
As for their position players not performing, well, that’s typically the case when you go out and sign guys who are on the wrong side of 30. Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton were both signed prior to their age 32 seasons. Pujols decline started in his last season in St. Louis in 2011. It was the first time in his career that he didn’t hit .300 and just the second time that he had ever posted an OBP below .400. His 906 OPS was the lowest of his career. So all the signs where there that Pujols was on the backside of his career and the Angels still gave him that ridiculous contract. They get absolutely no sympathy from me because they don’t deserve it for being stupid.
i generally agree but do you know cards offered him 10 year $220 million in desperation?
Yeah. It was ridicluous that anyone would give him that many years and that kind of money for past performance.
Roll Tide.
They got stuck giving Pujols that large contract because Fox will not give them a lucrative TV deal if they dont sign Pujols.
The angels knew what they were doing when they paid pujols. They needed a big name in the lineup to draw the 3 million a year crowd they bring in. I’ve never had. A problem with the pujols money. And it seems that people care now cause it’s o. The backend of the contract and the money isn’t worth it for the last couple years. The Hamilton and Charlie Wilson contracts were the bad contracts. I didn’t like them then. Also not having that “ace”. In the pitching staff sucks. They should have been looking when Weaver was in the decline. They though rochcards was going to be good but plagued with injuries he never became that ace. I don’t see them trading much without gov g up prospects etc. I see them making one possible move and that’s for keuchel but idk paying him more that 20 mil a year.
Sonny Gray is amazing pitcher. Sonny just needs a change of scenery.. did you see his splits… Hew was above average every where else other than Yankee Stadium…
he should be great in colorado, then!
Eppler seems to be just trying to keep them out of last place. None of his moves are moving the needle.
Trade Kole Calhoun to the Yankees for
Sonny Gray,
Trade Cozart to the white Sox (to save some money to sign the next guys with the remaining available money)
Get Carlos Gonzales on a 2 year deal (until Jo adel is ready)
Get Zach Britton on a 1 year
Get Cody Allen on a 1 year
Get Kelvin Escobar on a 1 year
Halo fan, Christmas big and good this year? Calhoun takers? Yes, and more, also get back big arm Gray! Funny for us, but you serious?
Maybe you agree with me, and like Halo to win and Trout to win. We like this. Then, shoot, not your money, not my money, just eat Greinke contract, lose nothing but money.
Huh?
The 42 year old kelvim Escobar coming out of retirement?
But you still lack SP in this scenario no?
The Yankees would trade for Calhoun because…they don’t have enough OF?
Stanton
Judge
Gardner
Frazier
Hicks
Ellsbury
and possibly, Harper
Sure, they’d take another OF. Of course they would.
If your issue with his post up there is the Calhoun trade well…. that’s the least of your worries. He proposed to sign a 42 year old who has been out of baseball for 10 years but that flew over everyone’s head because he said something about a Yankee. I’m hoping that was a social experiment.
Kelvin Herrera
Lmao
Astros fan here. Hasn’t the Angels issues almost always been rooted in a failure to focus on SP. They seem to lack depth one year then be weak at the top when they do have depth. So every year it bites them in the ass when injuries crop up? Yet year after year Moreno and co. put an emphasis on bats which always feels like them shooting themselves in the foot.
Just an outsiders potentially ignorant take don’t murder me too much. Also pardon my poor phrasing but I think I got my point out.
unfortunately, you are right. even among top prospects hitters dominate.
however, there have been a couple of offense strong teams doing really well in the postseason in the past. see what happens.
Very good analysis dejota. Ever since the offseason of 2011. We focused on signing offense and our pitching staff was complete trash.
1. Weaver was in his decline
2. Signed Joe Blanton ERA of 6.00
3. Jason Vargas fastball topped out at 87.
I like how Dallas Kuechel is still left on the market and has been remarkably consistent but I’m afraid of his walks. Not sure he’s worth 100 million from a Scott Boras client.
The reason I’m not terribly sad to see him go is once his FB drops just one or two mph the rest of his repotoire plays down. Does that happen next year, the year after? I hope not the guy is a hero for me and my kiddo but it will at some point unfortunately.
Not worth either $100M or a 5 year commitment. Get down to $60M and 4 years and I think he’d have some takers.
Calhoun, Jam Jones, Marsh for Andujar, Sonny Gray.
We are still trying to catch from the Dipoto mess and we’re getting there. These 1 year pitching deals are smart with the players coming back in the next 12 months. (Ohtani/Ramirez). I’m expecting a solid year out of Heaney who seems to be learning, but still not sure if he slates more than a #2 starter. . We need him to shine and get another breakthrough season out of some other starter. I think we’ll be fine offensively, bullpen still scary.
More than any other team, the Angels have been plagued by constant change in team direction, bad trades and hard luck well before Arty Moreno owned them. There’s too many examples to list. Nearly every acquisition after Nolan Ryan.