The Angels have exercised a club option over general manager Billy Eppler for the 2020 season, according to Fabian Ardaya and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (Twitter link). His original contract came with a four-year term, with the club option for another.
That decision leaves the front office under Eppler’s guidance for at least one more campaign. Unless further contract talks take place, however, he won’t enjoy a longer-term commitment.
Eppler, who was previously one of Yankees general manager Brian Cashman’s top lieutenants in New York, took over the Angels’ front office in October 2015. The franchise hasn’t achieved ideal on-field results since Eppler grabbed the reins, though, as it has finished below .500 in each of his years at the helm. At 64-71 in 2019, the Halos are on their way to another disappointing campaign in the standings, and they’re sure to extend their playoff drought to a half-decade.
Of course, it would be unfair to place the Angels’ current struggles solely at Eppler’s feet. The sudden passing of quality starter Tyler Skaggs back on July 1 has been among the reasons the Angels’ season has come off the rails. Most teams likely would’ve had difficulty carrying on in the wake of such a tragedy.
Skaggs looked like a long-term building block for the Angels’ rotation – a group that’s lacking in that department. Consequently, upgrading the team’s starting staff will perhaps be the chief objective for Eppler during the upcoming offseason. Eppler swung and missed in that category last offseason with the short-term signings of Matt Harvey (one year, $11MM) and Trevor Cahill (one year, $9MM). Harvey’s no longer on the club, which released him last month, while Cahill lost his starting job earlier in the season and hasn’t exactly been a lights-out reliever. Eppler acknowledged a few weeks ago that there are some strong starters set for free agency, so he may well go that route to ameliorate his roster.
Regardless of whether Eppler reels in any prominent free agents in the coming months, the return of right-hander Shohei Ohtani in 2020 should go a long way toward bettering the Halos’ rotation. Eppler’s signature free-agent signing to date, Ohtani hasn’t been able to pitch this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery last October. Ohtani, Andrew Heaney and Griffin Canning (a second-round pick of the Eppler regime in 2017) are among a few promising starting options for the Angels going forward.
The 25-year-old Ohtani’s also indispensable to the team’s offense, which makes the hurler/DH arguably the most unique player in baseball. He’s among a few excellent offensive complements to the top player in the sport, center fielder Mike Trout, whom Eppler inherited. However, it’s obviously a feather in Eppler’s cap that he was able to extend the future Hall of Famer to a record 10-year, $360MM contract prior to the season. The Angels haven’t capitalized on Trout’s presence yet, but considering he’s now in line to finish his career with the organization, there’s plenty of time for that to occur.
Trout could be joined in the Angels’ outfield next season by young outfielder Jo Adell, who’s among the majors’ elite prospects. Adell, the 10th overall pick of the Angels in 2017, is the face of a farm system that has made notable improvements during Eppler’s tenure. Eppler inherited a group of farmhands that ranked near the bottom of the league, but FanGraphs recently placed it 11th in the game.
There have clearly been hits and misses during Eppler’s run in Anaheim, but at least for now, deep-pocketed owner Arte Moreno believes the good outweighs the bad. It remains to be seen, though, whether the Angels will exercise the same patience with Eppler a year from now if there isn’t legitimate progress in the win-loss department.
Should be firing this guy.
Why exactly?
Signed trout to an extension… convinced Ohtani to come to Anaheim… took the farm system from worst to top half in the league.
I understand the pitching moves this year haven’t worked out, but options weren’t exactly plush considering spending restraints. I would t say he has done an amazing job but to say he should be fired is a bit excessive
Cookmeister, extremely well said.
I give up.
He offered the most money to Trout.
He offered the most money to Ohtani.
Trout wasn’t a free agent. Choosing to forego free agency is contrary to your point.
And the angels did not have the most to offer. Google search is your friend Dug.
And yet, you are still here.
He didn’t offer the most money to Trout. He was the ONLY one who offered money to Trout. Given a chance, the Phillies (and probably other teams) would have outbid him.
How difficult was it to sign Trout to an extension when he already wanted to stay?
Maybe Trout would not have considered staying if Angels did not have a good future. GM did a good job to replenish the farm system and signed Ohtani. Trout may have felt that the team had a vision. It’s all about winning and he thinks there will be a winning team in LA. He would not have stayed just because it’s comfortable to be with a team he has been with his whole career.
Trout has to be the most under the radar superstar in the history of sports. Part of it is because he plays for a lousy team, but I think a lot of it is his laid back personality. He just doesn’t seek out the spotlight and is happy to soak in the sun in Anaheim, where nobody will bother him.
@Steve Shapiro
He has a muted personality and seems to shy away from extending himself to more opportunities but to say he’s “under the radar” sounds a bit crazy. He’s widely considered to be the best player in baseball and some would say of the last 10-20 years.
One player carrying the farm. Signing trout isnt an achievement.
Patience sir.
Patience…..
epplers biggest mistake was signing Ausmus. no pitching staff eppler signs/builds can make a difference if they always get pulled in the 5th no matter how good they’re pitching simply because it’s the 3rd time through the lineup
Agree. Didn’t much care for Ausmus hiring at the time. He hasn’t done anything to change my mind yet.
Could be the “3rd time thru the lineup” thing is a directive from Eppler, worshiping at the Altar of Analytics. Impossible to know. But if we want any of these young guys to develop into elite pitchers, they have to learn how to work through trouble and be able to face hitters 3+ times. Since we’ve been well out of contention for a while, would have like to seen Ausmus let the kids work a little deeper in August/September.
Also wish Ausmus would at least try Trout in the 3 spot in the lineup. Kind of annoying to see all the 1st inning HRs Trout has hit this year, with no chance whatsoever of any of those HRs being more than a 2-run HR. Fletch seems to me to be a perfect guy for the #2 spot, but we have him leadoff half the time.
Why is the comment section for Tyler Skaggs closed
Because this is the internet.
What exactly would you like to say?
Beacause MLBTR admins do a great job and show very good judgement.
You don’t have to be Nostradamus to know what some commenters on here would say about the guy after hearing about the way he died. Although it was obvious from the get-go that it was drug related.
Dude hasn’t really made a major mistake except for some reason pitching isn’t being prioritized. When it is it’s Matt Harvey.
He went after Corbin, Eovaldi, and Happ but they all went elsewhere
Cahill
Cody Allen
Justin Upton
Yea I agree. They should have not signed anyone. How dare he attempt to improve the roster
The most inept front office in the league has retained its GM. That’s news? Trout has had no help in that lineup. Why? The Angels don’t have a TOR ace. Why? Not that I mind; I’m not an Angels fan. Still, I hate to see one of the greatest talents ever go to waste. Oh, and lastly, you will never get a full season out of Ohtani as a pitcher in the MLB. F-R-A-G-I-L-E.
Lol relax man, go roll a spliffy or something
Eppler still picking up the pieces from the disasters that were the Reagins and DiPoto regimes. He’s doing well, considering.
the White Sox are a complete waste.
Again, an organization with zero direction. Been saying it for over 3 years now, and the organization has yet to prove me wrong.
And yet here you are Shane.
Again, an organization with awesome direction. Been saying this for 30 years now, and the organization is my favorite in good times and bad.
The Troll speakith. Young players are trickling into the MLB roster. The club has a ton of cash to spend this winter. Things are looking up.
The troll that you talk about is my evil twin.
They exercised the club option for next year. Meaning the owner did. It’s not like they gave him an extension. Still many don’t like him when it’s the owner they really don’t like..
Upton, harvey, cahill, allen are the worst signings he’s done. He did great signing trout to an extension and bringing ohtani .
How is Upton a bad signing ?
Upton is horrible. A veteran ball player who is batting .211 with an OBP of .311. And he seems almost confused when the ball is hit his way. Just horrible.
Yeah just take a look at the season where he was out for most of it and struggled when he’s played.
The offense is fine. And I seem to never see the trade for Simmons mentioned as a good thing he did. Angels have suffered from pitching injuries. Eppler went after aces, he will again this off season. The team can be a contender with a couple quality arms.
Eppler was considered “ Bright “ because he worked in NY with the most overrated GM of a lifetime. He has basically done nothing. In 5 years he has wasted a ton of money on pitching and not drafted anybody on track with what like the Astros have done. Plus he signed a Mgr that couldn’t win with an All Star cast in Detroit.
“In 5 years…”
This is Eppler’s 4th season as GM.
“he has wasted a ton of money on pitching”
Ha! Yes, that’s been the huge issue.. When will the Angels stop spending soooo much money on pitching?
“not drafted anybody on track with what like the Astros have done”
Doesn’t strike you as a bit early to evaluate return on those drafts, and a bit too much to ask that the litmus test be “draft with the same returns as the torpedoed Astros did….results wanted NOW!””?
25,000,000 this year alone on has been pitching. 4 years the Astros knew who they had. He has had 1 player and he still isnt up yet. Sorry you live in La La Land about your team. I guess it shows your IQ about baseball when you start defending the $$ he has wasted on pitching. Comment me back later when you are out of A Ball.
Oh Larry. I’ll skip the part where that’s not correct and skip the part where I find a clever way to say this: $25 MILLION IS A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY TO SPEND ON PITCHING!
If the $25 million you’re referring to is the total of the Harvey, Cahill, and Allen deals, you do, inadvertently I imagine, make a good point with “this year alone.” That dollar amount, spread across 3 pitchers, all on one-year deals is even less worthy of the fiscal pearl-clutching you’re doing. 3 gambles, zero long-term financial impact. All 3 are off the books at the end of the season and that bank breaking 25 mil is back in the coffers.
“He has had 1 player” is also incorrect, but the Angels and Astros respective situations aren’t analogous and I’m not sure the reason for the comparison of the two teams. One blew itself up, and tanked til it could compete. The other is, with varying success, rebuilding a demolished farm system without blowing up the major league team/doing a full rebuild to do it.
“…when you are out of A Ball.”
Adorable.
Jo Adell was drafted by Eppler, that’s looking like a good pick.
– Trades for Simmons, Lastella, look solid.
– Free agency he’s missed on big name SP and had to sign scrubs. Luckily they were 1 yr deals.
– locked up Trout
– Signed Ohtani
– restocked the farm system to a serviceable level. Last to 11th or so.
– Ausmus is not the right guy. I wouldn’t mind Maddon or Girardi if they make a change.
– need 2 or 3 SP
– need a C
Totally agree with you, well said.
A shortstop who will probably be gone after this year and a journey,an second baseman. 4 years solidly something to NOT to hang your hat on. Trout never wanted to leave and Ohtani wanted to play in LA and Friedman did t want t pay him. Need a starting staff, 1 or 2 outfielders, bullpen, bench depth. Manager. You are right you are close, to finish another losing season.
“A shortstop who will probably be gone after this year and a journey,an second baseman”
…who have both been very valuable acquisitions.
” Trout never wanted to leave”
Hey, what up hindsight! You 20/20?
Also, Trout not wanting to leave doesn’t occur in a vacuum. Why wouldn’t he want to leave? ‘Cause he loves the logo? Or perhaps he loves/trusts the organization. You know, the owner, the GM, etc. Wait a minute, Billy Eppler’s the GM!
“Ohtani wanted to play in LA and Friedman did t want t pay him. ”
Friedman didn’t want to sign him to the exact same 6-years of team control, amateur free-agent contract that Ohtani was going to be signing regardless of the team he chose.?
Oh, maybe it was the 3 mil-ish signing bonus that had Friedman pleading poverty, “Maybe our red-hatted friends a bit south of here would have that kind of scratch laying around but here at the Dodgers that’s too rich for our blood..”
Ohtani signed with the Angels over the Dodgers cuz he wanted to DH on the days he wasn’t pitching. He can’t do that in the NL.
How can anyone be so wrong about so many things in every post. I guess your name says it all. You are crazy.
MLBTR comment section in 2018: “Eppler is an idiot for not trading Trout, they have no chance of keeping him long term.”
MLBTR comment section in 2019: “Eppler is an idiot because even my grandmother could have got Trout to re-sign long term.”
After the disastrous tenure of DiPoto stripping the organization of all talent below the majors league level, Eppler has the Angels organization moving in the right direction. Guys like Adell and Marsh knocking on the door, Canning, Rengifo, and others showing promise in the majors. Now if Arte would just open the purse strings just a little so Billy can add a quality starter or two.
This organization is a mess in every way. Eppler has done some good things but still no results at the major-league level. The team has played the worst season that its ever played before.I can’t even watch games anymore because how emotionally disturbed they make me. The fans deserve better, if they don’t start performing better soon I suggest they boycott games. It’s ridiculous that a team can manage to lose the same way night after night.
The team has been much, much worse. 1996, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2013, 2016. The farm system was a mess when Eppler got here. The worst in baseball with no hope of help. In 2015 we had no prospects in the top 100. Not a single impact prospect.
Ohtani, Upton, Simmons, Cozart, LaStella, Canning, and Pena injuries. The death of Skaggs. All of those hurt the team this season.
After Cahill put up a 3.76 ERA for Oakland last year and a 3.69 ERA for the Padres in 2017, did you think he was going to be this bad in 2019? I sure didn’t. Never thought we would get 30 starts out of him, but 20-21 starts with an ERA under 4.00 was the expectation.
After Harvey put up a serviceable 4.50 ERA in Cincy, who would have thought he would completely collapse? Did you? Obviously Eppler didn’t either.
Multiple prospects have moved up to the majors for the first time in years. 21-22-23 year old starters. Solid position players like Fletcher. Promising young players like Rengifo and Thaiss. The farm system has the #4 overall prospect in the game and we started the season with 4 prospects in the top 100 before 2 graduated.
All point to the organization moving in the right direction.
I hope Mike Trout likes making the playoffs once in his entire career
Your “hopes” have come true. It happened in 2014… swept by the Royals.
Lot’s of lively dialogue. Just one point of minutia to make. Lot’s of comments about Trout’s contract “extension”. Although many reports call it that, what he signed was a new contract that replaced his old one that had 2 years remaining. So it’s technically not an an extension.
No, it’s definitely an extension. If it was merely replacing his old contract, he still would have been hitting free agency next year.
Moving out earliest free agency date equals extension. Call it a two year replacement contract plus 10 year extension if you like. But definitely an extension by any standard.
Sincerely,
Vice President of the MLBTR Pedantic Society
Not an extension. A replacement. That’s how they were able to change his pay structure this year to balance between salary and signing bonus.
Sincerely,
Director of Semantics
Hey if The Halos Fire Billy we will Take Him Back in The Yankees Organization For sure….. Smart Guy just needs More time to Build a Group in The Minors and Get some Solid Pitching. This Organization was run into the ground by DiPoto before Billy
He extended Trout, who may go down as the best player in history when all is said and done, He was able to get Ohtani, and he’s done a fantastic job helping to rebuild the farm system. He may not have made the best moves in free agency; however, he did sign Goodwin and La Stella which worked out. Next year will be the determination if Eppler is to stay or go..