Although they’re on the heels of yet another disappointing campaign, the Angels may be in position to make a significant splash on the pitching market this offseason. Whether or not that happens, though, it’s imperative for the club’s beleaguered starting staff to get a healthy Shohei Ohtani back in 2020. Ohtani, who didn’t pitch this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery last October, is progressing in his recovery from TJS and the left knee procedure he underwent last month, per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. The 25-year-old is currently throwing from 100 feet and on schedule to retake the mound toward the end of November, according to Fletcher.
The emergence of Ohtani in 2018, his first stateside season after coming over as a much-ballyhooed Japanese free agent, was one of the most encouraging developments in recent memory for the Angels. Not only did Ohtani star with the bat that year, but he further proved he was worth the free-agent fuss by posting front-end production when he was healthy enough to take the ball. He threw just 51 2/3 innings during a 10-start, injury-limited rookie campaign, but the right-handed hurler made those appearances count with an impressive 3.31 ERA/3.57 FIP, 10.97 K/9 and 3.83 BB/9.
Now, Ohtani’s fresh off another strong (albeit injury-shortened) season as a hitter. The hope is the lefty-swinging DH will continue to provide a solution at that position while enjoying a much healthier year as a pitcher in 2020. If Ohtani’s able to deliver a much larger chunk of innings next year, and if the Angels make some serious noise on the open market (Gerrit Cole? Stephen Strasburg?), it could go a long way toward a much-needed return to contention. The Halos are heading into a crucial offseason in which upgrading their pitching will be a must, regardless of whether general manager Billy Eppler, new skipper Joe Maddon & Co. are counting on substantial contributions from Ohtani.
At least Maddon will let his starters pitch thru the batting order 3 times unlike ASSMUS. 2019 was a nightmare with that sunflower seed eatin imbecile.
You need to go back and look at their ERA’s. They pretty much pitched themselves out of games before the 5th inning. That’s what happens when you lose your rotation and have to force young pitchers into the majors. In case you haven’t noticed AJ Hindu has used the same strategy his whole tenure with the Astros when he needs to, including this postseason. Their championship team had no starting pitcher reach 170 innings. As with any good staff, it’s just a matter of having better arms.
*AJ Hinch lol
Lol I thought that was a weird burn based on his religion which I didnt know about
You need to go back.and watch some of their games. The SP would be pitching a decent game and BA would take him out because he didnt want the opposing team to face him.for the 3rd time. Only only 1 SP on the Angels staff pitched a 100 innings.
I think his main point was to have better arms. A strong bullpen would be a huge boost to the angels postseason chances.
We had a good pen. They were toast by May. But Bedrosian and couple others stepped it up
Ausmus did save you from having to say “Oh man he always fell for it when guys started off strong and left guys out too long and they got shredded the third time through the lineup”
Uhhh……..both Cole and Verlander pitched more than 200 innings this season. Verlander actually led the league in innings pitched.
He was referencing the 2017 championship team team I believe, not the current 2019 team.
*Kyle Hendricks has left the chat*
Cubs pull Kyle Hendricks from parade after 4 and 2/3 blocks…
These guys acting like Genius Joe didn’t pull guys early. Lol.
If they wanted someone to let their pitchers face a lineup for a 3rd time, they should’ve hired a Dusty Baker. Now that’s a man that would let his “horses” pitch deep into games.
Sunflower seeds are a delicious healthy snack.
*This message has been brought to you by the sunflower seed growers of America
Cole, Ohtani, Odrizzi, Heaney Canning/Barria is a pretty solid 5
Taylor Cole shouldn’t be slotted in at 1
If the Angels get hurt again like last year, he’s not far away from being number one.
This is the best response lmao
Zing!
Cole is a Yankee, his favorite team his entire life, wanted to be there when he got traded, guaranteed he’s in NY for the next 3-5 years atleast
Sounds like you are talking about Patrick Corbin. He’ll go where he gets paid. Who he was a fan of as a little kid means zero.
CREAM get the money, dolla dolla bill y’all.
Yup you must not of read the article about him being a Yankee fan in the article he said he was an Angel fan to. He will be on a West Coast team or resign with the Astros more then likely. Now if the Yankees blow away the competition in dollars then he will be a Yankee if it’s close he will be an Angel and it’s going to be at least a 6 year contract more likely 7 or 8 years.
Cole’s favorite players growing up Salmon, and Anderson. Cole was an Angel fan also. He turn the Yankees down when they drafted him in the first round. He has said he still gets goosebumps driving down the 57 fwy past the big A. He’s an Angel guaranteed…
That’s 6.
but can they best the astros
Can the beat the Astros? Unlikely in 2020. I don’t think that’s their immediate goal.
Strasburg is not opting out.
When did he tell you this ?
It’s called an opinion, look it up.
There are better ways of stating an opinion… such as I’d be shocked if Stasburg doesn’t opt out.
You stated it as if it’s fact. There’s a difference between the two.
I have a hard time telling the difference as well. It sounds like he believes he’s stating a fact.
Hey pot, how you doing? You’ve been on here for days guaranteeing Cole will sign with the Angels. The hypocrisy is thick here.
It’s your opinion that he stated it as if it were fact. There’s a difference between the two.
CAN’T UNDERSTAND BIG WORD
How can you look up an opinion?
He will either get an extension or opt out. He had the year of his life and would be foolish not to capitalize on it.
Do you really think that he is incapable of beating 4 years 100 million? Look at his regular season stats, add in the fact that he is “only” 30 and he now has a reputation as a playoff stud. Its becoming more and more apparent that you need at least 1 ace to win in the postseason and he has shown that he is a postseason ace
You don’t need an ace to win in the postseason. See: Royals
They had 3 aces….all in the bullpen.
That’d be the exception that proves the rule
But not super bullpens are more common and it’s not enough anymore.
The royals had Cueto. He finished 2 in cy young & won 20 games the year before and threw a 2 hitter in the WS. He left, signed a huge deal, and finished 5th in cy young. He was an ace. Volquez and Ventura has really good years as well.
Don’t let facts spoil an argument though.
Yeah, it’s preposterous to suggest Stephan Strasburg would ever forgo free agency.
The market for Strasburg suggests he will opt out of his 4/100 deal. He may only get 4 years but he should get a nice bump over 100m. Wouldn’t you opt out for 4/110-115m or possibly 5/125-140m?
Guaranteed he’s opting out
Sure are you?
Angels need to hope for Pujols to retire although he won’t, but they can hope. But when he does, this guy can man DH every night and still pitch every 5-6 days. They got a good manager, they need to go get Cole and a relieve or two then get someone.
Pujols will not prevent Ohtani for getting a single DH AB. It’s like saying Goodwin is going to prevent Trout from getting CF ABs.
Pujols is further down the depth chart.
Pujols is still playing first base at age 40.
Pujols will platoon at first and get DH ABs when Ohtani is not available.
That means about 40% of the time Pujols will DH and about 40% of the time he’ll play first. About 130 games. That’s my guess.
It was 92-29 in favor of him playing 1B this year
And they’ll still get 20/90 out of Pujols, which they can’t just grab off the open market.
Pujols gets to 90 RBI because trout is on base 45% of the time; and 20 hr is good for a catcher these days. Pujols’ OPS is .700 over the last 3 years. That’s an 86 wRC+. from DH/1B, that is unacceptable if you’re actively trying to win.
You need to go back.and watch some of their games. The SP would be pitching a decent game and BA would take him out because he didnt want the opposing team to face him.for the 3rd time. Only only 1 SP on the Angels staff pitched a 100 innings.
They’re not signing Cole or Strasburg. They are at least a few pieces from contention and need to spread their payroll increase around the roster. The team that signs either of these guys and sets a record is more likely to see themselves as one big piece away. Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs, Braves, Brewers, Nationals all make a lot more sense
Braves and Brewers are way too cheap to sign Cole.
Maybe so, but the owner who spends that kind of money needs to know it might put them over the top, and the Braves and Brewers meet that criteria
The Braves have 5 starters in triple A who are waiting to pitch in the majors. The Braves need to spend on resigning Donaldson and getting a catcher.
They’re not getting a true ace out of that group of 5. They don’t need quantity to get them over the top, they need a stopper like Cole.
The Braves don’t have 5 they have maybe 2 the others have shown they don’t have it
Maybe they wont sign them, but I don’t agree with your assessment that they can’t afford to fill their holes and sign Cole.
The Angels have a hole at catching, as most teams do. But that’s it. They are set at every other position.
The Angels need one ace and Canning, Heaney and Ohtani to be reasonable healthy. They may add another starter, but they have enough money to do that.
Having warm bodies at positions isn’t the same as being “set”. They have huge question marks at both corners in the infield and 2/3 outfield positions. If they made the playoffs they would likely have the worst bullpen of all DS teams. This team has a lot of holes.
There are so many bullpen breakouts and disappointments every year. It is ridiculous to say that a team would have the worst bullpen going in to the playoffs a year in advance. How many seemingly loaded bullpens end up being terrible and a team with a terrible bullpen pulls out the right combo of minor league deals and young guys to have a great year
I don’t think you know this team very well.
Outfield? Per AB they led the ML in WAR last year and that’s without Adell and Upton. I think they are only going to get better. They finished 4th in WAR among major league outfielders. Look at fangraphs. You’ll see what I’m talking about.
I don’t think they are warm bodies.
3b) LaStella was an all star.
22) Simmons is one of the best defensive players on the planet.
2b) Fletcher is very very good. People don’t know how good. He a gold glove nominee at third and he’s a much better second baseman than 3rd baseman.
1b is a warm body. But that warm body also hit 20+ HRs with 93 RBIs.
DH is Ohtani,.
Catcher is sludge.
Not as many holes as your responses.
lyao!
Hmmm, their roster looks pretty good as is. Not alot of weaknesses except at catcher. Pitching and solid defense win baseball games. The Angels are sorely in need of a stud #1 starter, and just for giggles a 2nd stud #2 starter. Putting money into position players makes no sense. They have a glut of infielders, the outfield is headlined by Trout with a underachieving Justin Upton and Brian Goodwin. But in the wings waiting are their #1 & #2 prospects in Adell and Marsh.Sadly Kole Calhoun probably gets bought out and wont return. But there is no room for him or any other veteran unless they can find a trading Partner for Upton. Starting Pitching is the only option for them this off season
They need SP1, SP2, C, Utility player. Maybe a RP. The Angels bullpen was better than most AL teams, It was the starters that sucked badly. No need to spend big $$$ for Rendon or Grandal, use it for pitching, pitching, pitching!!
C FA OR trade (2-6m yr)
1B Pujols/Thaiss
2B Fletcher/LaStella
SS Simmons
3B LaStella/Thaiss/Fletcher
LF Upton/Goodwin
CF Trout
RF Goodwin/Adell
DH Pujols/Ohtani
utility- maybe a Howie Kendrick (ph/2b/1B/of) reunion? Maybe Zobrist?
Bench OF4, C2, Thaiss, Utility FA
SP1 Cole (32-34m/yr) OR Strasburg (27-29m/yr)
SP2 tier 2 FA (15-21m/yr. Odorizzi, Wheeler, etc)
SP3 Heaney
SP4 Ohtani
SP5 Canning
SP6
RP maybe a specialist FA lefty?
RP the best of 2020 ST from 2019 crew.
RP ^^
RP Bedrosian
RP Buttrey
CL Robles/Buttrey
Ohtani will be the ace. Guarantee, he will pitch for the first time completely healthy in 5 years
First we need to see him in ST games, will he have upper 90s velocity and command? He may pitch like an ace but he won’t be the ace. In 2018 he pitched 51 IP, in 2019 0 IP, 2020 he won’t make a jump to 150-180 IP. I’d take his 2018 stats over 120-140 IP, I think that’s realistic. Until then he’s my #4 SP with Ace Potential.
Angels have super utility guy in Fletcher, Up for the gold glove at 3B. You forgot to mention Rengifo, he has a ton of potential and showed he can play in the majors. Pitching , pitching, then more pitching is what they need
Cole is the perfect fit for the Dodgers and Strasburg for the Padres.
Once again you astound us all with your baseball acumen.
Thank you for speaking for all of us.
They are perfect fits for any team willing to meet Scott Boras’s demands. If the Angels are willing to approach the luxury tax threshold, and I think they might, then Cole and/or Strasburg will be on their radar.. Arte Moreno has already said that the Angels will be aggressive this winter when going after free agents. Would signing both Cole and Strasburg be out of the question?
Angels will likely have 50-60 milliion dollars below threshold. If they go all the way to 208 mil, they can sign quite a lot more than just Cole
Too bad neither will be anywhere near those teams. Yankees are getting Cole no matter the cost and it’s his favorite team and don’t be surprised if they sign Strasburg also.
As an Astros fan, I am as worried about the Angel’s as I am the A’s next year. If they get Cole, which is what I’m expecting, and they add another solid SP they could very well take that next step. Could they afford both Cole and Keuchel?
maybe not but Cole and Odriozzi?
A solid 1-2 plus Ohtani and anything not horrible for 4-5 could make a run for the division.
Astros have a better 1-9 at the plate, but I never count out the team with the best player in baseball.
If Verlander takes a step back and Greinke keeps looking like he doesnt know what a strike zone is, we’re in trouble.
This offseason is gonna be interesting to say the least. GO STROS!!!
The Angels are catching this Astro team, but maybe this Astro team wont be this Astro team next year. It’s baseball, things happen.
I’m not expecting them to happen, the Astros “A” game is so much better than everyone’s.
They are a great team.
their players are getting really expensive. they do have great prospects, though.
Since promoting Tucker and trading away 2 of the top prospects and 2 other prospects to get Grienke their farm system has been greatly diminished, and is now ranks in the bottom third of baseball.
Cole will look good in brown
you mean where madden signed? stayfree maxi brown pads are not ever going to sign cole!
Where is the offense other than Trout?
you are blind and can’t see!
The Angels simply have no chance without Ohtani, adding a top tier starter, and adding a quality starter. Have to start there even if it’s a lot to ask. That’s what it’ll take(minimum)if they want to contend
Im pretty sure Arte doesn’t want his legacy to be “the guy who wasted Mike Trout” with that in mind and a number of big Contracts expiring in the next two years, dont be shocked if Arte goes hard after Stausburg and even harder after Cole, maybe landing both. If he surpassed the luxury tax it would only Apply for perhaps 2 years. The Angels draw 3 million fans a year, Arte has been making his share of money. Not to mention his television contract!! He loves to make a big splash and does seem to like shiney things (Josh Hamilton, Albert Puhols etc)
Ohtani, Adell, Simmons, Calhoun,
Ummm,Ohtani, Fletcher, Upton. Simmons, Lastella,Puhols, maybe Goodwin, Maybe Adell. Thats where the offense is other thsn Trout
The Cardinals must make two larger, impact moves this off season. #1—A Steven Strausburg type pitcher. #2—- Am impact player like Millie Betts or Rendon from Washington.
Even for 2 players like these2 impact players, the Cardinals must come to terms with themselves that Matt Carpenter is not a qualified starter anymore and Mozeliak extended a horrible, money eating contract to Carpenter
. #2— Carlos Martinez needs to be traded. His head is not in t h e game with the Cardinals. Possibly for the Yankees young head case outfielder. (Frazier)
3–Quit wishing and face reality about Alex Reyes!! His injuries have taken away what ever extra stuff he ever had. Reyes is finished. #4—Fowler, along with Carpenter should be the highest paid bench players to MLB. #5—-Trade— Monoz, J. Martinez, O’Neil and Fowler-so they can get to play every day for another team. Dump….., Shrieve, Cecil, and All of the other high dollar misfit players Mozeliak signed to bad contracts.
It makes me laugh when I see people play GM in the comment section by putting their little lineup and rotation for the upcoming season with a dream or two in there of a star acquisition lmao
Cole was mediocre till Houston tweaked him. Justin Verlander was washed up until the same. Houston also transformed Charlie Morton from a hack into a star.
The TB Rays won 96 games this year with a 40 man roster total of $52 million.
If I were an owner I’d be asking a lot of questions before I’d sign any player to a big bucks/multi year contract.
What’s your point, great pitchers help make good teams. Verlander is a Hall of Famer, Morton was good for Houston and the Rays, and Cole was a top draft pick. They all have great stuff. Cole;s market value is 33 million a year, most teams that are contenders will want him. The big question is where does Cole want to go. He is going to get paid.
Unless the angels are willing to overpay by a lot no way they are getting coal and Strausburg. Honestly I don’t think they will get either of them but if they did get one they will have to overpay by a large margin. It would have to be a kind of contract that we all will be sitting here when it is announced saying “halfway through they will be regretting that deal“.
Shohei is clearly tired and has been for the last few games. He needs time off before he gets sick or breaks something.