The Angels are in the market for a big bat and have inquired about several players with other teams, FOX Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi reports (Twitter link). The best fit, as Morosi notes, would be a left-handed hitter with a good OBP and who has the ability to play left field or designated hitter.
The Halos entered today’s action with unimpressive rankings in most of the major offensive categories, runs scored (22nd), on-base percentage (23rd) and OPS (23rd). The Angels have a cumulative wRC+ of 95, meaning that despite monster seasons from Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, the club is still creating five percent fewer runs than the league average. Aside from Trout and Pujols, David Freese’s modest 102 wRC+ represents the only other above-average wRC+ for any Angels regular.
Left-handed bats such as Ben Revere and Adam Lind have been linked to Anaheim in trade rumors already. Lind would certainly fit as a DH/1B who punishes right-handed pitching, while Revere is hitting .293/.330/.383 over 306 PA for the Phillies and brings some speed and left field defensive value. The Angels may be offering pitching in the form of C.J. Wilson or some of their second-tier pitching prospects.
VladJrHype
Adam Lind is a beast
Philliesfan4life
Adam Lind would be a perfect fit for them right now, but Harold Reyonlds on mlb network was saying for the last 3 weeks they should go trade for ryan howard
thecoffinnail
I agree with both Howard and Lind.. Howard would probably be way cheaper to acquire and I would speculate that he could have a serious resurgence if he was put into a lineup sandwiched between Trout and Pujols.. The protection alone that those two offer would give Howard plenty of good pitches to hit.. Lind would be way more ideal though but I am not sure he can be had for middling prospects.. Its a huge sellers market and Lind is exactly the type of guy several teams will be chasing.. Another cheap thought for the Angels would be Garrett Jones from the Yankees.. He is expendable for the Yankees and can probably be had for next to nothing..
Brixton
Chris Ellis for Ben Revere?
Philliesfan4life
they asked for revere but I heard amaro was asking for tropeano/heaney/newcomb which those three should be untouchable.
sallen22
Chris Ellis isn’t available. However, even if he was, he wouldn’t be available for Revere. I think the Phillies best objective here should be a half way decent AA pitcher with back-end upside, not a very good AA pitcher with considerable upside.
A good match would be Revere for Nate Smith. Good AA pitcher, LH, back end starter type. 3 average or better pitches.
Philliesfan4life
I’m pretty sure Ellis/Newcomb/Gatto/Tropeano/Heaney are untouchable. they need to get a deal done for atleast two bats. I think Lind and prado would be perfect
sallen22
They would be better than what’s there currently. Tropeano and Gatto are available at the right price, but I doubt they’re traded until the offseason at the earliest. Lots of pitching prospects to trade with.
stymeedone
What? Are the Angels Boston West? Teams that make trades to help the team on the field don’t have a list of “untouchables.”
dylanp5030
Angels farm system is one of the worst in all of baseball. It’s going to take an organizational top 10 prospect for Revere, and I’m not sure anyone is off limits outside if Heaney and Newcomb.
daveineg
Brewers won’t trade Lind for a bag of balls. He’s got a very modest team option for 2016. Lind for Tropeano seems like a rational deal for both sides.
thecoffinnail
Heaney for Revere? Amaro is more delusional than I originally suspected.. That is as close to absurd as you can get..
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Heaney went to the Angels for one season of Howie Kendrick. Kendrick’s WAR this year is 0.4. Ben Revere’s WAR is 1.9 and he has 2.5 seasons of team control. Based on what Heaney just went for Amaro would be selling low.
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C.J. Wilson is barely above replacement level and makes $18 million. I can’t imagine anyone wants to give much for him. If they’re offering second-tier pitching prospects they aren’t going to get any of the top hitters on the market. Other teams will offer better prospects. They need to set their sights lower then.
sallen22
I figure they can probably parlay a Jeremy Rhoades type for Adam Lind. Common misunderstanding, most people think the Angels don’t have any prospects. That’s just national media idiocy. they have more pitching depth than most teams. Prospect players….yeah they’re probably the weakest in baseball there.
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Revere has a 1.9 WAR this year. That’s good enough to be the 22nd best OF in all of baseball. Kole Calhoun has 0.8 WAR. Adam Lind has a 1.7 WAR. That’s 11th best among 1B. Revere can be under team control through 2017. Line would be through 2016. You aren’t going to get either of them for Jeremy Rhoades or Nate Smith. Maybe you could for both Rhoades and Smith. If Milwaukee or Philadelphia want two pitchers in a deal.
If that’s too much I think the Angels will need to set their sites lower than Revere or Lind, possibly go for a rental.
stymeedone
In spite of your numbers, have you seen Revere play? Its tough to set your sights lower than Revere!
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So throw sabremetrics out and judge Revere based on what stymeedone sees? I’m sure the Phillies will agree to that.
bjsguess
Revere is league averagish at best. Here is what we know about the guy:
1. He is consistently 5%-10% lower than league average when it comes to wRC+.
2. His speed is solid. In the rough equivalent of 4 full seasons he has averaged about 6 runs worth of value per year. That’s good but not amazing.
3. His defense is all over the board. He’s posted a high of nearly 12 runs saved and a low of -4 runs saved. Over his last 3 season he has been a slightly below average fielder.
You put it altogether and you have a guy who is generally good for 2 WAR over a 600PA season. Of course, he’s only cracked 600 PA’s one time in his career (close to a 2nd in 2012).
All in all – Revere has some positive trade value. Not much though given his arb salary right now. I’d value him as a 1.5 WAR player and he is earning just shy of a 1 WAR player.
stymeedone
I’m not an Angels or a Philly’s fan. I just think that if Philly wants to get rid of Revere (must be that he can’t help them), then why would anyone think he could help the Angels? Sabremetrics are a tool. They are not the end all, be all. If the Angels wish to trade for him, by all means, go right ahead. (suckers!)
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No one is trading for Revere based on what he did in 2012 or 2013 when he was injured. It’s what he’s doing now. bjsguess might value him as a 1.5 WAR player but he’s already exceeded that and the season isn’t halfway over. He might end up being a 4 WAR player this year.
The reason why his defense has been all over the board is that he’s a below average CF but very good at LF. Any team trading for him will want him in LF.
stymeedone, the Phillies don’t want to trade Revere because he’s worthless. They want to trade him for the same reason they want to trade Hamels and Papelbon. it’s because he is worth something.
oh Hal
I’d guess Rhoades for Lind is a complete non-starter.
Is the pitching depth is a lot of guys who might turn out to be mid to bottom of the rotation starters? That’s good to have as a complement to better pitchers and position players but not as a farm system.
Bertin Lefkovic
Beltran for Wilson?
Carlos760
The dodgers have a few extra bats lol. Do the angels have any good prospects?
mattg-5
Ethier seems like a perfect fit but no way in hell do I want CJ Wilson for him.
Aaron D.
If the Angels are willing to take on the entire contract, Ethier or Crawford would be a fine trade for Wilson. Dodgers need to unload one of those $$$ outfielders.
daveineg
Brewers would take Wilson along with a young pitcher but only if Angels took Matt Garza along with Lind.
Philliesfan4life
If the marlins are sellers how about Prado? he can play multiple positions , and then adam lind would be a great fit for them, I just hope dipoto can fix this offense because they are the most inconsistent team in the american league on offense.
sallen22
I think the Angels end up trading Jeremy Rhoades and Austin Adams for Adam Lind (who is a free agent after this year and would only face RHP) and Nate Smith and Jonah Wesely for Ben Revere.
That’d put 1. LF Revere 2. RF Calhoun 3. CF Trout 4. 1B Pujols 5. DH Lind
That could result in some runs.
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Those deals are a bit light. The Brewers need pitching but Rhoades is far from the big leagues and Adams is a reliever. The Phillies spent the winter trading for several pitchers like Nate Smith. Eight of their top 10 prospects are pitchers. The Angels will need to come up with position prospects for Revere.
oh Hal
Lind has a team option. That offer is in no chance territory.
daveineg
I could see that deal for Gerardo Parra but not for Lind. As has been pointed out Lind has a modest $8 million team option for 2016. Brewers aren’t desperate to move Lind, so they’ll be sure to have multiple suitors in the bidding.
biggiswrth
It’s wishful thinking, but I think the best player would be Charlie Blackmon of Col. I know he hasn’t played much let field but he would be a true lead off hitter that is a spark that this offense truly needs. Colorado is always pitching starved. They should be a good suitor. What would it take to pry him away?
toddfather93
Jay Bruce I would have to think makes a lot of sense
bacboris 2
I’ll be honest, as a Cubs fan I immediately thought this was a perfect fit for Dan Vogelbach. However, looking at the Angels’ SP, who would be even remotely appealing in a trade? If Heaney is really “untouchable” that leaves what? Shoemaker?
I mean maybe combined with an RP like Salas or Morin but otherwise its tough to spot desirable pitching “surplus” from the angels for a contender. Even for a DH like Lind, its difficult to see how the Angels could pull it off premised off pitchers on their 40 man.
Correct me if I’m wrong Angels fans. (As an aside, even with fan goggles CJ Wilson has clear NEGATIVE trade value)
angelsfan
I don’t know if that is true, although I don’t think he has much trade value. A lefty with a 3.80 FIP is not negative trade value.
sallen22
Angels probably have more pitching depth than any team in baseball right now. In the minors alone, you’re talking Heaney, Tropeano, Skaggs (IR), Smith, Ellis all in AA or higher. They also have Newcomb, Alcantara, Rhoades, Jewell, Long and Gatto in the lower levels. All project to be major league caliber starters with the only exception being Alcantara who may shift into the bullpen.
But again, the Angels aren’t intent on dealing any of their better pitching prospects.
blueagleace1
Atlanta’s pitching depth is far superior than the Angels.
oh Hal
I think its pretty generous to say all those guys “project” to be starters. Saying they have a chance to be mostly bottom of the rotation, maybe middle of the rotation, would be more accurate.
BoldyMinnesota
Heaneys the only one who I’d trust pitching right now in the majors
AsFan89
Reddick for Newcomb
blueagleace1
What about Kelly Johnson? He would come at a much cheaper price and on top of being LHH he offers positional versatility. Something like a Johnson for Jake Jewell?
sam_lammert
Jon Jay?
Aaron D.
Power hitter, Jon Jay?
Classic12
Josh Hamilton would be a great fit.
sallen22
Someone at an Angels website brought this up earlier, and I created a package on it based off what the Blue Jays paid for Donaldson. How about Michael Brantley? Indians are done for, Angels have the good to pay.
Sean Newcomb, Nick Tropeano, C.J. Cron, Natanael Delgado and Victor Alcantara for Michael Brantley.
It gives the Indians a future ace, a future #3 starter, future 1B/DH, future corner OF and a future closer or dynamic starter.
wewantdisqusback
I don’t think the Indians are looking to trade Brantley. They have a plethora of young starting pitchers under control at the big league level already. Even if the Indians were looking to trade Brantley, I think they could get an impact prospect or two.
Philliesfan4life
No way, that is way too much to give up. How about Martin Prado
shawnybig
David Ortiz , Matt Barnes and Garrin Cecchini for local product Sean Newcombe. Bye bye Papi Mr. Clutch
stymeedone
With his 18MM/season contract, C J Wilson for Revere might actually be realistic, but will never happen.
ronnsnow
Please claim Jose Tabata. He needs out of the Pirates organization ASAP
farmboy
Orioles are a perfect fit. Roster crunch with a move needing to be made in the coming days. Three lefty 1B, LF, DH power bats…someone has to go.
Chris Davis
Chris Parmelee
Travis Snider
Take your pick, well take Skaggs and sweeten the deal to get him.
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Tyler Skaggs is recovering from Tommy John surgery and likely won’t pitch again until spring training.
farmboy
I know. No problems with that. We have Chen and Norris hitting the market this winter. Nice replacement for Chen.
angelmojo1
Cj wilson, cam badrosian and grant green for ben revere and ryan howard.
stymeedone
Phillies say “YES!!!’
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Phillies would say no. Wilson is worthless to them and Green is a washout. They aren’t trading Revere and Howard for Cam Bedrosian.
chavezdna
Why don’t the Angels look to the Dodgers with their log jam of third basemen. Guerrero is playing left field for the Dodgers, has proven power and average. Played descent in the field. Straight up of CJ Wilson or create a package from both. Van Sylke is odd man out with Crawford do back. The Angels could maybe include Bedrosian or a minor leaguer for two proven power hitters and Van Sylke can play all three outfield positions and 1st base.
Sage
Seem to be an ideal fit for Adam Lind. Problem is, are they an ideal trade partner for the Brewers? I’ve gotta believe that if the Angels aren’t willing to talk young pitching, no deal happens. But, if I’m the Brewers, I’m asking for Kyle Kubitza first and foremost. We need 3B like nobody’s business, and it would be nice to have Kubitza and Dominguez competing for time at third. Maybe get the best out of one of them (or both, and then we could platoon them).
Bertin Lefkovic
Beltran for Wilson?
broncokevin
What would it take for Carlos Gonzalez to the Angles look like?
CarGo for 1 of Heaney, Newcomb or Tropeano plus some extras???