The Angels need relief help and they know it. Executives from other teams tell both Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and Jayson Stark of ESPN.com that the Angels seek bullpen depth.
“The rhythm and roles in the bullpen, the flow of the lineup, consistency of the lineup… we haven’t gotten anything going,” GM Jerry Dipoto told Rosenthal when asked about his team’s slow start.
As the first month of the season nears completion, Angels relievers have a 4.96 ERA (28th in MLB) with 6.8 K/9 (27th in MLB) and 4.6 BB/9 (24th in MLB). Stark hears that the Angels are dangling second-tier prospects for relievers at the moment and notes that other teams are eyeing center fielder Peter Bourjos as a possible trade candidate. Bourjos is off to a slow start at the plate and could be deemed expendable given the presence of top prospect Mike Trout at Triple-A. Other clubs don’t expect the Angels to trade Mark Trumbo, Stark notes.
MLBTR has looked at trade candidates such as Huston Street, Grant Balfour and Brett Myers in recent weeks. However, Rosenthal points out that the Angels would likely have to overpay to obtain such a pitcher now.
You’ve already overpaid to win a championship this year. Might as well commit to that, yes?
More like overpaid to miss the playoffs.
We need relievers yes…. but we also need mike to stay with one lineup… i think it was 11 different line ups in the first 14 games? How is a player supposed to be going to the stadium having their mind focused on playing when they are not even sure if they will be in the lineup on that day..
Aybar SS
Kendrick 2b
Pujols 1b
Morales DH
Trumbo 3b
Wells LF
Hunter RF
Iannetta C
Bourjos CF
And then you can sub collaspo in at the end of the game at 3B for defense in a close game… and maybe let abreu/izturis/collaspo in 1/ maybe 2 games max a week to give some guys a rest
I mostly agree with your thoughts here, but would go (against lefties)
Aybar
Kendrick
Pujols
Trumbo
Morales
Hunter
Wells
Iannetta
Bourjos
and swap Trumbo and Morales against righties.
For the first time in 14 years I’ve begun to question what the hell Scioscia is doing. I feel as if I’m watching a slightly more athletic version of musical chairs whenever I tune in to a ball game.
Bobby Abreu has been on the trading block for months now, I simply don’t understand why Scioscia feels compelled to get him into the line-up every other game. You don’t need to showcase a player whose contract you’ll be paying nearly the entirety of to facilitate any trade.
Trumbo’s constant benching, all defensive inconsistencies aside, has been even more puzzling. When Scioscia pinch-hit Callaspo in the top of the 9th against Rodney, one of the cameras caught a shot of the Angels dugout, in which Trumbo was visibly ticked off. I don’t blame him.
100% agree. I am obv disappointed by the Angels’ start, but am more frustrated by the fact that the offense is sputtering, and the best hitter (currently) is often on the bench. I looked at today’s lineup and threw up a little in my mouth. At least Trumbo is getting in there a bit more the last week. He seems able to play a passable outfield, if he is unable to figure out third, let him play OF. He just has to be playing everyday, he is the only one hitting the ball.
I think the Cardinals had some 130 different lineups for the past 4 years under TLR
Luis Perez for Peter Bourjos?
Who says no?
For people that don’t know. Luis Perez is a long man who can also spot start. Lefty who touches 94 easily.
Current stat line:
12 IP 0.00 ERA 9.9 SO/9 2.8 BB/9 0.711WHIP
No way.
Angels say no way? AA did put together bunch of relievers and a prospect to land Colby Rasmus. Seems certainly possible. Although with Anthony Gose almost ready I doubt Jays go for Bourjos.
Why not make Scott Downs the closer? Jordan Walden would be great in a
set up role like Kenley Jensen of the Dodgers. Scott Downs have had
closing experience with the Jays prior and proved that he could handle
close games. He has the mentality and the experience to close games.
Give him a chance Scioscia! Let’s go Angels!
Scott Downs has problems closing a door. Get real
And Jordan Walden does not? Last year Scott has a 1.34 ERA. Scott currently has a 0.00 ERA.
Scott Downs is the closer now. Walden has apparently been moved to 7th inning guy.
Will be suprised if the Nats don’t pursue Bourjos.
Blue Jays were in town scouting Bourjos last Sunday as were the Yankees. Add them to the list.
There’s this awesome pitcher on the O’s with glasses they would love to give the Angels.
If Dipoto trades Burjos for relief it will only be a matter of time before he is out.
Sorry dude, didn’t mean to reply to you
They should trade for Kevin Gregg.
They can have him for a dozen baseballs (not required to be new)
Trumbo for Brandon league make it happen
balfour is probably the most affordable reliever in terms of prospects and cost
of course trading within the division will be a bit more difficult
Not really. He has a 2013 club option that’s a near lock to pick up unless he gets hurt. Your impending free agents will be cheaper in trade.
Alberto Callaspo would look awfully good in a Phillies uniform, and the Phillies have to start thinking about trading something meaningful for a legitimate starting infielder given Polanco’s struggles on top of Utley’s and Howard’s injuries. Maybe Antonio Bastardo for Callaspo? The Phils have Jake Diekman waiting in the wings at Lehigh Valley to take Bastardo’s place.
I would make that trade in a heartbeat.
callespo or macier should be traded for Grant Balfour or street then we can have trumbo play third more often
Let’s trade impending free agents to noncontenders for their best relief pieces!
In other words, not happening.
Could they possibly trade Abreu for relief pitchers?
yeah, they could but they would have to eat 7-9mil of his contract for this year and he makes 9 mil this year. i would like to see the halos trade him as well
I’d be fine eating 8 million of his contract (as if it’s my money) just to get rid of him without getting anything in return other than saving the half million versus a release. Of course, if we could get a half decent reliever in return if we ate 9 million (or whatever the prorated value remaining is), seems worth it.
dipoto has got to be smarter than to trade away bourjos
The Angels need MUCH MORE than just relief help after that first month.
Why not make Scott Downs the closer? Jordan Walden would be great in a
set up role like Kenley Jensen of the Dodgers. Scott Downs have had
closing experience with the Jays prior and proved that he could handle
close games. He has the mentality and the experience to close games.
Give him a chance Scioscia!
From what I’ve seen so far, I’d rather have LaTroy Hawkins as the closer.
If the Angels want to have Frank Francisco for Bourjos, I have the authority to get it done.
So how about Eric O’Flaherty and Zeke Spruill for Peter Bourjos
Most importantly, what happens to Bourjos bobblehead night on May 16 if he gets traded before then!?!?
Spray paint Trout on the back and call it a day.
Atlanta should ship some pitching for Bourjos. Could be a nice pickup as a 4th OF and possible Bourn replacement on the cheap.
Trumbo, Jean Segura and Kevin Jepsen for Chase Headley and Huston Street?
Phillies have a ton of BP guys in AAA/MLB in Stutes, Schwimer, Aumont, Diekman, Savery, DeFratus, and Bastardo…seems like a good match to me.
I wouldn’t trade Bastardo, Diekman, or DeFratus, but Aumont and Stutes could be available.
angels trade abreau, takahashi and 2.7mill for joe blanton/ angels trade alberto callapso and kevin jepsen for grant balfour, opens 2 40 man spots for dfa guys, call up amarista and trout
maybe think about scott feldman, brett myers, or gorzelany-large contracts
haha nice try, probably not getting blanton for that package and DEFINITELY not getting balfour for that package..
Those teams don’t like immense overpays?
balfour (read up on mlbtr’s “trade candidate: grant balfour”) has more trade value than an OK 3rd baseman and an already 27 year old reliever who’s as wild as the relievers the a’s already have but are younger than him. Balfour’s under control for this year with a team option for next year (the option has a better chance of being picked up than not), so there’s a decent chance a team will be desperate enough by the trade deadline to deal something better than that package (see dotel to the dodgers, maybe something a little better since balfour has the team option)
and even if the angels hadn’t released abreu, blanton has more value than an aging bench OF at best (more like a DH) and an aging reliever.
so if by “overpays” you meant “underpays”, then i’d agree with you…
Can we just trade for Terry Francona as manager
I wonder if the Braves and Angels could eventually revisit the talks they had regarding Izturis. He’d be an upgrade both defensively and offensively at short for the Braves. He’d also not block Simmons since he’s a free agent at the end of the season. The Angels were said to be asking for Martinez or Varvaro from the Braves in return. I’d certainly be willing to trade Varvaro for Izturis. The only issue for the Braves I see is the 3.8 million Izturis is making this season.
I don’t know if I could be an Angels fan any longer if they traded Trumbo or Bourjos for a relief pitcher… it’s such an immensely stupid idea.
Callaspo and Izturis are the available players for relief help. Trumbo and Bourjos are part of a long term plan for the future. Next year Hunter is gone and Bourjos plays the outfield everyday. Why in the hell would we get rid of him for a reliever. With Trumbo, once Hunter is gone we can slide him into left field and let Wells fight for DH at bats unless he proves himself worthy of more.
I’m not an Angels fan but I agree with your main point. They should trade someone Izturis for relief help, they might be able to get more than someone like Varvaro from the Braves if they sent cash too. I’m not sure how much exactly though, but it’s something I’d look into if I were them. The Braves have a lot of good relief pitchers in the Majors and down in the minors too.
If they could put together a good package of prospects to send to the White Sox they could get any combo of Peavy, Jenks, Floyd and/or probably get one of them to be okay closing.
Isn’t Jenks on the Red Sox now?
Jenks is pretty good at closing.. Bars that is…