The Angels made a run at Toronto’s Michael Saunders in the recently-collapsed three-team Jay Bruce trade talks, and MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez reports that they’ve also recently made a one-year offer to free-agent outfielder Austin Jackson. According to Gonzalez, the Halos offered Jackson a one-year deal worth $5-6MM, but Jackson’s camp has passed on the offer.
Per Gonzalez, Jackson’s agent, Scott Boras, sought more money in the deal, though I’d also note that Gonzalez said Jackson would’ve factored into a left field platoon. If that’s the case, Boras and Jackson may have been turned off by a possible lack of playing time; if Jackson is to settle for a one-year deal, he’d probably prefer one that comes with the promise of everyday at-bats in order to rebuild some stock in advance of next year’s open market.
Notably, even that modest commitment to Jackson would’ve put the Angels over the luxury tax threshold — a concept to which the Halos have previously been reported to be averse. The Angels currently sit about $2-3MM below the $189MM tax barrier, Gonzalez and others have noted, so any significant addition would put them over the top, barring subtraction from the payroll with a subsequent maneuver.
The Angels have taken a considerable amount of flak for their projected left field platoon of Craig Gentry and Daniel Nava; while each has strong career marks when holding the platoon advantage, each also suffered through a dismal 2015 campaign and will be looking for a rebound in Anaheim. Jackson has struggled somewhat, as well, since a trade to the Mariners and the pitcher-friendly Safeco Field, though he’s still delivered solid marks in the eyes of defensive metrics. Jackson’s .261/.310/.364 slash over the past two seasons doesn’t stand out as impressive, though it’s about nine to 10 percent below the league average when adjusted for park (per OPS+ and wRC+). The extent to which Jackson would’ve been an upgrade over the incumbent platoon is largely a moot point, however, as Gonzalez writes that the team now appears likely to head into the season with Nava and Gentry in left.
I’m curious how much they want. The angels offer sounded decent enough
I agree. I’d say that’s a pretty reasonable offer, I wouldn’t be surprised if Boras is looking to get 10+ million for him
I doubt Jackson wanted to platoon.
True enough though I really doubt any GM is going to “promise” a certain number of starts.. I’m Sure the Orioles are talking to him .It would be a good situation for him because they certainly need a starting outfielder, and they have quite few Boras clients including ol BIG MONEY himself Chris Davis
i’d say that is quite a bit worse than he is worth but judging by how market has unfolded he probably won’t get much more.
Hi, Baltimore. Let me introduce you to plan B, Austin Jackson.
Baltimore has seemed like a Jackson fit all along. Latos too(of course he is a White Sox now).
I could see a Byrd in the Orioles future.
Agree. But Austin Jackson didnt even come close to the production of the last available OF signed (Fowler) and he’s a Borass client. He won’t end up with Chisox for sure!
The O’s could really use a good defensive player like Jackson in LF. He would be a large upgrade over the Keystone Cops they had in LF last year. Defense seems to be the new obp as far as being the undervalued cheap commodity in baseball.
He would be a good plan B.. He doesn’t hit left, (but neither does the great Dexter Fowler either who stinks from the left)
I can’t imagine why the Angels would be willing to bust through the cap for Austin Jackson if they weren’t willing to do so for one of the other LF free agents, some of whom were relative bargains. Did they just wait too long? Do they have non-buyer’s remorse? And am I really going to have to watch Natry (Gentva?) for 162 games?
I continue to shake my head…
They would have a year to go back under. Shedding a few mil wouldnt be too hard.
It’s pretty simple. They have a core in place already and just need to supplement. It also isn’t a great idea to add another huge chunk of AAV when so much money is coming off the books in the next two offseasons. Especially when they’re approaching that time when Richards and Calhoun are due for extensions.
Brewers should get a legit cf…sign Jackson for 1 year and trade him at the deadline
Brewers should sign him so they have a legit cf…they could always trade him at deadline
This is a moribund organization without an apparent plan. They have no farm system and are not willing to bring in quality free agents so where does that leave them and their fans?
Starting a season knowing you will not legitimately compete for playoffs is really discouraging.
Are you talking about the Angels not competing?? They were in it up to Game 162 last season and this year they are demonstrably better.
Fans are just frustrated that they didn’t get a true LF out of a good crop of them.
They also had a 3B and still don’t have a good 2B and as you say still don’t have a legit LF and who exactly is their catcher? They are bad.
Better at SS. Same at 2B. Comparable at 3B. Better in LF. Better at C. MUCH better at SP. Explain to me again how they aren’t going to compete.
They have room for improvement, as do many other teams. I wouldn’t go as far to say that they are “bad.” Comments like that before the season even starts are just silly.
They won’t compete because of their lack of depth. They have ZERO depth, the worst farm system in baseball. As pujols continues to struggle, and kalhouns numbers continue to drop, their pitching can’t save them.
They have the major league depth to succeed. The have decent starting pitching depth. Brandy looks to fill in potentially in a catching role if needed. Cowart may have rediscovered his hitting ability. Kyle Kubitza has been practicing LF.
The starting pitching depth is decent right now too.
Depth to me is actually the least of their worries. The biggest thing is to upgrade talent in weak positions like LF.
I believe they are addressing their farm system by not losing their draft picks this year. This will take more time obviously but it is a step in that direction.
Players like Richards, Heaney, and Simmons will hold value for some time if they even need to restock some talent in via trades.
Didnt they lose every sp to an injury at one point during the season? They will contend if not division at least wc.
calhouns numbers are dropping? if anything he’s getting better and better
Better and Better? His WRC+ dropped almost 20 points and his K% increased by 5%. The slight increase in homers does not make up for those other things.
Demonstrably better? Are you kidding me?? We all know horrible LF weak 3rd and 2nd! But On a good note great SS!
Art is an idiot. You have the best player in baseball just wasting his years and won’t go over the salary cap. Art crippled this team souly with those massive horrible contracts!
And yet with the contracts of Pujols and Hamilton the Angels still have $137 million dollars in payroll left. Those contracts are a poor excuse.
Wilson?
Those are the fake fans, we don’t need those. The real fans are standing and will watch opening day with the same expectations as last year. To win a World Series. This team has something. They fight until the last out as they have shown the past two years. We got better at SS, 3B and on paper LF. We will see how the platoon works or if someone such as Kubitza steps up and takes over or if a trade is made. The starting pitching is better with Skaggs and the pen has depth. We just need to wait and see which arms were good pick ups for the pen. Cron is still a question mark, he showed bursts of being a true slugger then didnt. To me Cron is the X Factor of the offense, if he can smash and drive in runners the offense will flow like a river on a rainy day.
Then take your negative attitude and root for another team…this team as constructed will complete for division
They should tell Boras that they’ll add an opt out to that one year deal then he’ll bite
Hahaha…exactly
Someone get Jackson a copy of Japanese for dummies !
The Cubs also plan to have a platoon in LF – with Schwarber and Soler.
The Angels should make a run on Jay Bruce instead of wasting Mike Trout’s prime years
Bruce would cost minor leaguers and the Angels can’t afford to even give up the scraps they have left.
Bruce is not the answer. so stop. and Halos have a chance.
Well, so much for the White Sox getting him as a utility outfielder for a moderate price.
Depending on what he’s asking for I don’t think 6 million is a crazy floor for Jackson. He has been awful with the bat but is still somewhat young and could perform better at the Cell, and he’d be platooned. Don’t know why the Sox haven’t jumped on him yet, we can’t expect to trot Avi out there even more than a 1/3 of the games.
How many unsigned clients does Boras have? Must be easy for him to tell guys not to sign since he has so many other clients that he landed big pay days for. M
Phew, that was close.
Why is there so much hot air about the Angels wasting Trouts contract?. Last time I checked he had 5 years left. Angels pitching is deeper this year, defense is better and offense similar to last season. Didn’t Angels miss the playoffs by 1 game last season. Next 2 seasons have plenty of money come off the books. The minors are thin but I don’t see that being the driver behind the so called wasting of the contract.
Problem is every other team improved, secondly angels had one obvious huge hole to fill in left which is where you can stick a big bat. And yes the minors offering almost nothing in possible future starters means all holes have to be filled via free agency, which in turn means with pujols, trout and simmons you have over 60 mil commited to 3 players, eventually u will have to go back in to luxury tax.
What teams improved exactly?
Every other team just in terms of player development. Youngsters improving, whereas the angels have no real young players that can take a step forward. I fully expect players like springer, a.j reed mcullers to take steps forward for the stros, the rangers have, odor, profar, gallo, mazara, brinson all back with a chance at taking a step forward. The angels have pitchers, yet that was already there area of strength. Not too mention wilson and weaver are going to tak up a ton of starts just because of the money due to them.
So you are expecting those guys to improve but not Santiago, Heaney, Skaggs, Cowart, Kubitza, Cron? okay. I love this. Love being the underdog. Screenshooting all these posts from the experts who are commenting in MLBTR.
Rangers get Darvish and a full year of Hamels. A’s improved their pen and likely wont have another historically awful run sequencing season. Astros have full year of Correa and Gomez. They signed Fister (arguably an improvement) and also have one of the best farm systems in the game to infuse talent on their roster. Mariners…well, they could field an all-star team and still underperform enough to miss the playoffs
Calm down lol. It’s just someone’s idea. They are correct though. Being an Angels fan it’s kind of frustrating with what arte is trying to do
Arte was smart by not spending again. It is way better to keep the money and save it for 2018. Harper is a free agent as I posted somewhere else on the site. Trout+Harper sounds a lot better than Trout+Cespy or any other OF free gent this year. Not saying it will happen but by having all funds, Halos chances of making that a reality are way better.
Halos blow they just need to start rebuilding around Trout, their farm sucks and they have a bunch of old ass guys on that team with overpaid contracts.
Because World Series are won in the minors. Halos have a good core right now, no need to restart.
Boras is probably waiting for an outfield injury to create an opening for Jackson.
If Albert isn’t as good as he was last year protecting Trout the Halos don’t have a chance. Their starting pitching is a joke. They do not have a number 1 ace and Weaver’s career is over.
Says the Texas Ranger fan who didn’t know if his team was buying or selling last trade deadline.
…and who went on to win the division
What are you talking about? We got Cole Hamels before the trade deadline.
Thank you blue42.
“The Angels don’t have a chance.” I just realized that everybody who said that really doesn’t know the team. I was already excited…now I can’t WAIT for the season to start!
I’m confused as others on this board. Why leave an offer like that on the table from the Angels? I agree the Angels do have a serious chance to compete. Keeping that in mind. It’s up to Jackson ( by putting up the numbers) whether he stays in a platoon or not? Put his money where his mouth is!
Couldn’t agree more.
My daughter is a long time friend of Jackson’s, who talks to him frequently. He really wants to play for the Rangers. It’s home to him. He is waiting for Texas to offer him a major league contract but apparently, they will see how the in house thing works out first..
I don’t know about Texas? Where will they fit him in? Won’t there be a log jam. Not saying they couldn’t use him as Hamilton is looking more and more like a steady DH ?