During today’s media event to introduce new general manager Perry Minasian, Angels owner Arte Moreno responded to a question about the club’s 2021 payroll by saying “it’s not going down.” (J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group was among those to report the news.) The Angels’ payroll was projected at roughly $179.5MM heading into the 2020 season before the shortened season reduced that number to just under $65MM.
Many teams are expected to slightly to heavily decrease payroll this offseason, and the Angels already exhibited some financial restraint earlier this year when they made widespread furloughs of employee salaries throughout the organization. Moreno’s statement will therefore bring some relief to Angels fans who were perhaps worried that the team might take a step back to reload rather than push to end its streak of five consecutive losing seasons.
According to Roster Resource, the Angels have a projected payroll of just over $158.75MM in 2021. An 11-player arbitration class will see at least a few non-tenders and thus a few more million taken off the books, leaving Minasian with approximately $25MM to work with in his first offseason in Anaheim. That doesn’t factor, of course, the possibility that other salaries could be moved as part of trades.
A lot can be done with $25MM, especially in an offseason when team spending could be down and a depressed market could lead to some bargain signings. That helps an Angels team that has plenty of holes to fill in the middle infield (a replacement for free agent Andrelton Simmons), potentially at first base or catcher, and most of all, in the pitching staff.
What $25MM wouldn’t do, however, is accommodate a large average annual salary for an upper-tier free agent like J.T. Realmuto or Trevor Bauer, unless some other money was moved around elsewhere on the roster. The luxury tax threshold is also something of a concern, though with a current tax number of just over $174MM, the Halos should be able to stay under the $210MM threshold. While the Angels have maintained high payrolls under Moreno, they have paid a tax bill only once — 2004, Moreno’s first full season owning the team.
Speaking of Andrelton Simmons, I really can’t see him going to the Yankees despite what plenty of reports say. Going back to the Angels seems unlikely too. Maybe the Reds? Great American is a bandbox and he has the swing to go to both sides of the field.
You are correct my friend, the Yankees shouldn’t go after another injury prone player. I don’t know where Simmons goes either
I have a hard time seeing that one, too. I wouldn’t be surprised if Cashman just waits & waits, & takes whichever middle infielder he feels is an underpay. That’s pretty much how he landed DJ.
Now, if there actually is a mandate to get payroll under 210 mil we may not know who Gleyber’s double play partner is until March.
Agree ducky, deals are to be had and Cashman doesn’t need to rush it. My thought process is the same. We always did agree. . . War time consigliere 🙂
Holy…blast from the past!
Is this my old WAR time consigliere? Oh, man…you fellas are in for it now, man.
Truly hope all is well with you.
Cheers!
all good my guy….. been a rough ride and been through a lot lately. Having to deal with my back and then some stomach issues and had contracted covid about two weeks ago but I’m not complaining. They say when it rains it pours. There are ppl who are dealing with worse so I’m just fortunate to be alive. Trying to keep a positive attitude. It’s good to hear from you too and thanks for the well wishes brother.
Damn.
Sounds more like a monsoon than a rain storm. Yeah, tough to keep a fella like you down, though.
Catching you here was my MLBTR highlight for the day, man.
Super good to hear from you. I’ll be looking out for you here in the future.
Stay tough, bro.
Thx that means a lot to me. I’m trying, you have a good night my friend.
Well, 25 million only to spend. Looks like another wasted year of Trouts career and another mediocre Angels team. I had high hopes for the new GM but Artie will need to open his checkbook more than 25 M to get them anywhere.
If $25m is the limit Minasian might have to get creative in deferring salaries if he is to fill roster needs, Otherwise allocate 15-20m to rotation upgrades and the remainder in the bullpen.
$25 million to spend with questions at catcher, shortstop (or second if Fletcher slides over), the OF, rotation, and bullpen. New guy is going to have to get creative..
I think the outfield will be left as is. There are so many other holes to fill that you have to hope Upton, Adell and Marsch (And maybe Ward) can provide enough offense.
Maybe a guy like Kike Hernandez, who could play 2b and fill in in LF when Rengifo plays 2b is a good option. But the priority should be on pitching.
Because of Injury, you can throw out Upton’s 2019.
Sure Upton took a long time to get going, but the last month of the year he was one of the best hitters in baseball. I don’t think he’s done.
They will go in house for second base. Jam Jones will probably get a long at second.
I agree. Not that I am a real big fan of Upton, (when he is off he is a really bad ) But his whole career he has been consistently good from season to season and very streaky hot and cold during each. He is getting older but if given a full healthy season he should end up with at least better numbers. That is who he has been.
I like kike too, that’s a very good idea actually. Versatile player who can be had for a decent price. I like it
Tim, Why is my comment being moderated? I used Ki- ke Hernandez…. by first name in relation to someone offering up him to be on LAA. I wasn’t being anti Semitic. I’m not being a smart Alec or trying to cause any issues. Don’t you think it’s getting to be a bit much on all the censoring? Honestly respect what you do but it’s a bit overblown sometimes. Not being critical just pointing out there was no Bad intentions.
Payroll not going down, but their win loss record will be.
Nah, they aren’t the rangers. If John Daniels was at the helm I’d be concerned.
THIS, is what you want to hear from the owner of your favorite team.
I can’t imagine what it would be like if I were a Cubs fan and the owner’s are crying poor. Embarrassing. You can’t live in 2016 forever.
Totally agree.
Cots Baseball had them at $193,879,131 last year. Not sure where this writer got his info.
Could it be that Cots is wrong?
$179.5m was probably the same source as here…
“According to Roster Resource, the Angels have a projected payroll of just over $158.75MM in 2021.”
I think it’d be better to save money on the field than by furloughing and laying off employees, honestly.
Why do alot of fans bad mouth Moreno? The guy is clearly trying to win. He or his GM may not have made a lot of good choices over the years but he certainly is trying.. Angels fans sure seem ungrateful.
As an Angels fan for over 45 years I have often wondered the same thing. We have had three owners and have had plenty of losing seasons. One of our owners was a large corporation and the other two baseball fans that probably have made decisions based on their fandom. Anybody remember Reggie Jackson? As a fan I was excited to have Reggie playing for the California Angels while eating a Reggie bar at the big A. I would never have those fond memories if Autry wasn’t a fan. Keep loving baseball Arte, you are helping make memories for fans of all ages.
sdfriarfan Fans do like owners who care about their team’s performance and who are willing spend to help their team be successful, but that only gets you so far. If winning usually never follows the big spending, you’re gonna lose fan support over time no matter how much you spend.
Continuing to try is great, but eventually fans want to see it actually work and lead to success.
“Angels fans sure seem ungrateful.” lol….good one!
Angels fans consistently break 3 million in attendance. What does Moreno do?:
1) Changes team name to LA Angels of Anahiem…..what a joke and insult to the super supportive OC fans.
2) Constantly threatened to move team out of Anaheim.
3) Just forced a land and stadium deal on the city that is so team friendly he should have to buy the city dinner.
4) Makes big PR signings (to get TV contracts) while penny pinching on things like rounding out the roster and keeping the scouting staff together.
5) Has turned the team into the Clippers-of-baseball….a big market team that hasn’t won playoff game in over a decade.
And you think Angels fans are ungrateful? This team has become an embarrassing mess in spite of some of the best fan support in baseball. And I don’t think it’s going to change for the better until Moreno is gone. And he’s increased his net worth by billions…so he has no incentive to be gone.
Hi there troll.
So, you don’t like my take on things. And you can’t really counter any of the facts given. So you call me a troll? Got it.
I don’t find this to be from a troll but I respectfully disagree:
1. Ugh, not this again. It was a business decision 10 years ago, get over it.
2. Business decision to gain leverage on stadium negotiations.
3. He didn’t force the city to do anything. The city made their own decision. In fact, they rebuffed him for several years.
4. Penny pinching with a top 10 payroll?
5. He’s trying.
Conin…
1. Saying you don’t like hearing something is not really a very persuasive argument.
2. Yep, he repaid the community for their loyalty by showing none himself,
3. Honestly, I think the city should have let him take the team elsewhere before giving in to his threats and disloyalty to the community.. This is a big market with a passionate baseball fanbase. Moreno needs us more than we need him.
4. Yes, penny pinching. He’ll spend on big PR moves…then get super rigid and cheap on everything else. Maybe that’s good for his wallet. But it’s been terrible for the team.
5) What he’s “trying” to do is increase his net wealth. That has worked really well for him. He’s leveraged our communities’ love for our team into billions for his bank account….while turning the Angels into the Clippers-of-baseball.
I watched the press conference. As far as budgets go Arte only committed that payroll would not be going down which means it could stay or could be increased. 25 million is the floor if he keeps it the same. If he increases that hasn’t been ruled out. New GM so increase could occur especially in a market where increase might not need to be major due to current situation where majority of teams will be cutting. At least they are not cutting like probably majority of teams. Half full people.
^this. I was thinking the same thing.
That number could go up 10 million just by non tendering Robles, middleton, etc. Arte making a declaration of stepping on the gas is the story more than the 25 million number that would be the floor not the ceiling
though he seems to have an aversion to go over the threshold. i hope he realises this is his best chance to win if he spends money(wisely).
As a Halo fan, I am just really ready to see us get some GOOD pitching. Like a number 2 or 3 on other teams would be a no 1 for us. I really think if we don’t get at least 2 or 3 starters then we will be sitting where we have been and watching the Dodgers in the playoffs like usual… It is time to really build a winner around Trout. It shouldn’t be too hard especially with other teams in our division losing some good players and if they keep the extra wild card. Let’s see how Arte and our new GM pull some strings and make some deals
They need SPs but really need elite back-end RPs. 14 blown saves last year cost Eppler his job. The 2015 Royals and 2002 Angels should be models this year.
With the dumpster diving pitching staffs theyve been putting out year after year, why change now?
Probably not a popular opinion but this is the perfect time to trade Trout for a boatload of talent. He is likely to start to decline. The Mets have a new administration..maybe they will give up way too much for him.
Bart…. you can’t say that, these people will come to your home and raze it to the ground and poison your dog.
You can’t even say anything less than mike is the greatest ever or else the mob will pile on you dude. You better watch it. I’m telling you man lol.
No
Trade
Clause.
He signed because he wants to stay in SoCal. If he wanted to play on the East Coast (or anywhere else), he wouldn’t have signed his extension and he’d be a free agent right now.
No, but I think you would not get same value back and I think he has a no trade contract.
I can’t believe no one has said anything about the articles statements about other needs. He says they could fill holes potentially in the infield at first base or catcher but mostly Pitching. What the Angels need least is a first baseman. Maybe a DH?
Expect Walsh to platoon at 1B with Pujols. Walsh earned that consideration with his 2020 season.
Expect Upton to take reps at 1B for 2022, with I’m at DH/1B his final season.
As of now, the Angels will need to choose one spot to spend “light” in order to fill their vacancies. Given LAA should have a strong offense, especially if Upton turns it back up, maybe shortstop should be where they address with a lower-tier option. Possibly Freddy Galvis? Solid defender and won’t cost much. Bringing in a guy like that would likely leave enough left over to sign a decent starter and reliever.
The tricky one is catcher — LAA needs one for sure, but aside from Realmuto and McCann, there’s not a ton of impact options out there.
Agree with your post. I like Galvis too. Only thing I’m critical of is when you said the word Upton….. that’s a big IF. He’s a decent player when healthy though and you would think he’s gonna be healthy eventually. He just hasn’t stayed healthy and until he turns it around I’m not high on him but I also couldn’t spend to replace him with the money he’s due.
Biggest problem will still be SP. IMHO they over performed last season and need at least two solid arms for starters and in the pen. I am from Baltimore and we seen this play out before on our squad (2012-2015 won more games than anyone in MLB even though nobody remembers). We had a great offense too and bad SP but we had a much better pen at the time than LAA. Pen help could be cheap this year though. So like Lloyd Christmas says “so you’re telling me there’s a chance” lol.
If the Angels have learned nothing else over the past 5 years of losing, I have to hope they’re now convinced of the old saw that pitching wins pennants. Spend the extra money in a depressed market to stock up on quality starting pitching. With Albert coming rolling off the payroll soon, you’ll be able to squeeze back under the limit. Paying the tax now is short-term pain for long-term gain.
Every dime should be spent on pitching. Leave OF, put Rengifo at 2B, Fletch at SS, Max at C (Bemboom until Max is healthy), Walsh at 1B, Shohei and Albert platoon at DH (R/L). Theres enough offense.
Bauer is a must after losing out on Cole. Then perhaps an Odorizzi type. Bauer, Bundy, Shohei?, Odorizzi, Canning, Heaney with a solid backend led by Hand (not sure if theres enough $$ to get Hand). A true closer to take pressure off Mayers, Buttrey, etc.
Spend $$$ now on pitching and let Minasian build up the system for the post-Trout era.
@ dirk. Good post. I’m not high on rengifo but I’ll admit maybe it’s too early to give up on him. Can’t spend at every spot and fill your needs, I get it.