The Angels again find themselves in a difficult position with the trade deadline just more than a month away. At 38-40, Los Angeles sits ten games back of the division-leading Astros. They’re eight back in the AL Wild Card race, with four teams in between them and the Athletics, who currently hold the second Wild Card spot.
Barring a fantastic run in the coming weeks (at least three of which will come without superstar center fielder Mike Trout), the Angels don’t look like a team that’ll be seeking to acquire impending free agents for the stretch run. Even if they wind up out of the market for rentals, general manager Perry Minasian suggested the Angels could acquire players with years of control remaining beyond the 2021 season.
“There’s short-term and long-term [buys], depending on what you’re buying and how much control it has,” Minasian told Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times last weekend. “If you’re looking at shorter-term rentals, then obviously we need to be in a position where we feel like that add is going to really push us. If we’re looking at players with control that can not only help us throughout the rest of this season, going into next year, it’s something we’ll entertain. I’ve been with clubs that you might not necessarily think are buyers, per se, but then a certain player pops up and makes sense for the long-term for that club and they go and buy. So I don’t really categorize it as buyer or seller. I think we’re looking for ways to improve our team, both short-term and long-term.”
Unsurprisingly, Minasian didn’t tip his hand as to how a flexible approach to the deadline could manifest itself. Looking at the Angels financial outlook beyond this season, though, it seems the starting rotation is the area most open to some creative management. Each of Dylan Bundy, Alex Cobb, Andrew Heaney and (current reliever) José Quintana is slated to hit free agency at the end of the year.
If multiple members of that group wind up signing elsewhere, the Angels would have a void to fill over the winter as they retool for 2022. (There’s certainly no thought of rebuilding with Trout, Shohei Ohtani and Anthony Rendon in the fold). If the Angels don’t make much headway in the standings over the next few weeks, it’s possible Minasian and the rest of the front office trade away one or more of the impending free agents while exploring acquisitions of starting pitchers who are under team control in 2022 (and perhaps beyond).
Such an approach would allow the Angels to bolster the roster for future seasons without completely punting on this year, especially with Trout tracking towards a mid-late July return. That kind of balancing act can be tough to strike but isn’t unheard of; the out-of-contention Reds acquired Trevor Bauer just before the 2019 trade deadline with an eye towards 2020, to give one prominent example.
As Minasian was quick to point out, much can change for the Angels during the next month. The front office’s exact course at the deadline will no doubt be shaped by how the team performs in their next 25 games, many of which will come against teams in front of them in the AL postseason picture. The Angels have three more games against the Yankees this week, followed by sets against the Orioles, Red Sox, Mariners (twice), A’s (twice), Twins and Rockies before July 30.
SoCalADRL
No faith in this guy. Should’ve hired Matt Arnold or Billy Owens.
Tatsumaki
No faith? Guy has been here half a season relax.
SwingtheFNbat
Totally Tats, Perry didn’t have much of a budget to work with in his first off-season. Give him a chance. End of story.
bravesiowafan
He’s highly spoke of in all baseball corners many expected him to be a gm before this. Judging him off less than half a season makes no sense not much on the field currently has his stamp behind it
Halo11Fan
When he completely misses the boat on such a glaring hole in such a RP heavy market, the only word that comes to mind is incompetent.
SwingtheFNbat
Halo11 misses the boat often. This Last off season the Angels had many areas to fill, with a limited budget. But he thinks you should spend it all on the Pen. For what, the same minimal save chances they have now. At the end of the day, You need a hell of a lot more, and a balanced team for a Pen to even make a difference.. Done! ” drop the mic.
Halo11Fan
I miss the boat. Please explain how.
You don’t seem to realize that when a starting pitcher leaves with a three run deficit with five innings to play, it’s still a baseball game, but when the RP allows 4 additional runs and turns it into a 7 run game, it’s over.
You don’t even know what a boat is, so you never know you miss the boat.
You are the only Angel fan on the planet that doesn’t understand this pen is a problem and it’s MUCH easier to address bullpen issues than starting rotation issues.
Why are people like you proud they don’t know anything?
SwingtheFNbat
We’ll keep this one short and sweet.I’m tired of banging on your bull head, and your Bull pen is everything theory. Plain and simple, I from now to this point forward, will slap you in the face with this every time you post. You’re getting so redundant it’s killing us all… You have a small market theory to a higher market Angels team plan. Do you think the Angels are small market? I think not, all of the small market teams do go heavy on RPs, mostly home grown RP talents thou. for That said, nobody in baseball pays big on them. Out side a couple big spending Yanks, and Dodger years. Get over the BP thing. The Angels do need a couple big FA RP’s, we get that. Shoot sign every top RP FA. It won’t mean anything if you get the same type of Starting pitching as this year. your theory is awesome, we could have the best Pen, but rarely winning a game. Awesome!…..
Oh wait, not so short when teaching… Sorry
Halo11Fan
You want the Angels to do something is not possible. Get four good starting pitchers. I want you to do something that is not possible… grow a brain.
Rsox
The Angels are not catching the A’s or the Astros. The Angels are 3-7 vs Oakland with five games head-to-head before the trade deadline and 3-6 against the Astros and currently sit 10 games behind Houston in the standings.
I don’t really see the trade chips. Bundy and Quintana have been awful. Heaney and Cobb have been serviceable but will not bring back big returns. Raisel Iglesias may have the most value as teams look for back end of the bullpen help for the stretch run and postseason. Perry is probably not going to bring in many controllable starting pitchers for what they have to offer
manfraud
Angels farm system isn’t deep, and I don’t think any of their trade chips would net a solid return (besides maybe Iglesias?). I wouldn’t spend the farm on a Bauer caliber player, even if it’s for a year and a half. Best chance to gain an impact player is through free agency once Pujols’ contract is off the books
Vizionaire
great name!
bkbk
The lower levels are pretty good
Vizionaire
i hope he does nothing. any move he makes he makes the team worse!
rev halofan
Both Iglesiases and Heaney could bring prospects. DO IT PERRY. Bundy & Quintana could be cut now and it is a win. Maybe someone needs veteran vibes from Suzuki, that would be an excellent trade, who’d we get?
drgntrnr
For a bunch of mediocre players? Probably equally mediocre players in return..
urnuts
Trade Arte for relief pitching or a bag of balls.
I see the Angels offering Iglesias a qualifying offer.
sdbaseballguy
I don’t think they’re offering him roughly 20 million for next year. That’s what the QO will be.
urnuts
Likely not but Jansen is being paid 20 million, Chapman 17.2, Kimbrel 16. He may decline looking for 4 years 60 and the Angels get a draft pick better than a trade. Or he signs the QO and the Angels have a short term contract they can manage around.
MikeBean
Ur nuts
Marshallx89
Lol Iglesias isn’t getting a QO. We are handing $20m/year relief finally coming off the books in Pujols and the angels are going to risk putting another $20m on the books for a closer? Nope nope nope.
urnuts
He likely won’t receive a QO but they need an anchor and the going rate for top closers is 15million plus. Players on 1 year deals make more on average. The Angels don’t value a strong bullpen and likely will continue to overlook. If they gamble and he accepts they have a one year commitment at a few million over value, if he turns them down they get a draft pick likely better value than a deadline trade. But if they feel they are able to get more value trade him now.
I miss the days of Percy, Shields, Krod and more. When they were winning they shorten the game 3 or 4 innings with the bullpen.
prov356
The problem is Iglesias is not a top closer so he isn’t worth 15m.
RyÅnWKrol
Those teams didn’t scope the open market for relievers either. It came mostly from their farm system. That’s where it should still be coming from.
Halo11Fan
It should, but everything should. If it’s an issue, you address it. Hope and prayer is a terrible policy.
Perry should have tried a different approach this off-season. He is the reason the Angels are out of it.
MasterShake
The A’s and Astros being levels better could be part of the reason Angels are out of it but suppose your right it comes down to the moves he’s made. But Angels just aren’t very good.
SwingtheFNbat
Last time I checked, the 1st place Astros pen is not very good this season. Ah hahahahahaha! There just a better team. Halo11 just can’t get over his BP infatuation. Of coarse u want a good pen, but it’s not the reason the Angels aren’t in first right now.
Halo11Fan
So what do the Angels have to do to get second in starter ERA by more than a half run better than the third best team? And their bullpen ERA is more than 7 tenths of a run better than the Angels.
Sure, I’ll take a staff that good and a mediocre pen. But when are you going to get it through your fat head the Angels are not in position to have that kind of staff, therefore, unless you are blessed with starters, work on the pen.
Why am I wasting my time, you’ll never understand.
SwingtheFNbat
Finally your grumpy, stubborn, old goat head is getting somewhere. Finally realizing there’s more ways to win than just stacking a BP. Good for u! progress.
urnuts
I agree with halo11fan when your staff is weaker a stronger pen is needed including a few pitchers who are able to come in and control the damage 4th through 6th inning to give your team a chance. There is no way to contend with an average starting staff and a weak bullpen.
A bullpen is easier to build than the starting staff and the last 2 GM’s had/have no clue . Look at the Padres, Dodgers, Rays, as examples of how to build a bullpen. As far as the Astros they have one of the top closers and historically a strong bullpen.
SwingtheFNbat
U are nuts, the 1st place Astros have a weak BP this year. Enough said
urnuts
Did you not read? historically a strong bullpen.
Hudson6
They can bring the Angels something but not much. Neither will get them anywhere close to a top 100 prospect. Maybe a prospect from the bottom half of a team’s top 30.
lamars
Besides maybe Iglesias, and I said maybe, none of them will net a bottom half of a team’s top 30.
WorstThrowEver
I see the Angels being buyers at the trade deadline. They are already “acquiring” Mike Trout right after the ASB, and it’s looking like Bundy + Quintana are both done as starters. Suarez and Sandoval are huge improvements, and acquiring even just 1 solid reliever or TOR pitcher with multiple years on their contract would put them in as good a position to go for a wildcard spot. Ohtani + Heaney + Cobb + Sandy + Suarez + TOR arm is good enough for a team that has Upton-Ohtani-Trout-Rendon-Walsh in the lineup.
Halo11Fan
Suarez, Ohtani, Sandoval, Detmers, Rodriguez, Canning. Sign Heaney or the equivalent. That’s an OK staff. But they need a lock down pen.
They can obtain a lock down pen, what they can’t do is build an upper echelon starting staff.
The Angels need to do what they can do instead of ignoring what is causing them to lose year in an year out.
lamars
You sound like a Yankees fan. Why would Tor a team fighting for a wild card spot and in such better spot than the Angels trade one of their arms?
stpbaseball
top of rotation, not Toronto
Ducky Buckin Fent
& how does wanting to trade for a Toronto pitcher (the original premise, uh?) “sound like a Yankee fan”? I don’t recall ever seeing a post by any of the Yankee guys on the board calling for anything like that. Ever. At all.
You alright there, @Smith?
Metsin777
Jared Walsh, Max Stassi, Jo Addell for Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray. Reds need a 1st baseman for the future with Votto just about done and an outfeilder for when Castellanos departs in free agency this offseason. Gray and Castillo are both controlled for next year.
Omarj
Halos should say no to that. Maxi and Stassi are getting better. Adell still has value. Castillo is not having a good year, but Gray has a nice contract. They could be a match but not for this package.
Orel Saxhiser
In five June starts, Castillo has an ERA of 1.71. He seems to have turned it around. He’s also three years younger than Gray, makes far less money, and has two remaining years of team control to Gray’s one. Either guy would make sense for a contender. Since the Angels aren’t a contender, they probably wouldn’t be in the running unless they foolishly overpay.
lamars
Should? They would definitely say no to that and so would the Reds. Especially since they already have Barnhart and Stephenson with the latter able to play 1st base.
bkbk
Walsh alone is probably too much. NEXT!
sdbaseballguy
Sadly Votto has 2 more guaranteed seasons left.
aspenner27
My Brewers will happily take Walsh off your hands. Will give you LHP Antoine Kelly (6/30 in our system) and Eduardo Garcia SS #10.
SoCalADRL
Yeah I’m not trading Walsh for anything less than a Flaherty, Gallen type talent
bkbk
Angels should sit pretty. Since May 1st their starters have been top 3rd in the league. Re-sign Heaney and Cobb, lets Bundy walk, see what it would take to get Rasiel to stay. Barring freak injury, a hitting core of Fletch, Ohtani, Trout, Rendon, Walsh, Stassi (and Upton if he doesnt turn back into a pumpkin) with Marsh, Adell and Demeters coming up is as good a core as any team. If we can clean up the defense and figure out how finally stand up a BP, id bet the Angels next year.
Tatsumaki
Need 2 impact pitchers this summer. 1 via trade and 1 via free agency with resigning heaney and seeing what sandoval and suarez have. Could be exciting, Walsh and ohtani have proven a lot this year
DODGER JR
Re-Sign Heaney? Are you high? Dude has been pure garbage. He just gave up 5 runs in the first inning his last start. Let this bum hit the open market and get out of town.
kellin
Yeah I dont get this love for Heaney, either. He’s a number 4 or 5.. Cobb also feels like a 4 or 5. Ohtani and maybe Sandoval are the team’s only good starters. Anyone who says to turn Ohtani into a pure DH needs to lay off the crack.
Suarez has been good this season, but looking at 2019, unless he’s figured something out, he seems better as relief/long man, like in today’s game.
I was so hoping Bundy would repeat last year, but clearly that was an outlier, and I’d love to see Canning go, but he’s still under control, so no point in releasing him just yet..
Tatsumaki
I’m a dodger fan but watch angels from time to time. Heaney is inconsistent but underlying metrics are good. Not saying drop the bag on him but he does eat innings especially as a number 4/5
angelsfan4life
Metrics are ok, but at this point getting completely overrated. Metrics was why the A’s drafted Grant Green instead of Trout in 2009. Metrics also said that, Nolan Arenado would not be a good defensive 3rd baseman. Hank Conger was supposed to be a multi time gold glove and silver slugger winner.
Cosmo2
Metrics are only overrated by fans. They are the most accurate tools front offices have for determining outcomes. It’s still predictions and is thus going to be wrong a good bit of the time. But analytics give better percentages than the eye test or old school stats. Just because it’s wrong sometimes doesn’t mean it’s overrated.
Ducky Buckin Fent
When I was in college, I worked construction jobs. The switch from hand nailing to nail guns was beginning. Indeed, by my senior year the transition was nearly complete.
But I remember the old school guys lashing out over how nail guns were inferior. “Every nail doesn’t get the attention it deserves” was a common refrain.
As you point out, @Cosmo nothing will ever be perfect. But all the new metrics, data, & analysis – just like the nail gun – are better tools.
& it wasn’t just the A’s that didn’t pick Trout. After all, he was chosen 23rd if I remember correctly.
Halo11Fan
I believe someone is going to appreciate Heaney’s tools and turn him into a much better pitcher. Case in point Gausman. If I were Heaney, I’d sign with the Giants. The Angels don’t seem to know what they are doing.
RyÅnWKrol
There has been a drastic improvement in their pitching and defense over the past month.
Halo11Fan
Since May 1st the Angel Starters are 7th in ERA and 5th in WAR. According to Fangraphs. What are you looking at?
Their pen is last in WAR and second to last in ERA. And since they are horrible at preventing inherited runners from scoring, and since Suarez (a starter) is their best bullpen guy, it’s worse than that.
The starters are ok, but it’s the pen that is killing this team.
But I agree, What they need are lock down bullpen arms. Starters are an expensive luxury that are not going to take them anywhere without a pen.
SwingtheFNbat
Nice fudging of the numbers. Use the SP’s numbers in a short span when they were mediocre, and use the entire season on others areas to make a bad point. Once again for your hard head. What good is a good BP if you can’t use them. The starting pitching never gets them the lead.
HalosHeavenJJ
Heaney is just too inconsistent. He’ll have a few good games then simply implode, usually in the middle of a stretch of games and burn the bullpen.
I’m fine with an ERA+ 95 guy who is consistently mediocre. One who is jekyl and Hyde is tough though.
Halo11Fan
Ohtani has three wins. More games are won in the last four innings than the first five. The Angels will not win if they ignore the pen. It’s less expensive and easier to address than starters. I wish we had great starters, we don’t. If you have a great pen, you only need ok starters.
How this is lost on so many fans is beyond me.
lamars
Exactly! Spot on.
bkbk
Lost on who? Just about every Angel fan’s first words out the womb are “momma, dadda and the bullpen stinks, stop signing dudes like Alex claudio and hope it works”
Halo11Fan
It’s lost on most fans because I talked about it all last off season and got ripped at every turn by just about every fan. Look at the Claudio thread. The Guerra thread. The Sledgers thread.
It was lost on most everyone. If it wasn’t lost on you, consider yourself a minority, And when I came on this thread, most everyone talked about starting pitching as if you could click your Ruby slippers 3 times and get starting pitching.
STEEL3R28
I think Sledgers could be solid again. He was cheap and controllable do I don’t mind him as angels have control of him till 2025. Angels just need 2 more solid relievers and they will be solid
SwingtheFNbat
2 more RPs yes, and 4 more Sp’s. The real problem. I didn’t think that the SP’s would be this bad this year, but wow!
Halo11Fan
You can’t just free agent four starting pitchers. Or even trade for them. But you can do something about a bullpen. Man are you dense.
SwingtheFNbat
No kidding Einstein, you can call up a couple Projected starters for next year, and give them a look. It’s only a few weeks away, any way u slice it.
Paolo1900
Some of their players are playing exceptionally well… But the rest are just ordinary or worse. I cannot see getting much for anyone on their staff and nobody is going to hand them what they really need via trade.
Orel Saxhiser
Angels fans need to be more patient with Minasian. The guy just got the job, inheriting a bloated payroll and weak farm system in the process. Nothing about the 2020 roster suggested winning in 2021, even with a healthy Trout. When the season started, no one expected the production they’re getting from Ohtani. Nor did anyone expect the Callaway situation that has hampered the pitching staff. The pitching is bad, and the rest of the roster no great shakes.
No general manager can turn a mess into a World Series contender overnight. Minasian needs more time, just like Bloom needed and is getting in Boston after the Betts trade. Sawx fans here wanted Bloom fired. Interesting how those armchair GMs have since disappeared.
Fans need to be reasonable in their expectations. The team is fourth in the division and fifth in the race for the second wildcard. Which do you prefer? Should they buy in an attempt to defy the odds and make the 2021 post-season? Or start making the moves needed to build a consistent contender? “Going for it” now will only make the situation worse down the road.
lamars
Fans wanted Bloom fired for what we originally got back for Betts. And I was one of them, but once he reworked the trade netting us Verdugo, Downs and Won’t I was more than satisfied. Especially k owing there was no chance in hell Better was going to resign with the Sox.
Orel Saxhiser
False. Verdugo and Downs were both in the original trade. Sawx fans who visit this site spent the entire 2020 season calling for Bloom to be fired.
JoeBrady
No, the original trade was for Verdugo & Graterol. That was canceled when Graterol failed the physical. There were a lot of commentators, with no medical background, and no access to the pictures, that pronounced Graterol healthy.
Folks like that can safely be ignored.
artiefufkin
You are correct, This isn’t a Minasian problem. This wasn’t an Eppler problem either. This is totally an Arte Moreno/ John Carpino problem. Moreno refuses to truly invest in the franchise. He will put out big contracts which is awesome but pinches pennies on the ops and development sides.
His ownership took a franchise on the rise, rode out the strides made and failed to keep momentum going. You are finally seeing the effects of what started when he decided to care more about the name of the franchise than the farm system.
SwingtheFNbat
You’re right Cey. But They did though have a realistic chance if things broke right at the playoffs, that’s it playoffs. But at the end of the day, there not deep enough to sustain injuries, and lack of performance. But hopefully, next year with some extra cash flow to spend, and youth stepping up, They will have a little pitching depth
sirandrews
German Marquez for Arol Vera and a couple of low-mid level prospects. Who says no?
Orel Saxhiser
If the Rockies decided to trade Marquez, quite a few teams would be interested. It’s not about who says “no.” It’s about the Angels beating all those other offers for a proven quality starter. There are legitimate contenders who would make far-better offers. That’s what the Angels would be up against.
lamars
Rockies say no and would say no in a heartbeat. Knowing other teams would be willing to give up more.
SwingtheFNbat
The Starting pitching is horrendous again. It’s killing any chance the Angels have. Suarez’s nice relief work bailed them out today.
They sent Q to the pen, now what do you do with Bundy? Cut him? I mean really, how many long men do you need down there.
You knew Ohtani would be great, health permitting. But all others are disappointing. Anyways, get Suarez a spot and hopefully Sandoval can keep it up, then that’s 3 of the 6 that will be fine. It’s a start.
Halo11Fan
Since May 5th in WAR. You don’t seem to know what horrendous means. More likely you will never admit to being wrong. The pen last in WAR, second to last in ERA. They are awful at preventing inherited runners from scoring and a starter (Suarez) is their best reliever.
When are you going to wake up?
SwingtheFNbat
You like to skew numbers in your advantage. Take last Wednesday’s Giants game. The BP held the giants to nothing from the 7th thru 11th. They gave up the inherited runner in the 12th, only to give up 7 in the 13th inning. The pen did awesome, and gave them what should of been a win. They just needed to score 1 stinking run in the last 10 inning.
That said, the BP era was terrible that game, and yet another one that your terrible opinion would pin on them for the loss.
Halo11Fan
I don’t blame the bullpen for that loss. But if you can’t see how the Angels pen is blowing games, then your head is in the sand.
How much better would this team be if it spent the money wasted on Cobb and Quintana and invested it in the pen. Light years better.
How much better would this team be if they spent the money wasted on Cobb and Quintana money on one other starting pitcher. A little better.
Do you understand the phrase “Bang for your Buck”? Or is that too complex for you?
SwingtheFNbat
Hate to break it to you AGAIN! this team is more than a solid RP or 2 for that matter, away from being in 1st. Try a whole new starting staff. It’s about time to call up all the youngsters, and see what u have on the pitching front next year.
Halo11Fan
Two RPs. Fine. We don’t have any right now, and you think two will do the trick.
But the thing is the Angels could have gotten four arms last year for what they paid for Quintana and Cobb and if they were right on two, they’d be competing for a wild card… but you still don’t see it.
Seven months ago you thought the Angels had plenty of options. They all stunk. You were wrong then and you still haven’t learned a thing.
johndietz
We need bullpen pieces this year. Add our blown saves to the win column and how many games in first place would we be? 3 games up on Houston? Even if we get 9 of those 13 blown saves back we’re in the wild card. We won 2002 with a stacked pen. SF and TB are winning with stacked pens
3Rivers
Cubs ….. HEHEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAH Absolutely love it. Cubs & Cards could never have a winning season again and id be very pleased.
dirkg
The impending FA pitching class is full of aging future HOFers and mediocre starters who will be overpaid because pitching is such a premium.
Sign Scherzer to a high AAV 2 year deal, re-sign Cobb or Heaney (hold your nose), and drop every other penny into the bullpen.
CKinSTL
They will certainly have a need for multiple starters and relief pitchers.. I cannot wait to see which aging position player they overpay instead of filling those needs in their pitching staff.
Halo11Fan
What position do they need to fill? I think they’ll resign their SS.
So I doubt you’ll end up being correct. If I were the Angels, I’d concentrate on bullpen. Of course I’d do that every year and the Angels never do that.
CKinSTL
Over the last few years the Angels have had a glaring need for pitching but they have refused to address it in any meaningful way. Instead, they opt for a guy like Rendon. Nothing against Rendon but that just isn’t the player they need. It is kinda funny to watch.. but suppose I can see how Angels fans might not think it is that funny.
Halo11Fan
I never blame a team for not making long term commitments to starting pitchers. It’s extremely risky and much riskier than position players. The Angels have to be in position to extend Ohtani.
And since few if any starting pitcher averages 7 innings. A team still needs a late inning pen. The game has changed.
CKinSTL
I just cannot imagine the Angels making themselves a WC contender this season through mid-season trades. They have too many holes and the competition is really tough. Oh well, try again next year for that elusive .500 mark.
JoeBrady
I’m not seeing any reason for the Angels to chase, and I doubt Minasian does so. They simply don’t have the talent. They’re not terrible, but they need to play .619 in order to reach 90 wins. .619 is really unlikely, and it will probably take more than 90 wins to reach the playoffs.
Time to move some guys. They should also look to move Rendon and devote his salary (less whatever payroll they have to eat) in order to pay Ohtani.
30 Parks
Angels are caught-in-between, it’s been years of waiting-on mediocre players to have simultaneous career years. Long shot. But for the fact Trout remains the answer would be simple – rebuild. Any hockey fans? The Angels remind me of the Leafs, great top-end and little else.
JoeBrady
That’s usually the path I’d take, but the great Trout will only be around another 2-3 years, and Ohtani is gone in another 2 years. It feels like if you give up Trout or Ohtani, then you might as well give up everyone.
But if you don’t give up those two, then you don’t have a realistic shot of a meaningful rebuild. I think the only alternative they have is to start spending serious money.
STEEL3R28
I think Sledgers could be solid again. He was cheap and controllable do I don’t mind him as angels have control of him till 2025. Angels just need 2 more solid relievers and they will be solid
Setzer
Hey Perry, great job improving the rotation and pen in the offseason! Especially with those blockbuster deals to get Quintana and Cobb.
Friarfugg
It’s interesting that there are ever any articles about the Angels’ team approach. They have an aversion to pitching and are not going to win anything until they figure that out. To have Ohtani and Trout on that team and be a .500 ballclub speaks volumes about their farm system, scouting, and financial approach. Well, this has been a hallmark of the Moreno ownership and prior. No excuse.
SportsFan0000
The Angels would need to be willing to trade Adell or Marsh or Detmer or Adams
in a package deal to build their rotation and bullpen for this year and subsequent years.. And, the Angels need to use the money coming off the books to sign 1 or 2 legitimate starters in the off-season and to fortify their bullpen.
Drafts should be for pitching, pitching and more pitching etc…
Don’t know if they have a chance for the Wild Card.
Getting Trout back and fortifying the pitching would make things interesting and would at least give them hope for a long-shot playoffs bid…
Angels & NL West
The Angels will have competent, cost controlled rotation options as early as next year – Ohtani, Canning, Sandoval, Rodriguez, Suarez, Detmers and Barria. Add two arms via trade and/or free agency and they will have nine solid options to fill the five or six rotation slots for a 162 game season. If one of the additions is a TOR arm to pair with Ohtani, the Angels will have two big SP for a playoff run.
The rotation is on the cusp of being solid. The lineup will put runs on the board. Add reliable bullpen pieces, stir briskly, pour over ice… and its GO TIME.
Halo11Fan
If you have a bullpen the rotation only needs to be adequate. I believe the Angels rotation is adequate, but if they sign a starter, he should be an adequate starter, not a Cobb or a Quintana.
Stay away from the hope and pray guys. Heaney is about as low as I go. He’s a notch above hope and pray.
Angels & NL West
Halo, to make a deep run in the playoffs, I believe a team needs more than an adequate rotation and strong bullpen. Perhaps a team can make the playoffs using that formula, but a couple of TOR arms are needed to advance.
Further, I believe the Angels have the makings of a solid rotation next year, but they are not adequate this year. Seven SP have made nearly all, if not all, of the Angels starts this year. Five of the seven have ERAs over 5.00.
Yes, the BP is bad. Yes, inherited runners score far too often. But adequate rotations do not have 5/7 SP with ERAs over 5.00.
aragon
2002.
Angels & NL West
aragon, 155/162 starts in 2002 were made by 6 SP. All 6 had a ERA’s under 4.90. Four were under 3.93.
aragon
it was a different era. they were certainly serviable but, by any means, good piitchers. though, what 2002 angels had was the pen thatwas second to none.
SwingtheFNbat
You can’t go off off the 2002 WS season. Yes amazing. But that season the stars aligned. It came down to gut and grits, and all things coming together at the right time.The Angels are not a small market, but it had that feel.
The bottom line is, you want to win? Be average or above average at All 4 phases of the game. The Angels might be average in 1, that’s hitting. Terrible! They do have a respectable win percentage considering thou… Just keep the faith. Write this guarantee down. They will be in the playoffs next year.
JoeBrady
It is really underestimated how much success comes from simply having your regular rotation available for 30+ starts.
JoeBrady
SwingtheFNbat10 hours ago
The bottom line is, you want to win? Be average or above average at All 4 phases of the game.
==============================================================
There is a lot to be said about having an above-average offense, and then 5 dependable SPs, nothing great of bad, and a decent BP with a good setup and closer. A #3 SP, combined with an above-average offense, should be > .500.
SwingtheFNbat
JoeBrady, outside Ohtani, the Angels would of been better off, if there entire starting pitching staff got injured early on… In all due respect, I don’t wish injury on anyone… But that said, the kids would of done better.
Mark Smith
Heaney isn’t good enough. This is his final season on his contract and he stinks. He should be pitching for his next contract. The only way someone should sign him is guarantee only a couple million and give him a lot of incentives. Make him earn the money.
SwingtheFNbat
Correct Smith, Heaney is not good enough. It’s pretty simple for me. He gets ahead in the count, and he still allows hits like he’s behind 3-1. For-get-about it. He still gets some K’s, but implodes to much.
SwingtheFNbat
Agreed West, that’s a lot of trust in the young pitching thou. Without question they need 1 TOR pitcher, to pair with Ohtani. Also 2 solid RP’s since Iggy is a FA. This could be had with Pujols money plus a little more.
Rsox
The problrm with the sentiment of “add two starters in free agency” is you will end up with another round of Matt Harvey/Trevor Cahill/Julio Teheran/Jose Quintana type Pitchers. The Angels have not spent big on a starter since C.J. Wilson and i don’t see them doing so next year either
SwingtheFNbat
Perry does need another off season minimum to evaluate him as a GM. You can’t evaluate him when money was fairly tight in his first go around. This winter he’ll have a lot more to spend. To bad there’s not much elite SP’s on the market that aren’t getting up there in age. They will need one TOR pitcher to pair with Ohtani, whether that’s sign or trade. That’ll lessen the pressure and work load on the young SP’s they’ll probably bring up and already have.
FYI, I’m sure Perry thought his 2 thru 4 pitchers, the meat of his 6 man rotation, that he inherited, wouldn’t stink up the joint in Bundy, Heaney, and Canning. That’s the main problem, not his cheap 13m combined 5/6th starters to fill out the rotation in Cobb and Q.
BTW, he spent just about the same with his limited budget on the pen in Iggy, cishek, Claudio, and Watson. Considering, not bad for 12m.
At the end of the day, they need a better Pen, but a “hell of a lot” better performance from the Starters to get to there hopeful improved BP next season.
aragon
what are you talking about? we still have $11mil under the threshold! if he spent wisely we would have a really good team. we could have had a lock-out pen with better sp than quintana/cobb.
SwingtheFNbat
10m under the cap is exactly where you need to be to start the season, if not 15m. You have to leave room for improvements, and take on more payroll mid season in trade, if you’re contending. Hope this helps. 😉
aragon
i have been an angels fan since’65. anyway is this team contending? that’s the problem!
SwingtheFNbat
Reply down below. Keep the faith.
Mark Smith
It’s not fair to talk about Canning stinking it up. He hasn’t been in the majors very long. Also, the Angels have had a lot of pitching coaches the last few years. Jose Suarez has really improved. He said he lost a lot of weight and went back to how he did things in the minors. Maybe having a different pitching coach every season is messing the pitchers up. The Angels definitely need to find a good pitching coach though. Matt Wise isn’t good enough. Andrew Bailey is though.
SwingtheFNbat
I liked the fan since 65 thing, 80’s myself. Anyway, the next 2 off-seasons are the biggest under Perry. He’ll have some money to play with, after Pujols this year, and upton after next years off-season. At that point you should evaluate him as GM.
Mark Smith
The Angels have several young pitchers who can become part of their starting rotation next season. They need to sign or trade for someone really good who might be able to help their young pitchers. Then bring Andrew Bailey back to be their pitching coach. The Giants stole him so steal him back. Definitely don’t re-sign Heaney or Bundy. It looks like Bundy was good in 2020 because he just pitched against AL West and NL West teams. The ballparks out here are real ballparks. That means they aren’t hitter’s ballparks. They’re either pitcher’s ballparks or neutral.
SwingtheFNbat
Totally agree, you need 2 stud SP’s next year for sure. Especially when you’re looking at bringing in youth, and young starters you’re hopping to turn it around.
SwingtheFNbat
Here’s a question? Do the Angels have the best 2 player in baseball? As a fan, I’d say yes! Who are u willing to trade them for? No one!
I’ll tell u what, the best thing the Angels can this off season is, lock Ohtani up. Buy out his last 2 years of arb out, at double the price. And get a discount with 4 more at 25m. Then you’ve got him in peak. If all possible.
SwingtheFNbat
Oh wow! New blog coming on many Angels sites. How much? That’s the question?
SwingtheFNbat
Hacker’s! I didn’t post this above.. Wow! Come on MLBTR!
TommyLasutton
tough spot for Perry. He’s gotta be hoping that – as a team – they just keep losing. Decisions are easier that way. Maybe Heaney, Cobb, Iglesias do well enough still to draw enough interest for decent pieces. It was obvious last winter … he wasn’t pushing chips to the center and waiting until Pujols was off the books. I know he’s been good but move Upton this year too. Then it’s BIG SPENDER come December
SwingtheFNbat
I don’t know what’s worse. The Angels pitching staff or MLB umpires? One is easily fixed, robot strike zone time!
prov356
So how long will Bundy be in the rotation until he’s sent to the bullpen or released? His pitching makes me want to vomit.