The January 26, 2016 edition of Los Angeles Angels news includes the team adding some much needed middle-infield depth, dropping a reliever picked up earlier in the winter, and more…
The Story: Angels claim infielder Ronald Torreyes, DFA Bobby LaFromboise
MWAH Says: Torreyes was traded twice before 2015, and has moved four more times in the last eight months. He is still only 23. The reason he’s been bounced around so often is likely that he lacks any plus tool beyond his ability to make contact—his career high in strikeouts is 38. His speed is average, he has no power, and his range is such that he was moved off shortstop three years ago. His best future is probably as a super-utility guy behind Cliff Pennington, though there’s a non-zero chance he’ll battle with Johnny Giavotella for the starting 2B gig this spring. He’s got a better chance than Rey Navarro and Gregorio Petit anyway. Bobby LaFromboise was claimed in December and never threw a pitch for the Halos. There’s a pretty good chance he makes in through waivers unclaimed, so his Angels tenure might not be over just yet.
The Story: A healthy C.J. Wilson thinks starting pitching will dictate team’s success in 2016
MWAH Says: Wilson has reportedly been throwing with Mark Sappington and Mike Morin all winter, though whether that includes work off of a mound is unclear beyond the phrase “he has felt normal for months now.” I imagine it does, but we won’t know for sure until February 19. The way Wilson talks about all the team’s rotation “candidates” seems to indicate an awareness that he might not be a part of the club come Opening Day. We’ll see.
The Story: Mike Scioscia and Fernando Valenzuela reunite for special Q&A
MWAH Says: A weird little event held in LA late last week headlined as “A Night of Champions”. There were 75 VIP seats available for the chat, but judging by the little photo gallery linked it looks as though only 30 or so people turned out. Highly unclear whether it was a charity thing or not.
The Story: Billy Eppler to speak at SABR Analytics Conference
MWAH Says: If you’re going to be in Tempe for Spring Training between March 10-12, this should definitely go to the top of your itinerary.
The Story: MLB ‘very interested’ in playing game(s) in London in 2017
MWAH Says: Well good luck with that. There is organized baseball in England, but it’s nowhere near as popular or formalized as in Japan or even Australia. When I lived there, I had to take a bus two towns over to join the closest team. I can’t imagine hoping to find 30,000 people to actually attend a game.
The Story: MLB teaming up with USADA to investigate Al Jazeera doping claims
MWAH Says: A formal team-up between MLB and the US Anti-Doping Agency is a first, and maybe points to Rob Manfred leading the league’s overall investigative efforts into less sketchy territory following the Biogenesis disaster. Ryan Howard and Ryan Zimmerman were the only two active MLB players named in the report, so it’s unlikely to be as far-reaching as previous investigations.
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