The February 26, 2016 edition of Los Angeles Angels news includes a free-agent outfielder spurning the team’s advances, a change to the rule about takeout slides, and more…
The Story: Austin Jackson declined one-year deal with Angels
MWAH Says: Scott Boras reportedly thought his client could get more elsewhere than the $5-$6 million the Halos offered, which is a weird contention in the final week of February when everyone else’s roster is pretty much set. Jackson will likely end up with the Orioles now—see: below—but that won’t include the opportunity to play in the same outfield as Mike Trout. I’m pretty OK with Jackson saying no; after all the talk of only going over the luxury tax for the “right player”, ultimately going over to sign Austin Jackson would have been pretty absurd.
The Story: MLB updates slide rules, speeds up mound visits
MWAH Says: It’s still possible to take out the fielder legally on a potential double play, but it’s much more difficult to do so now without getting both runners called out. Should be interesting to see how this one evolves over the season, especially now that the “neighborhood play” is no longer allowed (and is reviewable). As for the 30-second rule on mound visits, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Scioscia get to the mound in 30 seconds. Will be some very short conversations.
The Story: Eppler, Scioscia on same page with analytics
MWAH Says: Man, this “Angels and analytics” theme sure is getting explored a lot lately. As noted before it’s never been that Scioscia is resistant to anything and everything analytics, it’s that he’s selective of what he utilizes when. Dipoto pushed against that and got blowback. What Eppler and the new analytics department ends up doing remains to be seen.
The Story: Mike Scioscia impressed by top prospect Taylor Ward
MWAH Says: Water is wet. Circles are circular. Scioscia loves young catchers. Also, it’s not like he’d say it if he thought Ward sucked.
The Story: Craig Gentry looks for bounceback season with Angels
MWAH Says: You could write this article every day of the week with a different Halos player. Gentry probably has the easiest task of the potential bounceback candidates, as his 2015 was easily the worst of the group.
The Story: Teammates keep confusing Quintin Berry with Andrelton Simmons
MWAH Says: LOL. Berry came up with a definitive way for people to tell them apart.
The Story: Dexter Fowler rebuffs Orioles at last minute, resigns with Cubs
MWAH Says: *SIGH* If you weren’t pulling your hair out about the Angels’ reluctance to spend any money on left field, you probably are now. Fowler will get just $8 million from the Cubs in 2016—i.e. just $2 million more than the Halos offered Austin Jackson—then has mutual option for 2017, a contract stipulation he apparently left money on the table to get. Can’t ignore the draft compensation, of course, but still… ugh.
The Story: Shane Victorino gets minor-league deal with the Cubs
MWAH Says: Because Chicago didn’t have enough outfielders, I guess? Apparently this deal was in place before the Coghlan trade/Fowler signing combo, and Chicago decided to honor it even though their outfield is overcrowded. Victorino’s chances at playing time probably couldn’t be worse, but maybe just the chance of being part of the early World Series favorite is more important than playing time at this point in his career. Who knows.
The Story: Trade Retrospective: Diamondbacks move Dan Haren to Angels at deadline
MWAH Says: Patrick Corbin has turned out to be pretty good, but the Angels still got the better part of this deal. Haren was absolutely nails down the stretch in 2010 and for all of 2011.
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