The December 2, 2015 edition of Los Angeles Angels news includes the club adding a potential fourth outfielder, another outfielder potentially losing his roster spot, and more…
The Story: Angels sign OF Rafael Ortega to MLB deal
MWAH Says: Ortega is young (24), bats left-handed, has a good eye (.367 OBP at AAA in 2015), and can man all three outfield positions. No idea why the Cardinals decided he wasn’t worth stowing on the 40-man roster, but the Angels are better off for it depth-wise. The MLB deal doesn’t guarantee Ortega will actually get playing time in Anaheim—remember Jeremy McBryde?—but it should make Collin Cowgill and Todd Cunningham nervous about their roles with the team.
The Story: Collin Cowgill, Cesar Ramos are non-tender candidates
MWAH Says: Speaking of Cesar Cowgill… the Angels have until midnight tonight to decide whether he and Cesar Ramos are worth paying seven figures for in 2016. Ramos is probably safe thanks to his strong effort this past season, but Cowgill is less of a sure thing. He missed considerable time in 2015, wasn’t good when was healthy, and has MLB-minimum guys like Todd Cunningham, Chad Hinshaw, and now Rafael Ortega nipping at his heels.
The Story: Twins sign Byung-Ho Park to four-year, $12 million deal
MWAH Says: Man, Korean players are getting absolutely hosed in contract negotiations. Almost like the whole exclusive rights thing strips players of all leverage. If the guy who blasted 50 homers in back-to-back KBO seasons is getting only $3 million a year, the Angels can easily afford to go after 3B Jae-Gyun Hwang, who is maybe half the player Park is. As I said yesterday, they should at least throw in a high bid so they have a fallback option if a trade for the now very available Trevor Plouffe doesn’t coalesce.
The Story: Red Sox sign David Price to seven-year, $217 million deal
MWAH Says: That’s a lot of dough. Of course, it includes an opt out after the third year, meaning it may end up being “just” a three-year, $90 million deal for Boston. Always the chance this ends terribly for the Sox, because pitchers, but the odds of his next three years being his best—resulting in a Greinke-esque opt out—seem good. Really wishing that opt outs were a thing when Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson signed.
The Story: Mariners trade Mark Trumbo, sign Nori Aoki
MWAH Says: If there’s one thing Jerry Dipoto likes more than trading for Tyler Skaggs, it’s probably trading Mark Trumbo. In going to Baltimore, Mark finally gets to play in a hitter’s park, which should help his dingers. The Mariners now have only Jesus Montero as a first-base option, so that’s definitely worth keeping an eye on (Chris Davis?).
Really don’t understand how Nori Aoki continues to get just one-year deals. The guy is pretty good! I thought he was a solid sleeper candidate for LF in Anaheim, but I guess that honor now falls to Gerardo Parra.
The Story: Angels hiring baseball systems developer
MWAH Says: From the job posting: “The Los Angeles Angels are hiring an experienced software developer to build and maintain an aggregated player information and tracking system to help in the decision making process of the Baseball Operations Department.” That sound like you? Then go for it!
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