The December 9, 2015 edition of Los Angeles Angels news includes another lefty starter getting attention on the trade front, the team’s first splash of the Winter Meetings, and more…
The Story: Hector Santiago getting most attention among tradeable Angels starters
MWAH Says: Not a shock. Santiago was abysmal in the second half, but his All-Star first half, strong peripherals (outside of his HR rate), and two years of control still make him an alluring target. Jon Heyman reports that the Orioles are one of the teams to talk to the Halos about Santiago, but they don’t really have a third baseman or corner outfield to offer, so hard to see anything happening there. There were a few other rumors things as well, but nothing concrete. Check them out here.
The Story: Quintin Berry signed to a minor-league deal
MWAH Says: With their first signing of the Winter Meetings, the Angels get their new Tony Campana. Berry is never going to get much time in Anaheim—he’s appeared in all of 31 MLB games the last three seasons—but he could play an important role should the team make it to October. Berry has 32 steals to just one caught stealing in his big-league career, and has 384 steals overall in 10 professional seasons.
The Story: Billy Eppler won’t say if Angels are bidding on RHP Kenta Maeda
MWAH Says: If they won’t say it, I will: It’s not happening. The posting fee alone is $20 million, and lord knows what kind of contract he’ll get on top of that with the Dodgers and other big spenders likely in on the negotiations. There’s I guess a slim chance that Maeda is the “right player” Arte Moreno keeps referring to in relation to the luxury tax, but I’m not betting on it.
The Story: Yankees OF Jake Cave could be Rule 5 Draft target
MWAH Says: The Angels will reportedly be competing with the Orioles, Reds, and two others for the 23-year-old’s services. The Halos select 20th, after the O’s and Reds, so they might have to work out a small trade after the draft (like they did with Taylor Featherston) if they really want him. Cave batted .278/.339/.359 in 132 games between Double-A and Triple-A this past season, mostly as a center fielder.
The Story: Mariners hire Amanda Hopkins as full-time scout
MWAH Says: Hopkins is the first woman to get a full-time scouting gig with a big-league team since the 1950s. That’s absolutely absurd. Hopefully her hiring will open scouting opportunities for other women.
The Story: Diamondbacks DFA former Angels prospect A.J. Schugel
MWAH Says: Not sure there’s any question about who won the Mark Trumbo/Tyler Skaggs deal, but in case you were still on the fence…
The Story: BBWAA votes overwhelmingly to include MLB.com writers
MWAH Says: I’ve never understood why they weren’t allowed in the BBWAA before. It’s not like they were ever team employees. Anyway, congrats to Alden Gonzalez, et al. My only question now is whether they’re grandfathered in for HOF voting: Like, does everyone have to wait the full 10 years now? Or do those who have been there a while get a shorter wait? If not the latter, could seee a flood of new HOF voters in a decade.
The Story: Braves deal Shelby Miller to D’Backs for insane return
MWAH Says: Arizona got absolutely hosed here from a value standpoint. Like, demolished. I have no idea why they thought Shelby Miller was worth so much when last year the Cardinals thought he was worth just a year of Jason Heyward. That they got ripped off doesn’t mean they’re not better now, though. Seen several writers falling into the Wil Myers/James Shields trap, saying that Miller and Greinke alone don’t make the D’Backs a playoff team. Well, of course they don’t. But they also get full seasons from Patrick Corbin and Welington Castillo, and young guys like Peter O’Brien, Socrates Brito, and Archie Bradley should help as well.
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