The March 29, 2016 edition of Los Angeles Angels news includes the final rotation spot for the opening week being decided, the team spending significantly less money than the Dodgers, and more…
The Story: Nick Tropeano optioned to Triple-A, meaning final rotation spot goes to Matt Shoemaker
MWAH Says: In probably the least surprising development this spring, Mike Scioscia has chosen to start the year trusting experience over upside. I do my best not to put stock in Cactus League numbers, but Shoemaker’s 7 HR allowed in 20 innings this spring is pretty hard to ignore. Can’t expect Tropeano to stay down long if that continues.
The Story: Angels were dead last in international spending in 2015
MWAH Says: The Halos spent just $660,000 on international free agents in the last calendar year, which is nearly half the total of the next closest team and 69 times less (!!!!) than the Dodgers spent ($45.38 million). Part of this is the result of the 2015-2016 spending restrictions brought on by the Roberto Baldoquin signing, but that accounts for only the latter half of 2015. What’s the excuse for January 1–July 1? Even the Rays, who were also restricted for the second half of the year and generally have no money, spent $3 million. The Angels’ complete lack of international presence was tolerable when they were spending freely on the open market and developing high-ceiling talent through the draft. But now? Now it’s only compounding their problems.
The Story: Mike Scioscia: Angels prepared to fly with contact play
MWAH Says: Hey, if the math really checks out, I’m all for the contact play. If it’s Albert Pujols or Yunel Escobar at third, though, maybe don’t put it on then.
The Story: Simmons aims to break out at the plate for Halos
MWAH Says: Apparently every team’s MLB.com beat writer was tasked with writing about one potential “breakout player.” Simmons is the guy Alden Gonzalez chose. A return for Simmons to his rookie offensive numbers would be great, but he doesn’t need big numbers at the plate to be extremely valuable to the club.
The Story: 2016 defensive visualizations, by team
MWAH Says: This is why Simmons’ bat is of secondary consequence. He easily laps the field in terms of projected defensive value. Johnny Giavotella, on the other hand, ranks… not well.
The Story: Bud Black, Ron Roenicke bring wisdom in return to Angels
MWAH Says: Lyle Spencer is in his wheelhouse, with 1,000 words on intangibles. Pretty sure he’s trying to make a causal connection between Daniel Nava’s spring performance and the return of Black/Roenicke, which ????
The Story: How Mike Trout’s legend grows, but Angels’ win total has not
MWAH Says: Yup. Joel Sherman nails it. The Angels have built a roster that’s reliant on Trout being a 9-10 WAR player if it wants to compete. If Trout has a down year or gets hurt, they’re toast. “Here, you carry the entire burden” is not really the way you want to build around a once-in-a-generation talent.
The Story: David Murphy granted his release by the Red Sox
MWAH Says: Murphy was in camp on a minor-league deal, but had an opt out if he wasn’t added to the active roster by Sunday. He wasn’t, so now he gets to search for a team more in need of outfield help. It’d be great if the Angels could get him on a minor-league pact, but the odds of that are long when teams like the Orioles are still scrambling for a starting left fielder.
The Story: Braves release Nick Swisher
MWAH Says: When a team tanking as hard as Atlanta is cuts you, things are not going well. Patrick Dubuque made a solid joke about the Braves cutting the Angels left fielder (see: link), but I’d be surprised if Swisher doesn’t end up back with the White Sox as their Adam LaRoche surrogate.
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