What to expect from the Angels at the Winter Meetings

The Winter Meetings draw nigh (you’re welcome for my avoidance of the “Winter Meetings are coming” trope) and the Angels have begun their preparations for them. Or at least we think they have. The Halos have been extremely quiet over the last few weeks, so we can only assume they are busy drawing up their master plan for filling out the rest of the roster. Either that or Jerry Dipoto has been sidetracked by his actual holiday shopping. (Those Lightning Deals on Amazon can be so distracting.)

Soon though, we will see the product of those preparations as Dipoto and his cohorts descend on San Diego and get to work. But what exactly will that translate to? Allow me to set your expectations, please.

Silence
Earlier this week, Dipoto made a few of his trademark doublespeak comments to the beat writers on what the Angels have planned for the Winter Meetings. He made his usual “we aren’t planning anything big, but if something falls in our lap, you never know” remarks followed by his usual line about trying to add more young, controllable talent. This was entirely expected.

Once the meetings actually start, the comments will dry up, at least in terms of actual substance. Dipoto will hole up in his hotel room and get to work. He’ll emerge once a night to give the beat guys a few meaningless quotes so that they can file a story and go to bed. That’s pretty much it. He isn’t going to tip his hand. There will be no big statements about what they have planned, no real comments on rumors flying around. He could have Scott Boras in his room, waiting for Jerry to sign off on a $165 million deal for Max Scherzer and Jerry would just give the verbal equivalent of ¯_(ツ)_/¯ to the reporters. So, yes, words will come out of his mouth, but he might as well remain silent.

Action
Don’t mistake that psuedo-silence for inaction though, as we’ve seen in seasons past, Dipoto likes to get his holiday shopping done early. In fact, he’s already running behind schedule by his standards. He’s still got a utility infielder, left-handed outfielder, back-up catcher, lefty reliever and possibly a quality starting pitcher yet to add. If he doesn’t leave San Diego with all but one or two of those items checked off his Christmas list, it will be a wild disappointment.

Awkward press conferences

Oh, yeah. Look at all those frumpy beat reporters, their bedraggled looks as they gather around a makeshift dais waiting for Dipoto to finish giving his milquetoast responses to their questions about that LOOGY the Angels just signed to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Yeah, that’s good stuff.

#MysteryTeam
SPOILER ALERT: This has already happened. For the next several years, the Angels are always going to be a prime candidate to be the “mystery team” in big free agent dealings. Why? Because they actually were the mystery team with Pujols and, obviously, ended up signing him. People just don’t believe that they are really ready to adopt this austerity program they’ve set before themselves. It is hard to blame them, not after the splurges for Pujols and Hamilton.

SECOND SPOILER ALERT: The Angels aren’t actually the mystery team on Lester. That was quickly flushed out as being that other Los Angeles team, you know, the one actually in Los Angeles. That isn’t going deter people from believing the Halos are going to make a play for Lester, Scherzer or Shields. There is a very strong belief out there that the Angels are playing possum with the big name starting pitchers because landing an ace seems like such an obvious need for them. Until those big three sign, the Angels are going to be prime #MysteryTeam suspects.

Trades over signings
I’ve been skeptical myself of the Angels unwillingness to offer big money for Lester or Scherzer, but even I can’t deny how adamant Dipoto has been about how the trade route has become his preferred method for filling in the roster holes. I’m still not sold that the Angels aren’t willing to spend on an ace pitcher, I just think that for their other needs, the trade market simply offers better alternatives. They need a left-handed outfielder for the bench or DH platoon, they need a utility infielder, they need a veteran backup catcher and they want a young lefty reliever. Looking at the current list of free agents, the veteran backup catcher is really the only one that seems doable via that avenue.

There is also the very real possibility that the Angels are serious about not blowing past the luxury tax. In that case, they really have no choice but to try and trade to solve most of their needs. They don’t have a lot of prospects, but they still have Howie Kendrick, David Freese and a number of relievers they could move. Trades are just a better route for them, plain and simple.

Predictions
We’re already seeing the prediction columns for the Winter Meetings roll out, expect more. In fact, expect more RIGHT NOW. For no real reason other than my own bemusement, here are my predictions for what will be Dipoto’s shopping cart when goes to check out from the Winter Meetings (I hope he remembers to bring his own bags, so annoying having to pay that additional five cents):

• The Angels will sign David Ross as their backup catcher. He’ll be this year’s version of Angels Dad on the bench.
• Howie Kendrick will be traded. I’m not entirely sure to which team, but he will be traded. For the sake of fun, I’ll go with Howie going to the Nationals for Doug Fister. I know a lot of people are predicting this (or something similar) but that’s just because it makes so much dang sense.
• The Halos will definitely exit the meetings with more infield depth, but not the kind you are thinking. If my trade of Kendrick prediction holds up, I suspect they’ll look for a more reliable replacement for Howie than Grant Green and ink Jed Lowrie to a three-year, $27 million pact. Lowrie can then play second in 2014 and provide coverage at short when needed, which frees the team up to use Grant Green as the utility infielder. It also gives the Angels the option to slide Lowrie to third when Freese leaves after the season.