The Officially Official Off Season Thread (2016)

[Bmurph]

Guess the Arte figured out that didnt work out so well?

Arte Moreno: Angels 'probably' out of the running for big free agents
By David Brown | Baseball Writer

December 16, 2015 8:18 pm ET

Other teams still looking to spend big money on free-agent outfielders no doubt are taking note of what Arte Moreno said Wednesday about his own team: The Angels probably won't be pursuing anyone expensive.

Not long it was reported the Angels added Daniel Nava and Craig Gentry in what might be a possible platoon for left field in 2016, the team's owner said the likes of Yoenis Cespedes, Alex Gordon and Justin Upton won't be following in free agency. And it's not like Angels competed for other top free agents in this class. They've been on the sidelines all along:

Here is Fletcher's full story in the Orange County Register, including the following quote from the Angels owner:

"Right now if I had to make the decision, we'd probably be out," Moreno said.
Jason Heyward seemed like good a fit for the Angels (for the money). Cespedes, too. But it's not going to happen, if Moreno sticks to his wallet and word. So much for a club that, in recent years, spent a lot of money in order to add the likes of Josh Hamilton, C.J. Wilsonand Albert Pujols. It's likely that the Angels would have to exceed the luxury tax threshold in order to sign someone like Cespedes, Gordon or Upton, each of whom probably will cost $20 million or more a season.

General manager Billy Eppler didn't discount the possibility of making a trade for an expensive player, as long as the Angels trade an expensive one back. A suggestion of Wilson to the Reds for Jay Bruce has been made, as an example. As of now, Nava and Gentry seem to be atop the depth chart for left field. They both regressed at the plate over the past two seasons, but a revived Nava-Gentry combination could provide the Angels more production than they received from left field in 2015 -- not that it would take much:

Nava also stands as insurance for primary DH C.J. Cron, in case he regresses.

The Angels have a history of spending, and had an Opening Day payroll of $146.3 million in 2015, according to Cot's Contracts, which ranked seventh in the majors. They've been in the top 10 in payroll, and sometimes in the top five or higher, every season since 2004. They've also made the playoffs just once, in 2014, during the past six seasons. Moreno probably feels like he hasn't gotten the best bang for his buck.

Moreno also says it's quiet on the new stadium front for the Angels, not a surprise given the recessionary economic state of California.






Arte Moreno won't be adding big money to the Angels payroll in 2016. (USATSI)

 

[donaldson79]

I wonder if they decided to rethink that when they realized what it would cost. The thinking might have been "after all we made the playoffs and almost won a series so why spend a lot to improve."

I'm really thinking the right deal hasn't presented itself yet, b/c JD was pretty adamant about finding more RH bats.

But, your statement may be 100% correct too, and I'm not ruling this out. The one thing I believe I do know about Daniels is, he's not going to make a move just to make some noise in the press.

 

[scotsman1948]

I'm really thinking the right deal hasn't presented itself yet, b/c JD was pretty adamant about finding more RH bats.

But, your statement may be 100% correct too, and I'm not ruling this out. The one thing I believe I do know about Daniels is, he's not going to make a move just to make some noise in the press.

and we don't want him to do that either but it would be nice to have seen him make positive moves to build on last season and he still may do that but it has seemed through the early part of the off-season that his hands have been effective tied behind his back

 

[DT LUNA]

and we don't want him to do that either but it would be nice to have seen him make positive moves to build on last season and he still may do that but it has seemed through the early part of the off-season that his hands have been effective tied behind his back

Hamels and Co.seem rather positive. Napoli maybe?

 

[scotsman1948]

Hamels and Co.seem rather positive. Napoli maybe?

I will agree that those were positive moves toward this coming season made during the 2015 regular season but wasn't my comments about off-season moves that would continue that positive trend. But his hands seem to tied NOW

 

[DT LUNA]

I will agree that those were positive moves toward this coming season made during the 2015 regular season but wasn't my comments about off-season moves that would continue that positive trend. But his hands seem to tied NOW

Positive moves are positive. Timelines are not always necessary. Hamels will be here whether 2014 or 2015. Here you go again. Give it time.

 

[scotsman1948]

Positive moves are positive. Timelines are not always necessary. Hamels will be here whether 2014 or 2015. Here you go again. Give it time.

They were positive moves I said that before and I'm saying it again. And it is a positive that we will have Yu will be back in May. I'm good with all of these

 

[scotsman1948]

They were positive moves I said that before and I'm saying it again. And it is a positive that we will have Yu will be back in May. I'm good with all of these

sorry but i have been a fan since their first game after they moved from Washington and i have high expectations for them. i understand that i'm impatient and i apologize for that.

 

[saddles]

sorry but i have been a fan since their first game after they moved from Washington and i have high expectations for them. i understand that i'm impatient and i apologize for that.

I am reminded of something my son said once when he was about 13 when he was told by someone to have patience. He said, "patience can wait." lol

 

[donaldson79]

Napoli got $7 mil for 2016, and an additional $3 mil in incentives.

.213 BA, .364 Slugging % over the past 3 years against RH pitching. That's awful.

 

[DT LUNA]

Napoli got $7 mil for 2016, and an additional $3 mil in incentives.

.213 BA, .364 Slugging % over the past 3 years against RH pitching. That's awful.

Answers a few questions I think.

 

[donaldson79]

I am reminded of something my son said once when he was about 13 when he was told by someone to have patience. He said, "patience can wait." lol

I used to have a poster on my wall which showed two buzzards sitting in a dead tree. One of them looks like he's sorta leaning over saying something to the other one, and the caption is, "Patience my ass, I'm gonna go kill something."

 

[Bmurph]

So now does Iwakuma end up back in Seattle and blank the Rangers every time he faces them next year?

Report: Dodgers back out of Hisashi Iwakuma deal after physical
By Matt Snyder | Baseball Writer

December 17, 2015 11:36 am ET

The Los Angeles Dodgers have already allowed all the big-name starting pitchers to sign elsewhere this offseason and now their mid-level signing has fallen through.

Per Asahi Degital of Japan (via Kazuto Yamazaki) the Dodgers have backed out of the reported three-year, $45 million deal after seeing the results of Iwakuma's physical.

This isn't unheard of. The Orioles had a deal with Grant Balfour a few offseasons ago before backing out after his medicals. Deals are never officially announced until after everything is finalized and often times news breaks before that is the case.

Iwakuma, 34, had a finger injury in 2014 and a lat injury in 2015, but he closed last season without any apparent injury. In fact, he was great down the stretch, going 4-2 with a 2.17 ERA in his last seven starts.

Overall, Iwakuma was 9-5 with a 3.54 ERA (107 ERA+), 1.06 WHIP and 111 strikeouts in 129 2/3 innings. He was an All-Star and finished third in AL Cy Young voting in 2013. In his four seasons in Major League Baseball, Iwakuma is 47-25 with a 3.17 ERA.

Without Iwakuma on board and having missed out on Zack Greinke, David Price and Johnny Cueto, the Dodgers current rotation is Clayton Kershaw, Brett Anderson, Alex Woodand Mike Bolsinger with Hyun-Jin Ryu coming off a shoulder injury and Brandon McCarthylikely out until the All-Star break as he comes off Tommy John surgery.

Iwakuma could still sign with the Dodgers on a lesser deal. Note the Red Sox reported three-year deal with Mike Napoli ended up being a one-year deal before the 2013 season due to concerns about his hips.

Still, the Dodgers are again left trying to find some starting pitcher depth to open the season.












Pitching doesn't look so formidable for LAD, with their current rotation pieces, but at least they have Puig

Hisashi Iwakuma's deal with L.A. could be on hold. (USATSI)

 

[True Rangers Fan]

The Iwakuma thing could be great news for Gallardo.

 

[scotsman1948]

The Iwakuma thing could be great news for Gallardo.

True but also hearing that the Dodgers have loaded up with prospects and are willing unload all of them for Jose Fernandez and/or Sonny Gray

 

[Bmurph]

The Iwakuma thing could be great news for Gallardo.

Could be a Dodger, but I think he ends up in Houston

 

[Bmurph]

True but also hearing that the Dodgers have loaded up with prospects and are willing unload all of them for Jose Fernandez and/or Sonny Gray

That would help them currently, but i don't see Fernandez going anywhere, and Gray alone doesnt improve their rotation after losing Greinke and their injuries to starters. Anderson is likely to go down any second too.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I wonder what it was exactly they saw. I would love having him on the Rangers but of course only if he is not going to spend half his time on the DL. Would want more than 129 innings out of him.

 

[Bmurph]

Here you go Scottie, a move looks apparent

Rangers Nearing Deal With Justin Ruggiano

By Zach Links | December 17, 2015 at 11:13am CST

The Rangers are hoping to announce a deal with outfielder Justin Ruggiano today, according to Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram (on Twitter). On Wednesday, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) noted that the Rangers were working on a one-year major league deal with Ruggiano. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News recently reported on the Rangers’ interest in Ruggiano as a right-handed depth piece.

Ruggiano is a very tough out for opposing southpaws, creating a solid fit with the heavily left-handed Texas lineup. The 33-year-old turned things on after he was demoted early on by the Mariners, raking at Triple-A and even slashing a cool .291/.350/.618 in his sixty plate appearances with the Dodgers. For his career, Ruggiano owns a .256/.321/.436 slash line across seven seasons with the Rays, Marlins, Cubs, Mariners, and Dodgers. His lifetime line against lefties, of course, is a lot sharper: .272/.336/.520.

Interestingly, Wilson hears that Ruggiano will try out the first base position during spring training. The Austin, Texas native has never played first base in his big league career.

 

[Bmurph]

I wonder what it was exactly they saw. I would love having him on the Rangers but of course only if he is not going to spend half his time on the DL. Would want more than 129 innings out of him.

11:04am: Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times (on Twitter) hears that the Dodgers are not out on Iwakuma. He surmises that they could be reworking the contract, however.