Angels Open To Extensions With Street, Iannetta, Richards

[Ohtaniland]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/01/angels-open-to-extensions-with-street-iannetta-richards.html

 

[JAHV76]

Iannetta is an interesting one do the Angels have a better long term catching option?

[wopphil]

I have no clue what a Richards extension would look like. Presumably the Angels would require two years of free agency, so maybe something along the lines of 6/48?

I could see Ianetta and Street somewhere in the neighborhood of 2/15 each.

[bloodbrother]

And this is why they aren't overpaying for a 33 year old FA SP. Using their money to lock up their own key players for the long haul

[Guest]

I'm cool with this.

[HeavenlyHalos]

It certainly doesn't hurt to negotiate with Street, especially since he signed a very team-friendly deal last time, but I also wouldn't mind just seeing how things play out with him. If he has a good year, make him the QO, and if he leaves, we get a first round pick out of it. Don't get me wrong, I like Street a lot; he attacks hitters and has excellent control, but he will be 32 this season and had a terrible 2013. With that said, if we do re-sign him before the start of the season, I won't complain.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

Iannetta is an interesting one do the Angels have a better long term catching option?

 

My guess is no.

[Second Base]

We have interesting options behind the plate but none come with Iannetta's certainty.

[nate]

Iannetta is so awful I hope they don't.

[Stradling]

Ianetta is about league average defensively, slightly below average, and above average offensively so no he isn't awful. I completely understand preferring a defensive catcher, but there aren't a lot of very good defensive catchers.

[Reveille1984]

Honestly I don't think any of these guys are great extension candidates unless its a super team friendly deal. 

 

Iannetta's bat makes up for his shitty defensive value, but I don't think it would hurt to have more of a defensive whiz that can build the confidence of a staff that will get increasingly younger and inexperienced the next few years.  And we all saw last year what having a great closer can do for the confidence of a team, but relievers (even ones with good track records) are probably the most volatile assett in terms of year to year performance.  Maybe like 2/16 or something I'd be okay with, but we don't need to blow our load on a 32 year old reliever for 3+ years and he could probably get a lot more in free agency.

 

Richards is a more unique risk/reward type case.  We could potentially save a lot of cash on an extension if he comes back to the same form as last year.  But he could also just flame out, and its not like pitchers of his archetype that depend so much on velocity age particularly well. 

[nikkachez]

I would be okay with extensions with all of them. Have Wilson, Weaver, Freese, Joyce, Smith, and Aybar coming off the books in upcoming years with Josh not too far behind them. The team actually has some financial flexibility, now they can lock up some of their own talent. Lock these guys up and the only real glaring holes heading into next offseason will be the DH/OF bat of Joyce, second base, Freese leaving (Kubitza being the replacement, but you could see another option picked up), and bench pieces. Get ready boys, could be looking forward to another slow offseason (which I'm okay with). 

[wopphil]

Honestly I don't think any of these guys are great extension candidates unless its a super team friendly deal.

Iannetta's bat makes up for his shitty defensive value, but I don't think it would hurt to have more of a defensive whiz that can build the confidence of a staff that will get increasingly younger and inexperienced the next few years. And we all saw last year what having a great closer can do for the confidence of a team, but relievers (even ones with good track records) are probably the most volatile assett in terms of year to year performance. Maybe like 2/16 or something I'd be okay with, but we don't need to blow our load on a 32 year old reliever for 3+ years and he could probably get a lot more in free agency.

Richards is a more unique risk/reward type case. We could potentially save a lot of cash on an extension if he comes back to the same form as last year. But he could also just flame out, and its not like pitchers of his archetype that depend so much on velocity age particularly well.

If Richards pitches over the next few years anything like he did last year, he will get $100,000,000 plus in free agency, and could easily pull in $35-40 just through his arb years. If you can buy out two years of free agency and commit less than $50 mil to him, you take that risk.

[Chuck]

I would see how our younger catchers do this season before offering an extension to Iannetta. If they're all sucking by mid-season, sign Iannetta to extension. 

[bloodbrother]

Yeah. Iannetta gives you above average offensive production at the Catcher spot but he just flatout sucks behind the plate. Wait and see approach in regards to giving him another extension

 

Street....I think a 3yr extension makes sense

 

Richards...who knows what kind of deal they are looking at. 5 years seems like a reasonable estimate IMO. Allows them to buy out 2 FA years(2019, 2020) and by the time the deal is up he'll be 32, just the right time to move on from a starter

Edited January 28, 2015 by bloodbrother

[Stradling]

I realize defensive metrics aren't that great, but I would think the easiest defensive metric would be catcher or maybe first base. So with that being said Ianetta was a -.3 DWAR last year, so he's basically a little below replacement level. If someone with more Internet skill can post a list of starting catchers or frequent backups and their DWAR i would love to see where he ranks. I know it's not great but people talk about him like he's as bad as Trumbo at third or at the very least Cron at first.

[bloodbrother]

I'm not even looking at defensive metrics. I think we can all see that the guy just isn't very good back there and doesn't do a good job at pitch framing. Too often he stabs at the ball, that's my main gripe with him behind the plate. I hope whoever is the backup this year is a defensive specialist so the team has a nice balance of offensive production from Iannetta + defensive prowess from whoever gets the spot

[Stradling]

I agree he isn't great and the stabbing at pitches is my biggest concern. I also know that we are the most critical of our players. If we watched other teams like we do the Angels we would realize that he's not as bad compared to his peers as we make him out to be. As far as the whole package he's better than most.

[bloodbrother]

I agree, they could definitely do a lot worse at that position. His bat alone makes him valuable considering the state of that position around MLB. I'm sure the Angels are hoping that they have a suitable replacement going forward already on the roster, but if not, re-signing Iannetta on another 2yr deal wouldn't be the worst idea.

[laagamer]

I like Street a lot; he attacks hitters and has excellent control, but he will be 32 this season and had a terrible 2013.

 

 

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/streehu01.shtml

Edited January 28, 2015 by laagamer

[Angel Oracle]

Richards though throws a heavy sinker, which means that even if he loses 4-5mph, the sinker will still be difficult to get much lift on.  

The only issue with Richards long term is health.

Edited January 28, 2015 by Angel Oracle

[disarcina]

make these extensions happen.........all good choices and solid players.

 

Street coming over really made a difference for us last year.

 

Ianetta is solid, when healthy.

 

Richards -- take a chance now while there's still some question about his ability to rebound -- well worth it -- Richards was headed for a break out, ALL STAR / ACE OF THE STAFF performance of a season last year when he went down.......if he picks up where he left off for a second year, well, suddenly it gets real expensive.

[HeavenlyHalos]

 

 

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/streehu01.shtml

 

Meh, his ERA was good but his FIP was the worst of his career, he had his lowest K/9 rate, 2nd worst ERA+, and most HR allowed. He was fairly lucky that his ERA was that low. With that said, it looked like he was due for a bad 2014, but ended up having the best season of his career. I definitely shouldn't have said "terrible" though.

Edited January 29, 2015 by HeavenlyHalos

[laagamer]

Meh, his ERA was good but his FIP was the worst of his career, he had his lowest K/9 rate, 2nd worst ERA+, and most HR allowed. He was fairly lucky that his ERA was that low. With that said, it looked like he was due for a bad 2014, but ended up having the best season of his career. I definitely shouldn't have said "terrible" though.

 

I'd still take him over Kevin Jepsen lol

 

Really hope I don't eat those words 

[Mark68]

Ianetta is about league average defensively, slightly below average, and above average offensively so no he isn't awful. I completely understand preferring a defensive catcher, but there aren't a lot of very good defensive catchers.

At least not the kind who can hit their weight.