A flurry of moves about to be made....

[Second Base]

Nearing the end of Spring Training, every team has tough roster decisions to make, and teams come away with unexpected needs or surplus. The result, a lot of small moves that can make a big difference.

Today, former Angels prospect Alex Torres was dealt from the Padres to the Mets. He's a very good LH reliever.

Do you guys see the Angels losing anyone to a roster crunch or trade?

Does anyone see the Angels acquiring anybody?

[laagamer]

"Trout's as good as gone."

 

    -anonymous source in Angels front office 

[nando714]

We're getting a back end starting pitcher iyam

[tdawg87]

I honestly wouldn't mind another veteran reliever. With Rasmus out and Lindstrom gone, the depth has been thinned out a bit. They still have a lot of solid options, but if they could get a decent reliever for one of their second basemen then I would be all for it.

 

I think the rotation is fine, but they need to have a rock solid pen to back it up. I feel the workload is going to be heavy on Smith and Street this year so if they could add in another guy like Salas that could certainly help out a lot.

[Docwaukee]

I don't see any moves being made.  

 

maybe a minor league move or two, but nothing to the major league roster barring some sort of injury.   

[TroutCron]

I crrtainly am not impressed with Featherston or Rutledge. I wouldn't mind picking up a utility infielder, especially one who can play shortstop.

Edited March 30, 2015 by TroutCron

[Second Base]

I can see Grant Green being shipped off for something.  The Angels basically gave up on the idea of his being a 2B or utility infielder immediately this Spring and have stuck him out in LF.  He sits behind Cowgill and Navarro currently, and maybe even Krauss.

 

That's not going to equate much time in the majors at all for him, regardless of the fact that he can hit. 

[disarcina]

I agree -- Grant Green could be dealt but it might be a week or so after cut down day -- after he is shipped to SLC.

 

I don't think Rutledge makes the team and unless we are just stocking SLC with players -- I really don't see a role for him with the Halos this year expect to be a 4-A player for them at SLC and a 4-A player who may not get the call up all season -- until maybe September 1.

 

Featherston is an interesting situation -- he's a Rule 5 guy -- we either keep him on the roster all season or lose him......

 

He's been playing a lot more of 3B lately which tells me they are looking at him to spell (and PR) for Freese in the late innings of games........I think the big question with Featherston is where does he fit in with the Angels plans for 2016 and beyond -- because unless he's pegged to be a starter for them at 2B or some other position - I would question why we're spending a 2015 roster spot on him. I would probably keep Green over Featherston and use Green as an all around utility guy at OF, 3B and 2B as well as PR/ PH/DH.  The problem is Green does not give you much in the way of D -- but from what I've seen, Featherston isn't that much of an upgrade w/ D and Green has a better bat and some pop -- but I think the Rule 5 guy prevails and Green is moved elsewhere.

 

Krauss -- despite his impressive ST, gets sent out.

 

the new Cuban SS / MIF -- Bac- something - I see him at either AA or SLC and if he can get up to speed on D -- I could see him in Anaheim by mid-year which raises the question again -- do we really need the Rule 5 guy and have to freeze (no pun intended) that roster spot?

 

Garrett Richards should be back in the fold by May 1 -- think Halos will start Jose Alvarez for that April 14 start and if he does well, may get a second start.......Halos are going to be very cautious with Richards -- he could probably go out and start a game for them right now.

 

Giavotella has gone from number 3 or 4 on that 2B list to number one..........Happened fairly quickly, too.

[Ohtaniland]

We still need another starting pitcher since Wilson, Heaney, Santiago and maybe even Shoemaker are all a house of cards. Oh and Jackie Robinson would be very disappointed at the makeup of this roster.

#torii #howie

[Lou]

#handsupplayme

[Blarg]

We have enough bullpen guys.

[Blarg]

I need to add: that are good and not reclamation projects.

[Second Base]

Rare time I agree with Notti. When Pestano, Ramos and Salas are pitching in low leverage or specialist roles, you know you have depth.

Not to mention anyone we get may not be better than Bedrosian, Reynolds, Snodgress or Hyatt, who are all skated for AA/AAA.

[JAHV76]

Scott Downs released by the Indians he will only accept a major league deal. Looks like he's retiring.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/03/scott-downs-only-interested-in-mlb-offers.html

[wopphil]

Rare time I agree with Notti. When Pestano, Ramos and Salas are pitching in low leverage or specialist roles, you know you have depth.

Not to mention anyone we get may not be better than Bedrosian, Reynolds, Snodgress or Hyatt, who are all skated for AA/AAA.

And Gott. And McBryde (who admittedly was crap this spring).

[Second Base]

Definitely. I really feel like of that group of 5 guys, I think 3 or 4 of them may pan out.

[OregonLAA]

I don't get why people like Ramos. He looks very hittable and his numbers aren't that great

[Second Base]

I think for the most part, Tampa Bay wasn't doing him any favors by constantly exposing him to RHB. Plus the environment itself lends to number inflation. There's a huge difference between pitching in Anaheim, Seattle and Oakland vs New York, Boston a and Toronto.

He should face lefties for the most part, and I think you'll see and effective and versatile lefty specialist with a low 3's ERA.

[KevinJ14]

I think for the most part, Tampa Bay wasn't doing him any favors by constantly exposing him to RHB. Plus the environment itself lends to number inflation. There's a huge difference between pitching in Anaheim, Seattle and Oakland vs New York, Boston a and Toronto.

He should face lefties for the most part, and I think you'll see and effective and versatile lefty specialist with a low 3's ERA.

Sounds like Scott Downs all over again.

[Docwaukee]

If they keep Alvarez and Rucinski in the pen, that will give them plenty of length to allow Ramos to only  face LHers.  

[Second Base]

Scott Downs was among the best RP's on baseball for a few years. He just didn't pitch for the right teams in the right innings for anyone to notice it.

Ramos (and Alvarez) is something I can't remember the Angels having. Left handed length. Not elite, but versatile, valuable.

[DW711]

Is Zito available yet?...

 

 

I wouldn't be surprised if he was on the Angels in a week.

 

Seriously.

[disarcina]

didn't Zito pitch well in ST for Oakland?

 

I think he stays there.

 

As for moves -- looks like both Rutledge and Green start the season in SLC and by June the Halos will have made a move and have some one else.

 

question -- can you trade a Rule 5 guy or does he just revert back to his former team?

 

I will throw the question out again -- Does Rule 5 guy Featherston play such a vital role in the Halos plans for 2016 and beyond that its worth essentially freezing a roster spot for him in 2015 during which he may see 150 ABs and play 3B in the late innings for Freese as a late inning D guy for which, really, Featherston's  D is not that much of an upgrade?

 

I guess the question is -- why don't we just send him back to Colorado and keep Grant Green on the roster and have Rutledge as a 4-A player at SLC?

 

and then there's the question whether former Gold Glover Darwin Barney makes the Dodgers roster -- I'd rather have him behind my pitchers at 2B in the late innings than any of the 2B guys we have in camp...........

[Tank]

i'm still waiting for grady sizemore to be signed.

[DW711]

didn't Zito pitch well in ST for Oakland?

 

I think he stays there.

 

It'd be kind of cool..but unless he wants to go to Nashville..probably isn't happening.

 

The rotation is set and there's a reason he's starting vs the Angels and Gray is pitching in the minors today. I'm sure it's the same reason Stewart is pitching.