Outfield Logjam

[SoWhat]

I know Calhoun has only played in 6 games this year, but if he keeps this up then we have a serious logjam in the OF. Personally, I'd rather see him start over Bourjos. Calhoun and Trout make a dynamic one-two punch atop of the order, with both having good patience, speed, and pop. We all know Hamilton is a lock to start RF next year because of his contract, so who goes between Trumbo, Bourjos, and Calhoun?

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

Trumbo. 

[Scott34]

Trumbo

 

If Bourjos gets you a better pitcher/prospects then yeah.

[gotbeer]

Trumbo

 

If Bourjos gets you a better pitcher/prospects then yeah.

 

What if Calhoun gets you better pitcher/prospects?  Which is very possible since he has 6 years of control where Bourjos and Trumbo are heading into arb 1.

[Scott34]

What if Calhoun gets you better pitcher/prospects?  Which is very possible since he has 6 years of control where Bourjos and Trumbo are heading into arb 1.

 

Then you take what Trumbo/Bourjos gives you.  Calhoun needs to stay.

[Angelsjunky]

Trade Trout to the Cardinals for Oscar Taveras, Carlos Martinez, Trevor Rosenthal, and Michael Wacha.

 

Then next year you have this team:

 

CF Bourjos

LF Calhoun

DH Pujols

RF Hamilton

1B Trumbo

2B Kendrick

SS Aybar

C Conger

3B Green

 

SP - Weaver, Wilson, Vargas, Wacha, Richards, eventually Martinez

CL - Rosenthal

 

Plus you have one of the best hitting prospects coming up.

 

I know, I know - I wouldn't do it either - and neither, probably, would the Cardinals or Angels, but it would be mighty tempting.

[FabulousFabregas]

I'd play Shuck over Hamilton.

[SoWhat]

I think we have Shin-Soo Choo 2.0 on our hands. If Pujols can come back 100% healthy next year and replicate his 2012 numbers, our 1-2-3 of Trout, Calhoun & Pujols will be a juggernaut

[Angelsjunky]

Seriously, though, I addressed this in a prior post. Keep them all and have a rotation. Let the player playing best start, which means Trout starting the rest rotation through the OF, 1B, and DH. And of course someone will get injured.

 

The point being, you give Calhoun the 4th OF position and he starts 100+ games.

[bloodbrother]

Trade Trumbo. Calhoun won't have the power of Trumbo, but his BA/OBP% and D should make him just as, if not more valuable of a player. Bourjos stays because they need him in CF to help keep Trout as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Trout will get his starts in CF, but Bourjos will help with the workload

[Chimi]

With Trout, Bourjos, and Hamilton ... Calhoun would never see any playing time outside of an injury or to give Hamilton or Bourjos a breather.  If you want Calhoun as a starter, then Bourjos has to be the odd man out.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

With Trout, Bourjos, and Hamilton ... Calhoun would never see any playing time outside of an injury or to give Hamilton or Bourjos a breather.  If you want Calhoun as a starter, then Bourjos has to be the odd man out.

Not true. He can play 1B. Pujols will probably be DHing a lot. 

[Season Over]

I'd rather see Bourjos go than Trumbo.  Watching Trout play LF just makes me feel gross.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

I'd rather see Bourjos go than Trumbo.  Watching Trout play LF just makes me feel gross.

The OF defense is much better with Bourjos in CF and Trout in LF. Earlier this week, Trout reminded us of that.  

[FireThemAll]

I see Calhoun as a .290/.350/.450 hitter with 20 stolen bases and very good OF defense. I see Trumbo as what he's been his whole career - .255/.303/.478-ish with below average defense. 

Bottom line, IMO Calhoun>>>Trumbo. Trade trumbo for pitching. Go with LF: Trout, CF: Bourjos, RF: Hamilton/Calhoun, DH: Calhoun/Pujols, 1B: Pujols/Calhoun.

[wopphil]

Let him play everyday the next two months. If he is truly the real deal, move trumbo or bourjos in the off season.

[SoWhat]

I'd rather keep Trumbo over Bourjos. Our defense will still be well above average with Trout, Calhoun and Hamilton. I'd choose 30-40 HR's over Bourjos' defense.

[Chimi]

I don't see Calhoun playing first base.  I know he did some in spring training, but he's 5'10. 

[Docwaukee]

pitching, pitching, pitching.  We need it.

 

Frieri is not a closer.  We need one

Kohn, Jep and DDLR are the first three out of the pen with Williams as the long guy. 

Burnett should be back next year and Maronde can be the situational lefty. 

Rasmus has potential and Morin is on the horizon

 

Richards could be a #5 but I'd like him to be #6

Blanton and Hanson have to go. 

 

So you need to fill 3 spots in the rotation.

If you sign Vargas then that's two.

Trading Trumbo and Howie should allow you to fill both of them.  Leaving Bourjos, Trout, Hamilton, Pujols, Calhoun for DH, LF, RF, CF, 1b.  Shuck is your 4th OFer

 

If you don't sign Vargas then Richards becomes your #5

If you can find a way to get a high end starter in a three team deal than moves Howie and Trumbo then you do it and make Richards your #5.

If you have to move Aybar instead to get pitching you do it.  That would be the biggest positional downgrade potentially and you'd have to get a AAA guy that is ready with front end potential. 

If you have to move Bourjos as well, you could do that and get a stop gap at 1b/DH like Morneau until Cron is ready. 

Green play 2b.  A downgrade from howie, but if you get the right pitching, it's worth it. 

Nelson get's a shot at 3b.  You probably need to add a backup util that can fill if necessary.  Someone better than the Fields, Harris etal crew.

 

A combination of Trumbo, Kendrick, and potentially Bourjos and Aybar should net you a #2 or potential #2, a closer, and a couple of other guys that are soon ready. 

The offense is weaker and again reliant upon Pujols and Hamilton, but if they fail, at least you have the pitching to bail you out.

 

Calhoun RF

Trout CF

Pujols DH

Hamilton LF

Morneau 1b

Aybar ss

Conger C

Nelson 3b

Green 2b

 

Weaver

Trade for a #2

Wilson

Vargas

Trade for a #5 or Richards

 

Trade for a potential closer

Frieri

Burnett

Jep

Kohn

DDLR

Maronde

Williams

pen depth of Rasmus, Morin

 

good to go.

[Scott34]

Seriously, though, I addressed this in a prior post. Keep them all and have a rotation. Let the player playing best start, which means Trout starting the rest rotation through the OF, 1B, and DH. And of course someone will get injured.

 

The point being, you give Calhoun the 4th OF position and he starts 100+ games.

 

I saw that post and liked it, but wouldn't it work better if we dealt from our surplus to acquire a pitcher?

[Chimi]

Jepsen has had one good season which was last year.  I don't think he's an answer in the bullpen even though he'll probably shine on another team.  I don't think they need a #2 either.  Wilson fits that role fine.  They need to re-sign Vargas and try to get a good #3 or #4 that is young.  

 

I was looking at the FA class this offseason and it's pretty weak in terms of pitching.  I hope Dipoto can get creative at the winter meetings and get us some cheap, young pitchers with lots of upside.

[Docwaukee]

I'd rather have someone that can slot ahead of Wilson and win with pitching and have a little less offense. 

[SoWhat]

Agreed with a few posts above, I wanna see more pitching. I'd part with two of Kendrick, Aybar, Bourjos and Trumbo for two high-end young, Major League-ready, controllable pitchers (Highly doubtful, I know) I'd also extend a qualifying offer to Vargas and end up with two 1st round picks in next years draft.

[Chimi]

I agree. Maybe I should have said a good #3 or #4 that can move up to be a #2 at some point. I think finding a young #2 starter would just cost way too much in a trade unless there is a team very high on say a Kendrick or Trumbo.

[Make Angels Great Again]

We could try for Jeff Locke from Pittsburgh in a trade. They need a 2B and a RF. Heck, maybe even get a good reliever out of them as well.

 

Trumbo, Kendrick and Hanson to PIT

 

Locke, Wilson to LAA.