Post by Strategist on Jan 11, 2020 22:47:01 GMT
2018 Review:
Record: 90-73 2th in AL West, 2nd in WC. 11th (AL) in runs scored. 4th (AL) in runs allowed. Won WC game against TB. Lost Division Series to the TOR 3-2.
Starting the Offseason:
Lineup: While this lineup doesn't have any superstar hitters, Story is on his way, it does have defensive superstars. LF Kevin Pillar, CF Kevin Kiermaier, and resigned RF Nick Markakis for the best OF defense in the league. 3B Evan Longoria, SS Trevor Story, 2B Joey Wendle, 1B Will Meyers, and C Mike Zunino all played average to above average defense. With his elite rotation was a smart build. They weren't terrible at hitting most were just merely average.
Rotation: The backbone of the team lead by Trevor Bauer, Stephen Strasburg, Kyle Hendricks, and Carlos Martinez all above average pitchers with the potential to have superstar type seasons. Filled the 5th spot Luis Cessa who is slightly below average but overall a top 5 rotation.
Bullpen: A notch below the rotation but still a strength. Arodlis Chapman and Jeurys Familia were the elite relief aces and after them the rest of the bullpen was full of above average/very good relievers.
Obviously this team just didn't have many holes to fill in the offseason and they didn't really need to make any moves. They also didn't have much cap space to do anything.
Season:
Hit the ground running going 19-12 after April and didn't have a losing month until September. Even with the Rangers playing at over 100+ win pace all season the Angels were within striking distance and also took the division lead in August. The aforementioned Sept swoon saw the Halos go 8-17, fall out of the division race, and have to sweat a bit about the WC all the way to the last 3 games of the season. Still were able to win the #1 seed in the WC that saw them walk off in the bottom of the 9th on Story's storybook 3-run HR. Playing CLE in the division series Bauer held them to only 2 runs in game 1 but got 0 run support. The next 2 games their starters let them down a bit. Giving up 14 ERs in 6 IP. The offense came alive scoring 12 runs in 2 games but it just wasn't enough as they got swept by the Indians.
Conclusion:
Lineup: 8th (AL) in runs scored. Solid showing from the lineup top to bottom. Story being the best of the bunch hitting .241/.319/.506 35 HRs 104 RBIs and a 122 OPS+. Biggest surprise being Wilmer Flores and his 30 HRs and 119 OPS+. Overall I think the lineup performed up to expectations all while playing great defense.
Rotation: 1st (AL) in starters' ERA. Bauer had that ace type season going 20-11 3.21 ERA 240 Ks in 38 GS and 221 IP. He finished in the Top 5 in all of those categories and 1st in Ws. To me is is just a hair under the other guys in the Cy Young voting but still awesome season. Hendricks, Cessa, and swing starter Tyler Anderson all pitched well. Martinez struggled a bit and Strasburg got hurt and pitched bad in his 15 starts. Probably not how the Angels expected their specific rotation pieces to perform but as noted by 1st in starters' ERA the sum was an awesome rotation that was able to lead it to the playoffs.
Bullpen: 3rd (AL) in bullpen ERA. Preformed very well as expected. Chaz Roe, Hanzel Robles, Familia, and Champan all had over 70 GP with ERAs under 2.89 and whips under 1.20. Just a great overall effort.
Future:
Cap Space: Already 186 Mil on their ledger in contracts for next season. Strasburgh and Chapman both have opt outs and Markakis has a team option. I would think that Estaban would want both to opt in as the next 3 years of Strasburg's contract would be an amazing steal especially with the SP FA prices in this league. That 2023 salary is scary but I think most would take 3 years of discounts for the poison pill. Chapman's contract is probably right at market value but it would be one less thing the Angels would have to worry about if he opted in. Markakis didn't sim great this season but I think he played well enough in real life that he is worth 7.5 Mil. I don't know if they could find an upgrade at that price.
Needs: As mentioned above shouldn't have much in the way of cap space so that leaves them with limited options to improve. Only Familia and Flores are FAs so will still have an elite rotation and bullpen. If they could find a way to upgrade the offense some. It will be difficult but acquiring a big time power hitter to place with Story in the middle of this lineup I think could do wonders. No matter what will be battling for a playoff spot next season.
Trades Overview:
SS Osiris Johnson, LF Desmond Lindsay to KC for C Kevin Plawecki - 2 Low tier prospects for a backup catcher type. Doesn't move the needle either way for me.
FA Overview:
Didn't have any cap space really so didn't sign anyone. They get a NP (NonParticipant).
Record: 90-73 2th in AL West, 2nd in WC. 11th (AL) in runs scored. 4th (AL) in runs allowed. Won WC game against TB. Lost Division Series to the TOR 3-2.
Starting the Offseason:
Lineup: While this lineup doesn't have any superstar hitters, Story is on his way, it does have defensive superstars. LF Kevin Pillar, CF Kevin Kiermaier, and resigned RF Nick Markakis for the best OF defense in the league. 3B Evan Longoria, SS Trevor Story, 2B Joey Wendle, 1B Will Meyers, and C Mike Zunino all played average to above average defense. With his elite rotation was a smart build. They weren't terrible at hitting most were just merely average.
Rotation: The backbone of the team lead by Trevor Bauer, Stephen Strasburg, Kyle Hendricks, and Carlos Martinez all above average pitchers with the potential to have superstar type seasons. Filled the 5th spot Luis Cessa who is slightly below average but overall a top 5 rotation.
Bullpen: A notch below the rotation but still a strength. Arodlis Chapman and Jeurys Familia were the elite relief aces and after them the rest of the bullpen was full of above average/very good relievers.
Obviously this team just didn't have many holes to fill in the offseason and they didn't really need to make any moves. They also didn't have much cap space to do anything.
Season:
Hit the ground running going 19-12 after April and didn't have a losing month until September. Even with the Rangers playing at over 100+ win pace all season the Angels were within striking distance and also took the division lead in August. The aforementioned Sept swoon saw the Halos go 8-17, fall out of the division race, and have to sweat a bit about the WC all the way to the last 3 games of the season. Still were able to win the #1 seed in the WC that saw them walk off in the bottom of the 9th on Story's storybook 3-run HR. Playing CLE in the division series Bauer held them to only 2 runs in game 1 but got 0 run support. The next 2 games their starters let them down a bit. Giving up 14 ERs in 6 IP. The offense came alive scoring 12 runs in 2 games but it just wasn't enough as they got swept by the Indians.
Conclusion:
Lineup: 8th (AL) in runs scored. Solid showing from the lineup top to bottom. Story being the best of the bunch hitting .241/.319/.506 35 HRs 104 RBIs and a 122 OPS+. Biggest surprise being Wilmer Flores and his 30 HRs and 119 OPS+. Overall I think the lineup performed up to expectations all while playing great defense.
Rotation: 1st (AL) in starters' ERA. Bauer had that ace type season going 20-11 3.21 ERA 240 Ks in 38 GS and 221 IP. He finished in the Top 5 in all of those categories and 1st in Ws. To me is is just a hair under the other guys in the Cy Young voting but still awesome season. Hendricks, Cessa, and swing starter Tyler Anderson all pitched well. Martinez struggled a bit and Strasburg got hurt and pitched bad in his 15 starts. Probably not how the Angels expected their specific rotation pieces to perform but as noted by 1st in starters' ERA the sum was an awesome rotation that was able to lead it to the playoffs.
Bullpen: 3rd (AL) in bullpen ERA. Preformed very well as expected. Chaz Roe, Hanzel Robles, Familia, and Champan all had over 70 GP with ERAs under 2.89 and whips under 1.20. Just a great overall effort.
Future:
Cap Space: Already 186 Mil on their ledger in contracts for next season. Strasburgh and Chapman both have opt outs and Markakis has a team option. I would think that Estaban would want both to opt in as the next 3 years of Strasburg's contract would be an amazing steal especially with the SP FA prices in this league. That 2023 salary is scary but I think most would take 3 years of discounts for the poison pill. Chapman's contract is probably right at market value but it would be one less thing the Angels would have to worry about if he opted in. Markakis didn't sim great this season but I think he played well enough in real life that he is worth 7.5 Mil. I don't know if they could find an upgrade at that price.
Needs: As mentioned above shouldn't have much in the way of cap space so that leaves them with limited options to improve. Only Familia and Flores are FAs so will still have an elite rotation and bullpen. If they could find a way to upgrade the offense some. It will be difficult but acquiring a big time power hitter to place with Story in the middle of this lineup I think could do wonders. No matter what will be battling for a playoff spot next season.
Trades Overview:
SS Osiris Johnson, LF Desmond Lindsay to KC for C Kevin Plawecki - 2 Low tier prospects for a backup catcher type. Doesn't move the needle either way for me.
FA Overview:
Didn't have any cap space really so didn't sign anyone. They get a NP (NonParticipant).