Post by Steph - Angels on Apr 23, 2020 4:03:36 GMT
When GM Steph Villeneuve announced he’d be looking to rebuild the team shortly after the team lost in the ALDS for a 2nd year in a row, bowing out to Cleveland Indians, most were skeptical. How could a team who’s won back to back WC games, had their ace Stephen Strasburg opt into the remaining years of his contracts, and had 3 gold glovers and one of the lowest teams ERA in the league, want to rebuild? The answer was simple. Uncertainty. With key players such as Trevor Bauer, Kyle Hendricks and Trevor Story approaching their walk year, there simply wasn’t going to be enough money to go around. Not only that, but the Angels pipeline wasn’t particularly deep, with only Joey Bart and Nico Hoerner ranking inside the top 100. The Angels were risking getting caught in no mans land. Not good enough to be that championship favourite, but too good to get high picks.
Thus began the rebuild, which we would later learn kinda became a retooling. The first shoe to drop would be Trevor Bauer and Stephen Strasburg and prospect Jose Salas being shipped off to the Atlanta Braves in 1 of if not the largest blockbuster trade in league History. Coming to Orange County would be top outfield prospect Christian Pache, potential ace Sixto Sanchez, middle infield prospect Jeter Downs and 16 year old 2nd overall pick Jasson “The Martain” Dominguez. Adding 4 top 50 prospects was the jump start the Angels would be looking for when beginning to tear down their roster.
Following that, trades came in bunches. Kyle Hendricks and Nick Markakis would be shipped to Cleveland for controllable MLB arms Domingo German and Darwinzon Hernandez. Aroldis Chapman and his 15m dollar salary headed to San Diego for top 100 prospect Francisco Alvarez. Wilmer Flores boarded a plane to Philly in exchange for prospects Vincent Bird and Franklyn Kilome. Kevin Kiermaier would be traded to Tampa Bay for pitcher Connor Seabold and young outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. Gold Glover Mike Zunino would be sent across town to the Dodgers for pitching prospect Matthew Thompson and bullpen arm Jonathan Holder. Kevin Pillar found himself headed to Cleveland along with prospect Sammy Siani for starting pitcher Andrew Heaney. The Angels even sold Evan Longoria and his contract to the Nats. Finally, the biggest move of the bunch would be Trevor Story to the Baltimore Orioles for top prospects Nick Lodolo, Brennan Davis and Taylor Trammell. The teardown was complete.
Once the dust settled, the Angels were sitting with a prospect system that was ranked top 5, and a ton of cash. Now begins the retool. The Angels struck gold in free agency, adding Zach Wheeler, Cole Hamels, Sonny Gray and Avisail Garcia, in what would quickly become the best free agent class this offseason. JA Happ was brought in for catching prospect Payton Henry. Young star 3rd baseman Brian Anderson was acquired divisional rivals Houston for previously acquired prospects Alvarez, Trammell and Thompson. Jeurys Familia would resign for 2 more years after testing free agency. And Depth players Cameron Maybin, Francisco Pena and Taijuan Walker would be added to the 26 man roster. Suddenly the 100m in cap space the team had would be dished out as the team sits with less than 1m left on the budget.
The roller coaster offseason was finally over. The rotation is deeper than previous seasons, the prospect pool is loaded with top prospects, and the bats will be led by Brian Anderson, Will Myers and Avisail Garcia. Expect lots of low scoring games. The fan base will be eager to see top prospects Joey Bart, Nico Hoerner & Christian Pache manning the field for the Halos, but at this point, the organization seems more interested in letting them develop and delaying their service time clocks.
ROTATION: Sonny Gray, Zack Wheeler, Andrew Heaney, Cole Hamels, JA Happ
Bullpen: Jeurys Familia (closer), Carlos Martinez, Darwinzon Hernandez, Sam Tuivailala, Hansel Robles, Robert Gsellman, Sam Dyson, Luis Cessa, Shaun Anderson,
Batting Lineup: C: Kevin Plawecki. 1B: Will Myers. 2B: Yolmer Sanchez. SS: Zach Cozart. 3B: Brian Anderson. LF: Mikie Mahtook. CF: Braden Bishop. RF: Cameron Maybin. DH: Avisail Garcia. Bench: Francisco Pena, Joey Wendle, Corey Ray.
PROSPECT OUTLOOK: Top 100 Overall (Rankings based on MLB.com ranking)
1. Christian Pache OF. 13 OV. ETA 2020
2. Joey Bart C. 14 OV. ETA 2020
3. Sixto Sanchez RHP. 22 OV. ETA 2022
4. Jeter Downs 2B. 44 OV. ETA 2021
5. Nick Lodolo LHP. 48 OV. ETA 2022
6. Nico Hoerner SS. 51 OV. ETA 2020
7. Jasson Dominguez OF. 54 OV. ETA 2024
8. Brennan Davis OF. 78 OV. ETA 2022
9. Bryson Stott SS. 87 OV. ETA 2022
10. Seth Corry LHP. 99 OV. ETA 2023
The Next 10: Trevor Rogers LHP; Kendall Williams RHP; Franklyn Kilome RHP; Corey Ray OF; Connor Seabold RHP; Jose Alberto Rivera RHP; Jonathan Hernandez RHP; Melvin Adon RHP; Richard Gallardo RHP; Joe Rizzo 3B
Thus began the rebuild, which we would later learn kinda became a retooling. The first shoe to drop would be Trevor Bauer and Stephen Strasburg and prospect Jose Salas being shipped off to the Atlanta Braves in 1 of if not the largest blockbuster trade in league History. Coming to Orange County would be top outfield prospect Christian Pache, potential ace Sixto Sanchez, middle infield prospect Jeter Downs and 16 year old 2nd overall pick Jasson “The Martain” Dominguez. Adding 4 top 50 prospects was the jump start the Angels would be looking for when beginning to tear down their roster.
Following that, trades came in bunches. Kyle Hendricks and Nick Markakis would be shipped to Cleveland for controllable MLB arms Domingo German and Darwinzon Hernandez. Aroldis Chapman and his 15m dollar salary headed to San Diego for top 100 prospect Francisco Alvarez. Wilmer Flores boarded a plane to Philly in exchange for prospects Vincent Bird and Franklyn Kilome. Kevin Kiermaier would be traded to Tampa Bay for pitcher Connor Seabold and young outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. Gold Glover Mike Zunino would be sent across town to the Dodgers for pitching prospect Matthew Thompson and bullpen arm Jonathan Holder. Kevin Pillar found himself headed to Cleveland along with prospect Sammy Siani for starting pitcher Andrew Heaney. The Angels even sold Evan Longoria and his contract to the Nats. Finally, the biggest move of the bunch would be Trevor Story to the Baltimore Orioles for top prospects Nick Lodolo, Brennan Davis and Taylor Trammell. The teardown was complete.
Once the dust settled, the Angels were sitting with a prospect system that was ranked top 5, and a ton of cash. Now begins the retool. The Angels struck gold in free agency, adding Zach Wheeler, Cole Hamels, Sonny Gray and Avisail Garcia, in what would quickly become the best free agent class this offseason. JA Happ was brought in for catching prospect Payton Henry. Young star 3rd baseman Brian Anderson was acquired divisional rivals Houston for previously acquired prospects Alvarez, Trammell and Thompson. Jeurys Familia would resign for 2 more years after testing free agency. And Depth players Cameron Maybin, Francisco Pena and Taijuan Walker would be added to the 26 man roster. Suddenly the 100m in cap space the team had would be dished out as the team sits with less than 1m left on the budget.
The roller coaster offseason was finally over. The rotation is deeper than previous seasons, the prospect pool is loaded with top prospects, and the bats will be led by Brian Anderson, Will Myers and Avisail Garcia. Expect lots of low scoring games. The fan base will be eager to see top prospects Joey Bart, Nico Hoerner & Christian Pache manning the field for the Halos, but at this point, the organization seems more interested in letting them develop and delaying their service time clocks.
ROTATION: Sonny Gray, Zack Wheeler, Andrew Heaney, Cole Hamels, JA Happ
Bullpen: Jeurys Familia (closer), Carlos Martinez, Darwinzon Hernandez, Sam Tuivailala, Hansel Robles, Robert Gsellman, Sam Dyson, Luis Cessa, Shaun Anderson,
Batting Lineup: C: Kevin Plawecki. 1B: Will Myers. 2B: Yolmer Sanchez. SS: Zach Cozart. 3B: Brian Anderson. LF: Mikie Mahtook. CF: Braden Bishop. RF: Cameron Maybin. DH: Avisail Garcia. Bench: Francisco Pena, Joey Wendle, Corey Ray.
PROSPECT OUTLOOK: Top 100 Overall (Rankings based on MLB.com ranking)
1. Christian Pache OF. 13 OV. ETA 2020
2. Joey Bart C. 14 OV. ETA 2020
3. Sixto Sanchez RHP. 22 OV. ETA 2022
4. Jeter Downs 2B. 44 OV. ETA 2021
5. Nick Lodolo LHP. 48 OV. ETA 2022
6. Nico Hoerner SS. 51 OV. ETA 2020
7. Jasson Dominguez OF. 54 OV. ETA 2024
8. Brennan Davis OF. 78 OV. ETA 2022
9. Bryson Stott SS. 87 OV. ETA 2022
10. Seth Corry LHP. 99 OV. ETA 2023
The Next 10: Trevor Rogers LHP; Kendall Williams RHP; Franklyn Kilome RHP; Corey Ray OF; Connor Seabold RHP; Jose Alberto Rivera RHP; Jonathan Hernandez RHP; Melvin Adon RHP; Richard Gallardo RHP; Joe Rizzo 3B