Daily links for the LA Angels including the spring training schedule is set, the Dodger don’t equal the Angels, Trumbo named Minor League Player of the Year for the Halos and much more.
The Story: The Angels unveiled their spring training schedule.
The Monkey Says: There is nothing particularly newsworthy here, but if you go to spring training every year, like I do, then you can now start making your travel plans.
The Story: The Dodgers don’t equal the Angels.
The Monkey Says: Which is exactly Arte Moreno’s plan this off-season. He smells that blue blood in the water and he is going to make sure that the Angels take full advantage of the Dodgers while they are down by signing big names to steal the spotlight and finalizing a rumored TV deal that should give the Angels even more cash and hopefully more media market share.
The Story: Mark Trumbo is named the Angels’ Minor League Player of the Year.
The Monkey Says: A deserved award, but I can’t help but think it isn’t all part of their carefully orchestrated propaganda campaign to inflate Trumbo’s trade value. Also winning awards were Tyler Chatwood as Pitcher of the Year and Gabe Jacobo as Defensive Player of the Year.
The Story: Brandon Wood actually wins an award.
The Monkey Says: Woody was named co-player of the week in the Arizona Fall League. Well, I guess that’s something, right?
The Story: Assessing the free agent market for left fielders.
The Monkey Says: What? Carl Crawford is a free agent??!?! You’d think someone would’ve mentioned that sooner. After Crawford, the market is very weak, though the Halos could try and sign Jayson Werth and move him to left, but that is really the only other attractive free agent outfielder option out there.
The Story: Reviewing the trade options at third basemen.
The Monkey Says: Mark Reynolds has name recognition, but he is a poor fit for the Angels. As for other options, there aren’t many, but I wouldn’t be too surprised if the Angels entertain the idea of re-acquiring Chone Figgins, depending on how free agency goes, possibly taking back his bad contract in exchange for Scott Kazmir’s.
The Story: The Angels’ top prospects #35 thru #31.
The Monkey Says: Cory Aldridge is going to turn 32 years old next season, so I don’t know that he should really still qualify as a prospect.