While most of the Hot Stove League remains in suspended animation waiting for an announcement from Aaron Judge, some lower levels deals went down, mostly involving the Angels who appear to be finally trying to put a supporting cast around their superstars.
It was the Angels who kicked off the Hot Stove League action with what might be an overpay of former Giants LHP Tyler Anderson. Anderson is coming off a career season with the Dodgers at age 33 but was always a league-average or worse pitcher before that. The Dodgers were impressed enough to give him the QO worth $19.65 M. The Angels bit and forked over a 3 yr/$39 M contract which will also cost them a second round draft pick and $500 K in international bonus pool money. Thankfully the Dodgers compensation pick falls between the 4'th and 5'th rounds. Anderson adds another lefty arm to an Angels rotation that includes Shohei Ohtani RHP, Patrick Sandoval LHP, Reid Detmers LHP and Jose Suarez LHP. Gotta question the Angels paying so much so soon for Anderson as the pitching if this free agent class is quite deep.
The next Angels move was a trade for Gio Urshula 3B/SS from the Twins. Urshula came to the Twins last offseason in the trade that sent Josh Donaldson 3B to the Yankees. Urshula is a solid player who put up a bWAR of 3.1(fWAR of 2.4) with a line of .285/.338/.429, 13 HR in 551 PA. He is an average fielding 3B who can hold his own at SS but in a SSS. He will probably be the Angels primary SS if Anthony Rendon 3B is healthy. Urshula is arbitation eligible and projected to earn about $9.5 M in 2023. The Twins get 19 yo pitching prospect Alejandro Hidalgo RHP back in the deal. Hidalgo struck out 58 batters in 39 IP for A Inland Empire last season. He may turn out to be a good one but it seems like a small pay for a pretty solid position player for the Angels.
The next move by the Angels was to acquire Hunter Renfroe OF from the Brewers for 3 pitching prospects. The much traveled Renfroe has always had light-tower power but was a one-dimensional player until the last two seasons in which he has hit 31 and 29 HR's while bringing his BA up from the low .200's to the .250's.
In summary, after years of shopping in the MLB equivalent of Rodeo Drive, the Angels seem to have decided to ignore the top of the market and try to build a supporting cast for their superstars by shopping at the equivalent of Target and have done a solid job of it. Now watch them be the "mystery team" that signs Aaron Judge! Just kidding.....I think.....
Other lesser deals include the Reds trading for Kevin Newman IF from the Pirates, Carlos Santana 1B/DH signing with the Pirates and Mike Clevinger RHP agreeing to terms with the White Sox.
Last year of Ohtani, $146MM committed to 8 players, $172MM to that 8 plus 8 arbs, Houston is a proven winner on less money, Seattle is pushing hard, all in that division: now or never...
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