MOD: Angels

by RedSoxFaithful on May 14, 2009 11:44 AM EDT

Los Angeles Angels' picks:

#24, #25, #40, #42, #48, #80, #110

Draft Strategies: #24/#25

Today, I'm going to focus on our first two picks. While we do have 5 picks in the first 50, it makes sense that these first two will be the two players with the highest ceilings. Unforunately, due to all of our picks, we won't have the budget to take big names with all five of the first five. This is ok, because we could probably use a couple safer players, anyway.

Now, looking at the Angel system, I'm not sure what to think. There is a real lack of high-upside arms (Walden/Reckling/Smith is about it for the system, and they all project to middle of the rotation guys), and part of me thinks that we should capitalize on that because of the real wealth of pitching in this year's draft. There is a pretty good chance that at least one pitcher falls down to us at #24, and shouldn't be there.

That being said, most of our current positional prospects are majorly flawed. Bourjos, Conger, Trumbo, Sweeney, Fuller... Don't get me wrong, they're good prospects, but I don't see any of them having relatively high ceilings, aside from maybe Conger. Now, there is a real lack of current prospects at C, 2B, and SS (which is mainly because younger guys like Kendrick, Abreu, and Wood have graduated, but none of those guys are irreplaceably good in the long-run anyway). This draft seems to be very deep for MIF, and the first catcher prospect off the board (Max Stassi, it seems) will likely be drafted right around 24. This seems, to me, like another opportunity to capitalize on a draft surplus.

So, while I think it's a good idea to go with the best player available, I think we should really look for two things to happen. First, for a major upside pitcher to fall. Guys like Matt Purke, Zach Wheeler, Rex Brothers. I'd rather not have a "safer" pitcher at this point, so I'm currently interested in our options as far as guys with front-of-the-rotation potential go. Second, for Grant Green, Jiovanni Mier, Max Stassi, Wil Myers, or Tommy Joseph to slip to us.

Note that, for these first two picks, I'm not really concerned about signability. The 2010 draft will likely be deeper than this one, and our 5 top-50 picks this year mean that if one were to get bumped to next year, it wouldn't really mean anything.

What do you guys think? Should we have our eyes on anyone in particular?

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Comments

The draft budget should not influence who the Angels pick.

While the Angels won’t overpay just to sign a pick (see Matt Harvey), they have the financial resources to sign all of their picks. Moreno has also shown a willingness to invest in the team when he believes it is prudent to do so, so I don’t think there is any reason to avoid drafting a player simply to stay within the draft “budget.”

I agree that Plan A should be to see which players might drop due to signability concerns. I would be happy to take any of the pitchers you mention. I would also add Jacob Turner as a player who conveivably could drop. Among the pitchers that legitimately could be available (without dropping), is Tyler Skaggs. He is local, left-handed and has a high ceiling. I would definitely consider using a selection on him.

Among position players, it is no secret that the Angels system is thin on outfielders with legitimate power. Tim Wheeler would be high on my list if he is available (and I would certainly take Donavan Tate if he should drop).

Among MIFs, I would take Green if he were to drop that far, but Mier projects as a late first-round pick, and SS is not currently a position of need. I also don’t think C is a position of need, although, like pitching, you can never have too many catchers. I would consider Stassi or Tony Sanchez in the first round. In this draft there is depth at the position but no consensus as to the top players. I wouldn’t be upset at taking a catcher in the first round, but my inclination is to target the position in the Supplemental Round.

I would also consider Bobby Borchering (power bat) if you think he has a chance of staying at 3B. Matt Davidson is also a possibility, but more likely a Supplemental Round target.

by oater on May 14, 2009 5:32 PM EDT reply actions