*I have a habit of going too far into detail in these posts so I will give a recap at the end of this post with my lineup after my predicted moves.*

After the Maybin deal (props to Billy for somehow only sending a borderline top 10 prospect), left field is solved... for now. We thought we had the position settled when we put Wells or Trumbo or Hamilton or Joyce or Ortega or, well you get the idea.

Eppler has limited trade assets and some money to lure free agents. But the like of Jose Bautista or Rich Hill don't want to go to a team who was the 10th worst in baseball when they can go the Red Sox or Dodgers or any viable contender.

The team will need to look at low cost free agents who can add some ease to Angels fans.

Second Base

Most Angels fans have zero to no faith in any option currently on the roster. The most logical option would be to move Escobar there and let Marte play 3rd. Though Yunel has no desire to learn the position, the switch would increase his trade value as.

Two free agents stand out to me as options: Sean Rodriguez and Chris Coghlan. Both have versatility that could drive Scioscia wild.

Rodriguez can play 7 of the nine positions and move around easily. Pirates will push hard to resign the utility man causing the meter to fall towards Coghlan.

The World Series Champion gives the Angels versatility and speed giving the team another piece on the top of the line up. Cubs likely won't push hard to resign him, already having a crowded outfield. Coghlan and Pennington could hold down the position for a season until the 2017 offseason. The free agents will include: Brett Lawrie, Jed Lowrie, Howie Kendrick, as well as versatile Dustin Ackley, Alexi Amarista, Eduardo Nunez, and Danny Espinosa.

Pitching

Pitching wasn't a bright spot in 2016 (the team doctor loved 2016 if he was paid per Tommy John surgery). Richards, Shoemaker, Nolasco, and Skaggs are the lone locks for 2017.

Low-cost options: Tommy Milone, Jerome Williams, Travis Wood, Jhoulys Chacin.

Milone was off to a good start in his career until he was traded to Minnesota. He had a 7.06 ERA in 2014 after being traded from Oakland. He had a decent 3.91 ERA in 2015 before a 5.71 ERA in 2016. Eyes are off of him in this offseason and Angels could swoop in and sign him to a cheap 1 year, 2-3 million dollar contract.

Another ol' pal, Jerome Williams could serve as swingman and fifth starter for the Angels, exactly as he did with the team from 2011-2013. He's 34 so he's barely approaching old in the world of baseball. If he doesn't work as a swingman, he could be stashed in Salt Lake as depth.

Travis Wood is the outside the box option as for the Halos. He broke in the majors as a starter in the first five years of his career. 2016 was his first year working only out of the bullpen and was terrific. The Halos could sign him with hopes of stretching him back out as a starter, with the fall back being a solid bullpen option. Wood could likely demand a 3 year, 18 million dollar contract, with Arte's wallet being open enough to offer that money.

For whatever reason, Jhoulys Chacin looked like a savior for the Angels in his first few starts with the team. That reason is likely because he wasn't Jhoulys Chacin, but a great pitcher with his face. They pulled Chacin out of the rotation after three 4 ER starts without getting out of the 5th. For a short while, he became a reliever, and possibly the teams best bullpen option. He was put in and out of the rotation in the season's final month and could serve his same role with the team next year.

Bullpen

It's sad when 9 out of 31 pitchers to step on the mound in 2016, every single one of them gave up at least one run. Al Alburquerque pitched only two innings but gave up a run in his outings. David Huff (our favorite starter of 2016) gave up 7 in two games with 5 and a thirds innings pitched. (I really don't know why they thought he deserved two starts).

The bullpen had its bright spots, and its pitch black spots as well. Some low risk options for Billy Eppler are: Jordan Walden, Jesse Chavez, Dustin McGowan, Brett Cecil.

All these pitchers have not been highly touted this offseason. Brett Cecil has made the most noise with Jays fans wanting him back. Chavez and McGowen had sneaky good seasons and could fly under the league's noses. Jordan Walden (yes, another former Angel. They've made some bad moves) sat out 2016 with a rotator cuff injury. Walden could form a quietly great one-two-two-and-a-half punch with him, Bedrosian, and Huston Street.

Reclamation Projects

If you have watched any baseball channel or program since last offseason, you know the Angels have a dreadful farm system. Their first round pick from this year is their number one prospect. A pitcher picked up off of waivers is their number 9 prospect after two days in the system. There's not gonna be any salvation coming to the Angels soon. Some free agents that are being looked over were once top prospects or great names in baseball and could work out in the Angels system with Eppler's management. If all else fails, you can never have too much depth.

Jerry Sands, Grant Green (either I really love ex-Angels or the old front office had a problem), Desmond Jennings, Jarrod Parker, Jacob Turner, Kevin Jepsen(It was the front office), Jose Dominguez.

Jennings, Parker, Turner, and Green were all once top prospects. Parker and Turner dealt with injuries knocking them out of discussion. Green and Jennings dealt with inconsistency. Jerry Sands was never a top prospect, but was a young guy worthy of talk. Jepsen was a solid piece for Mike Scioscia's bullpen before being traded for Matt Joyce. Dominguez is the epitome of what the front office look for in a waiver pick up. He is a hard throwing reliever and was once the Dodgers 13th best prospect.

Acquisitions:

Chris Coghlan- 2 year, $9 million.

Travis Wood- 3 year, $18 million.

Tommy Milone- 1 year, $2 million.

Jordan Walden- 2 year, $10 million.

Desmond Jennings, Jarrod Parker, Jose Dominguez- Minor League Contract

Lineup

LF- Maybin

3B-Escobar

CF-Trout

RF- Calhoun

DH- Pujols

1B-Cron

SS-Simmons

C- Bandy

2B-Coghlan

9

Bench

C- Perez

INF- Pennington

3B- Marte

UTL- Cowart

4

Rotation

Richards

Shoemaker

Nolasco

Skaggs

Milone/Meyer/Smith/Wood (Let them battle for the spot in Spring Training. Milone, Smith, or Meyer would go to AAA. Wood to Bullpen.)

Bullpen

CL; Bedrosian

SU: Walden, Street

Guerra

Wood

Final Spot Battle- Choi/Ortega/Jennings/ Petit/ Robinson/ Valdez/ Dominguez/ Morin/ Ramirez