Time for the Angels to host a fire sale

You have to give Billy Eppler some credit.   This past off-season, Arte Moreno basically said,  "Here's 20 bucks, go make a winning ball club".

Eppler went to wheeling and dealing.  He tried to shore up our defense.  He brought in players with higher OBP and lower K rates.  Then he went dumpster diving for diamond-in-the-rough pitchers since he had no cash left to do much else.

At the beginning of the season I don't think Eppler and Scioscia were just paying lip service by saying we had a team that could content in 2016.  After spring training, the rest of us were believing it as well.  Of course we all know, and all too painfully this year, that spring training doesn't count and once April hits, it's literally a whole new ballgame.

There have probably been 800 articles written about how the Angels are wasting Mike Trout's best years (because we are).  But what do we do about it?  The short answer, at least for 2016 is - not much.  Trout is locked in until 2020.  There are some moves we can make this year to be competitive in 2017.    Even more so in the 2018-2020 window.  But what do we do?

First thing - host a fire sale!  Everything not bolted down must go.  I think we should keep some of the home grown talent, the young pitchers, etc.  But there are players we can afford to, and should let go.  I'm not going to go into which teams need which positions - may be a topic for another day.  

Here is my fire sale list:

1. Yunel Escobar - His value is high right now and the Angels gave up a good relief prospect and an average starting prospect in the deal.  There is no reason to believe we couldn't get back the same right now.  Or we could get one high end prospect back in return which would be great.  Call up Kaleb Cowart or throw Marte at 3B.
2. Johnny Giavotella - This little scrappy dude didn't have much value, but he does now.  Not sure we could get a top tier prospect for him, but we could get at least a middle grade prospect if we find the right team in need of a second baseman.  Move Petit to second base or even bring up Sherman Johnson.  Why not?
3. Carlos Perez - He is not having the best year at the plate but he's a good defensive catcher.  He has a .233 MLB career AVG and most teams can use an MLB quality starting catcher.  If you trade now, call up Anthony Bemboom as backup until Soto returns.  Perez should fetch at least a mid-tier prospect in return.
4. Fernando Salas - Despite 2 losses and 4 blown saves, Salas still has a 1.02 WHIP and 3.62 ERA in 2016.  He's had pretty impressive numbers in his career and has a 1.15 WHIP and 3.58 ERA in 7 seasons.  He may even be worth a top tier prospect for a team that could use one good reliever to contend.  We don't have a lot to backfill except for many one of our extra starting pitchers moving to the pen or call up Cody Satterwhite who is putting together a good year for Salt Lake.  You could even give home-grown Chris O'Grady the nod.
5. Jhoulys Chacin - This guy could fetch a top tier prospect and we may soon have a plethora of pitchers again.  When Tropeano and Skaggs come back, he should be fair game.  He's put together a pretty good stint with the Halos and there are teams that could use more guy in their rotation.
6. Joe Smith - This will have to wait until he's off the DL, but he could fetch a good prospect.  Not sure what we could get from him though, since his contract is up after this season.  He'd be a cheap set-up man rental.

2016/2017 off-season coming off the payroll:

1. Jered Weaver - $20 million
2. C.J. Wilson - $20 million
3. Yunel Escobar - $7 million (unless we get the relief earlier)
4. Joe Smith - $5 million
5. Geovany Soto - $3 million
6. Erick Aybar - $2.5 million