Okay Angels: Why Not Sign Both Gurriel Brothers?

Hunter Stokes (Featured Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21

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We had an old saying when I worked as a baggage handler backs eons ago at an undisclosed airport.  It said “The Beatings will continue until morale improves.”  Almost perfect to bashing the ownership of the Halo’s until they start spending again

Since the Angels are not eating at the ‘big boy table’ anymore the recent defection of Yulieski Gurriel and his younger brother Lourdes Jr. may have just provided a decent alternative.

Why not sign both of them to your roster?  Perhaps big bro ‘Yulieski’ will give you a hometown discount on his deal if you also ink his little brother.  Clearly you could use a 3rd Baseman, and flip Yunel Escobar over to 2nd base in this instance.

To read more about how good these gentleman from Cuba may translate on North American soil, let me refer you to John Manuel’s brilliant breakdown of their skills.

If you really think about it, the AL West is a perfect landing spot for the boys – as they both will play 90 – 91 games a year in California with the Angels and A’s, and then another 19 games on the road in Texas and 9 – 10 a year at Safeco Field.

This is a nice climate adjustment for the pair of them, who are used to playing in warm temperatures.

Lourdes JR. is said to have the tools to play in the Infield – as opposed to Left Field where he has seen most of his time spent in Cuba.  This would be a perfect solution to have him train as a long term 2nd baseman.

Losing David Freese may hurt the club more than Billy Eppler thinks. While I like bringing in Yunel Escobar to fill the void, he is not a great long term replacement for the hot corner.

Again, you could move Escobar over to 2nd base and take over for light hitting Johnny Giavotella.

Perhaps it may only take around $10 MIL per year to lock both of them up.  Los Angeles certainly could use more Infielders in going forward.

At the very least, it would provide another solution for the OF as well, with Daniel Nava and Craig Gentry being slated 1 and 2 on the depth chart.  Nava could also spell Albert Pujols at 1B while he heels from his injury.

Yes that may also create the Angels paying dollar for dollar on the International signing rule for the 22 year old Gurriel brother, but why not take advantage of the rule while there is still not International Draft?  Take a page of the Los Angeles Dodgers here.

As a person who will be going to several games at Angel Stadium this year, I am not looking forward to what this club may be serving up.

The club is already behind the eight ball on offense at 2B/LF and I don’t think Geovany Soto is wharfing into Johnny Bench any time soon.

At the very least by signing these guys. you could really improve your Minor League Roster if Lourdes JR. starts there.

From what I have seen on the video, this guy looks a little bit like Manny Machado at the plate, and swings a little like Juan Gonzalez used to.  I think his game will definitely workout out okay in the bigs with that stroke.

Throw down some more cabbage on your team Arte Moreno!!  Forget the mistake you made by Josh Hamilton. 

Don’t let Mike Trout‘s career suffer because you couldn’t risk pulling the trigger:

If this guy can club you 20 – 25 HRs and drive in 70, with a decent average, you would take that every day of the week.

Since Yulieski Gurriel is 31, he is a Free Agent to everyone, and will not cost you a draft pick compensation for signing him. 

Give him a deal worth $7 or $8 MIL AAV, and that would be a bargain. Gurriel hit for an .884 OPS in 239 AB for Yokohama of the NPBL in 2014, with 11 HRs and 22 2B.

Juan Gonzalez swing comparison

Manny Machado body comparison

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of bbba.work and their other members***

A big thanks goes out to our featured writer Hunter Stokes for preparing today’s post.

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