By Jonathan Northrop, AngelsWin.com Columnist -
Obviously all transactions aren't equal in importance, but let's just take a look at Dipoto's and see how they look in total.
Key:
A: Great - the deal worked out wonderfully (so far) with the Angels getting tremendous value for money/trade
B: Good - a solid deal, worked out well for the Angels
C: OK - could take it or leave it, not bad but not good either
D: Bad - worked out poorly (so far) for the Angels
F: Terrible - an outright disaster
TRADES
Chatwood for Iannetta: D+
Iannetta's been OK, although poor defensively, and Chatwood has, surprise surprise, finally found himself, with a 3.15 ERA in 15 starts for the Rockies. This trade is looking worse and worse. Iannetta has produced a 2.2 fWAR in his two years as an Angel, while Chatwood has produced 1.8 fWAR in 15 starts this year. Ouch.
Mathis for Mills: C+
Inconsequential, really. It may even be that some folks miss Mathis, given the poor defense of Iannetta, but at least it got Mathis out of the lineup.
Amarista and Roach for Frieri: C
Looked good last year (B+), but Frieri has collapsed and Amarista and Roach - while not future stars - are looking like serviceable major leaguers.
Segura, Pena, Hellweg for Greinke: D
Can't give it an F because Greinke pitched well and it was a solid attempt by Dipoto to make the postseason, but in the end it didn't work out so well and even though Segura has come back down to earth, he's still a very good young player.
Santana for Sisk: D
I know, I know - Santana probably wouldn't have pitched this well for the Angels, but the simple fact is that he is pitching this well.
Walden for Hanson: D
Yet another Dipoto risk that didn't work out.
Morales for Vargas: C+
This is the best kind of trade - one that works out for both parties. It should be a B, but Vargas has been injured and Morales is returning to his pre-injury form. Plus we don't know if Vargas will be back next year.
Wells for Sneed & Cayones: B
Its amazing Dipoto got as much money from the Yankees as they did. I'm giving this a B, but it doesn't come close to making up for the original blunder by Reagins.
Geltz for De La Rosa: C+
A decent trade, although who knows how it looks in the long-run.
Downs for Rasmus: C
I think the Angels could have gotten more if they waited longer, but Rasmus could be better than advertised. We'll have to wait and see.
Callaspo for Green: B
A hesitant grade. I think this will look very good in the long-run. We have to remember that Green was a 1st round draft pick, and chosen before Trout in the 2009 draft. He's been reading for a year or two now and, in my opinion, should be the everyday third baseman next year. Jury's out, but this looks good.
FREE AGENT SIGNINGS
Albert Pujols: D
I hope Albert turns it around, but so far this hasn't been good, plus we've got eight more years. I think he'll bounce back in 2014 and have his best season as an Angel so far, but that's speculative.
CJ Wilson: C+
All things tolled, CJ has been a solid pick-up for the Angels: what I would call a "#2.5" starter, not quite good enough to be a legit #2, but better than most #3s. I suppose his performance has been slightly disappointing in that he's not quite as good as he was in Texas, when he should have been better considering the ballparks.
Josh Hamilton: F
What to say? A complete disaster.
Joe Blanton: F
Ditto. If he turns out to be good in the pen and/or the Angels can trade him and most of his contract, then the F might turn into a B, but this was a terrible signing.
Sean Burnett: C
If he was healthy this would have been a B.
Ryan Madson: F
Not much of a loss but this obviously didn't work out at all.
EXTENSIONS
Dipoto has done well here, particularly with regards to Jered Weaver, Howie Kendrick, and Erick Aybar. Callaspo was OK, and has turned out well with the Green trade, but the Iannetta extension isn't looking so great.
OVERALL: D
Jerry Dipoto has not been a good General Manager - actually, he's been poor. Maybe not Reagins bad, but he's a far cry from Bill Stoneman and couldn't shine Billy Beane's shoes. He talks a good talk, but in the end the proof is in the pudding and the pudding sucks.
If we added a category for moves not made - players not re-signed or pursued as free agents - then we have to include Hunter, who has been a much better player than Hamilton and for much less money.
I personally think Dipoto deserves one more chance - particularly because his biggest mistakes are actually Arte's mistakes. But that shouldn't obfuscate Dipoto's bad moves, and there are plenty of them. I'd like to see what he does this offseason and how the team looks during the first couple months next year. If the Angels are 10 games behind again next year come mid-season, then Jerry has to go.
