So I would start something and you'd start something to the rock and roll like a real oxo

in the car.

Hello and welcome to episode 1157 of Effectively Wild a baseball podcast from Fangrass presented

by our Patreon supporters. I'm Ben Lindbergh, writer for the ringer,

and co-host Jeff Sullivan is on vacation, so I've got a guest and a good one. On December 15th,

Fangrass writer Travis Sotchick declared that the Angels had won the offseason.

Maybe December 15th seems a little early to declare a winner to the offseason,

but if there were a winner, you'd be hard pressed to pick any other team. The Angels have not only

resigned and extended Justin Upton, won the show Hayotani sweepstakes, traded for Ian Kinsler and

signed Zach Khozart, plugging two of their most glaring holes from last year's roster,

but they've also begun to replenish their previously barren farm system at the same time.

MLB.com's Jim Callis just named the Angels farm system one of the five most improved in 2017.

In addition to their major anxieties, they also picked up Brave Shortstop Kevin Maitan,

the best known prospect who was set loose in the wake of the Brave's international spending scandal.

So they've improved on all fronts. If you've done it without taking on payroll,

they're at about 142 million right now, which would be down more than 30 million from last year's

team. And the architect of all that activity is Angels GM Billy Eppler. My met some time ago when

I was an intern in the Yankees front office and he was scouting director. He has since gone on to

great things and I have gone on to host podcasts. But as of today, we'll also have gone on to be a

podcast guest because I am joined now by Angels GM Billy Eppler, who unlike me and most major league

teams this year got most of his holiday shopping done early. Hey Billy, how are you?

Well, Ben, how you doing? Doing very well. So I want to get to all the activity that you've had in

...