2007 Los Angeles Angels

So Arte Moreno has guaranteed big changes in Los Angeles this winter.  Let's explore his current obligations and needs.

C - Mike Napoli - $0.35MM
C - Jose Molina - $1.25MM
1B - 
2B - Howie Kendrick - $0.35MM
SS - Orlando Cabrera - $7.5MM
3B -
IF - Robb Quinlan - $0.365MM
IF - Maicer Izturis - $0.35MM
LF - Juan Rivera - $2.025MM
CF - Chone Figgins - $3.5MM
RF - Vladimir Guerrero - $13.5MM
DH - Garret Anderson - $11MM

SP - Bartolo Colon - $14MM
SP - Kelvim Escobar - $8.5MM
SP - John Lackey - $5.5MM
SP - Ervin Santana - $0.35MM
SP - Joe Saunders - $0.35MM
SP - Jered Weaver - $0.35MM

RP - Francisco Rodriguez - $3.775MM
RP - Hector Carrasco - $2.75MM
RP - Scot Shields - $2.1MM
RP - Brendan Donnelly - $0.95MM
RP - Kevin Gregg - $0.36MM
RP -
RP -

This club has about $80MM committed for '07, and we can tack on another $5MM or so for raises.  But I haven't seen any particular payroll limit mentioned, so they may be willing to take on another $40MM for next year.

The needs are fairly obvious: big bats at the corners.  I'm sure they're praying Aramis Ramirez opts out of his contract, because then there'd be a bona fide slugger available for third base.  Assuming he doesn't, there's always the Miguel Tejada option.  The Angels are stacked with enough starting pitching and position prospect depth to get a deal done.  Even if the Orioles are difficult.

Another good option at third would be Joe Crede, should the White Sox make him available.  Guys like Hank Blalock and Adrian Beltre could be had, but no one knows if they'll bounce back.  Morgan Ensberg is a name you don't hear a lot in connection with the Angels, but he'd be a decent fit.

First base doesn't offer many top tier choices, though Gary Sheffield would be interesting.  And really, who can't play first base?  The Angels could make room for Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Lee, Moises Alou, Barry Bonds, or even Jim Edmonds if they had to.  Also, given the fragility of Garret Anderson and Mike Napoli's abysmal second half performance, signing Mike Piazza would be a smart move.

While most free agent signings mean overpaying, it may be a better option for L.A. than trading top-tier prospects like Nick Adenhart, Brandon Wood, Erick Aybar, or Hank Conger.  The team is also stocked with lesser but still interesting talent like Kendry Morales, Reggie Willits, Jeff Mathis, Casey Kotchman, Dallas McPherson, Terry Evans, and Sean Rodriguez. 

One could practically assemble a team of "failed" Angels prospects.  I'm sure the club expected the corners to be a strength when McPherson and Kotchman were on the rise.  McPherson will be 27 next year and took a step backward at Triple A, so his star is dimming quickly.  Though Kotchman lost this season to mono, he'll only be 24 next year and has quite a bit of promise.  And Mathis?  He had a 12 game trial before his demotion.  He's only 23, and he posted a decent .763 OPS in Triple A this year.  Morales got less than 200 ABs to establish himself at age 23.

Moreno has pledged to shake things up, so we are going to see trades, signings, and veteran acquisitions.  Personally, I'd rather see the team try Wood at third, Kotchman/Morales at first, and Mathis behind the plate.  I'd sign Piazza in case Kotchman/Morales/Mathis doesn't work out, and acquire a third baseman midseason if Wood proves he's not ready.  Given the rotation depth and young talent, I don't see the need for a huge expenditure.

If I had to spend money, I'd give Sheffield a two-year deal to play first and let Kotchman re-establish himself in Triple A.  Then I'd use him as primary trade bait to fill any midseason needs.  Trading a starter like Saunders or Santana could prove shortsighted, as Colon and Escobar are not entirely reliable.  Colon, for one, is recovering from a torn rotator cuff.  Ask Mark Prior how that worked out.  Flashback to February: "My shoulder is perfectly healthy."

 

Comments

[Paul AKA twinsfan]

Just wondering Are you just doing these on the Big teams or the teams that look to be the most active. Just wondering.

[RotoAuthority]

Beats me, I'm just making it up as I go along. I could probably do a Twins one.

[Professor I]

How about the Phils?

[RotoAuthority]

Sure, why not.

[Jerry]

How about the Mariners?

They don't get a whole lot of attention in the national media and these types of forums. It would be nice to hear your thoughts on what they need to do, and how they might get it done.

[Paul AKA twinsfan]

Did you do a Mets one that would probaly be interesting.

[Zonis]

I'm very curious as to what the A's do.

Next year they will have a few, but signifigant holes in their roster. Frank Thomas and Joe Kennedy might be back for a second year, and there are some players that need ditching (Witasick), but with Barton and Buck's injurys, and the whole farm getting killed by them as well, the A's look like they will have like 4 or 5 rookie starters in 2008, but a hole @ 1B/LF for 2007, and a big question mark at 5th Starter pending Windsor.

[TheRealErik]

*Ask Mark Prior how that worked out. Flashback to February: "My shoulder is perfectly healthy."*

Bitter much?

[RotoAuthority]

I don't like being lied to by the team that I help finance.

[TheRealErik]

*I don't like being lied to by the team that I help finance.*

Fair enough, and as a Met fan, I completely understand.

*cough*Kazmir
*cough*Pedro is fine.
*cough*Lastings Milledge is a fine prospect.

You've got some players over there. I really like Murton, Hill, A-Ram, Zambrano, D-Lee and the bullpen. Besides, the Cards are a paper tiger. A Soriano or a Zito, and you're a contender in 2007.

I was in the crowd when Prior threw the one-hitter against the Mets. We all stood and cheered. C'mon. Don't be so jaded. There is always hope.

Hell, if Oliver Perez can regain his velocity, so can Prior.

[RotoAuthority]

Is Perez all the way back on his velocity? I didn't know that. The Prior of old just seems so far off.

I do really like how Murton's come along, and the Cubs have tons of young starting pitching depth. And yes the Cards are weak. I still think the Cubs are more primed for an '08 run.

[Paul AKA twinsfan]

Roto It might be a Good Idea to Do one of these on the contenders for next year I don't know how much effort they take but they are some of the better things you do for this site. FYI on the Twins one right now we have already passed the attendance totals form last year so look for the payroll to move up 5-6 Million Carl may be the worst owner in baseball but he doesn't pocket the money useally he loses money on the team or reinvests it in the team.

[TheRealErik]

*Is Perez all the way back on his velocity? I didn't know that.*

He's been sitting 94 and touching 96. Not bad, yeah? His last start against the Fish, he K'd 11 in 5 innings and touched 99 several times.

Do I think Ollie can be an ace? No. Do I think he can be a decent #4 starter? Definitely.

*The Prior of old just seems so far off.*

Yeah. But don't give up on him yet.

*I do really like how Murton's come along, and the Cubs have tons of young starting pitching depth. And yes the Cards are weak. I still think the Cubs are more primed for an '08 run.*

Like I said, a potent bat and a decent starter can make a big difference. You put Soriano in the outfield and that lineup changes enormously.

Imagine D-Lee, A-Ram, and Soriano, along with Murton; that's a damn good middle of the order.

You just have to hope you can get picks for Pierre and prospects for Jones. Stick Pie in CF and there yah go. I know Pie has struggled in Iowa, but can he be much worse than Pierre?

[DentalPlan]

I don't think the A's have a lot of good young starters in the pipe. So I don't think they'll have 4 or 5 rookie starters in 2008, I just don't see it.

The Cubs, they're awful and they will continue to be awful with the way they draft and their minor league development. They have young pitching depth but not really quality young pitching depth. The farm system is a definite bottom 5 system. Matt Murton has no power against righthanded pitchers, and that won't cut it with guys like Izturis in the lineup. Izturis hasn't looked like a Gold Glover in years, he's a .630 OPS guy, yet the Cubs love him and he's well on his way to being the new Neifi. For a team with that much defensive love for Izturis, how can they keep the human black hole, Michael Barrett, behind the dish? It's an organization with no cohesive philosophy and no idea what it's doing. Maybe when Pierre is re-upped for something ridiculous like 3 years, $25 million people will get the picture.

As for the Angels, I don't think they should go all young. They need a proven agent masher in there somewhere.

[Pawtucket Pat]

"*cough*Lastings Milledge is a fine prospect."

Why isn't Milledge a fine prospect? He's a 21 year old who was rushed to the majors on a team in the middle of a pennant race and he's held his own in limited action. Why are Mets fans so jaded on him? Not every rookie is going to be a Hall of Famer right off the bat.

[start_wearing_purple]

I agree with Pat, I saw milledge play against the Sox when he had that "big error" in left. After the game I heard a bunch of mets fans ripping on him. Boston outfield is pyschotically difficult, even seasoned vets often have issues. The point being don't rule out milledge, he looks like he has a decent future ahead of him.

Oh Roto, are you gonna do a look at 2007 Cards? I'm interested to see your take on them.

[scatterbrian]

The A's will be interesting, but I don't think there are many holes. The rotation will be Harden, Haren, Loaiza, and Blanton, so they're not replacing Zito so much as upgrading Saarloos. They'll have plenty to look at in Spring Training; Windsor, Gaudin, Halsey, Komine and even Dominguez. Plus Beane picked up Jerome Williams, so there are starting options from within. I think they want to resign Thomas and Payton, and may have to decide on Kennedy, Sauerbeck and Melhuse. I would be surprised but not shocked if Beane were to trade Kotsay this off-season as well. I guess that depends on Daric Barton's ability to play first, moving Swisher back to left.

[feelthebyrne]

How did this post go from bein about the angels to talkin about the a's?? Not 1 angel post!! Im very disappointed...well anyways i think the halos will finally get someting done this offseason whether they do sign soriano, zito or trade for manny ramirez or wells or even tejada, stoneman or moreno wont let another offseason slip away like last year!!!