Angels Not Desperate For A Third Baseman

There's no need for Angels to be desperate. They needed some offence and they've already added Hunter. I've always like their patience with trades.

@New Guy

I know your comment is a joke, but why is there any reason to believe that the Angels SHOULD be desperate? They lost the guy they wanted, but it wasn't like he was the key to being competitive this year.

The team has internal solutions for the problem, anyway. Figgins, Izturis, and Wood can all pick it at the corner. And...dare I name drop someone here, but...

Dallas McPherson, anyone? He's still only 27 years old, and if healthy, he's shown he can hit at the major league level at a streaky pace. But if he comes back, and he gets 400 at-bats or so, he could launch 25 homers, and throw up an .800 OPS.

But really, the Angels have no reason to be in panic mode. Easily a top 5 rotation in all of baseball (with depth), arguably the best outfield in baseball, a very young, very talented right side of the infield, a top-tier closer, and depth at every position. They'll take the west again this year, and possibly more.

Sure, they'll win the West again...and then get taken out in 3 straight by the Red Sox or the Tigers in October.

The missed opportunity was not necessarily for a 3B... they've got plenty of those... it was for a premium bat, which they desperately needed. They should have shown the same faith in their scouting system to replenish the system that the Tigers did.... but they never do, which is why they're always they're always one piece short.

I think the Angels are in a good position to make a lot of moves, many that we haven't heard of - just like the Hunter and Garland deals. Both came out of nowhere.

I trust Reagins to to what is right fore the Angels in the short and long term interest of the Angels.

bseballcrzy17:

I agree that the Angels need another bat, but I think Figgins is more than a utility player. He is probably playing out of position and should be at 2b.

I am nervous about both Tejada (possible steroid use) and Rolen (general health concerns). If the Angels were going to get anyone for the 3b job, i'm really not sure who they can go after. I for one owuld like ot see Glaus return, but he has two concerns - possible HGH use and history of health issues.

I'm stumped on a the third baseman issue and I don't want to lose leadoff guy in Figgins.

bseballcrzy17:

I totally agree with everything you said, except maybe for Atkins. I'm leary of anyone who come from Colorado, but I honestly don't know who else they could get that doesn't have baggage.

I would hate for the Angels to give up Kendrick, and I'm certainly not advocating that. I'd give up Wood before Kendrick.

If I were making the decisions for the Angels, I would probably try to do the following:

1. Trade for Joe Crede - possibly striaght up for Gary Matthews Jr. (if this could be done)

2. Move Figgins to his "rover" role, allowing him to play the six positions he can play, and yet leave his bat in the lineup as the leadoff hitter. He can spell in LF, CF, RF, 2B, 3B and SS.

This solves the 3B issue for a year while allowing Wood to get some more seasoning in AAA. You no longer have the issue of two centerfielders on the team, and you keep Figgins bat in the lineup.

The lineup would look like:

Figgins
Kendrick
Vlad
Hunter
Anderson
Crede
Kotchman
Napoli/Mathis
Aybar

Interested in thoughts?? :)

Angelfan4life:

I don't think you are stupid at all. I like hearing all posibilities about our beloved Halo's. Personally, I think Crede has a bigger upside than Inge. We'll see. I just hope they don't go after Rolen or Tejada.