Angels Rumors: K-Rod, Teixeira, Figgins

Do the Angels no have faith in Reggie Willits? If they are gonna relocate Figgins trade Willits to the Sox they could use him

I hope we don't trade for Atkins. That would be awful.

Figgins doesn't need to go to short. We already have Izturis and Aybar. Wood can also play SS and 3B.

I'm not a huge fan of closing the door on K-Rod. I have a feeling that he will settle for far less than his original 5/75. If we could resign him for 4/50 that would make a lot of sense.

Given the amount of cash the Angels have tied up in the OF, it's no surprise that they aren't interested in career minor leaguers with 3/4 of a solid season under their belt.

There are at least 4 guys on the Angels that can play better SS than Figgins. He's been better than expected at 3B, but LF would be a good spot for him if a power hitter can be found. Atkins has unfortunate road splits however.

I agree with the Angels in the sense that I do believe Chone Figgins needs to be traded. Don't get me wrong, I like Figgins, but I would like Brandon Wood given a shot at least to start the season as an everyday player as I think he would breakout knowing he would be playing every day. A rumor I had heard, that has now died down, that I thought would be the ideal scenario for the Angels was acquiring Matt Holliday from the Rockies.

If we managed to pick up Holliday by trade involving Figgins, and maybe a couple minor leaguers whether it be a pitcher like Nick Adenhart, or maybe tossing in Reggie Willits, then that would free up 3rd base for Brandon Wood, and we could plug Holliday in that vacant Left Field spot.

The Angels have already hinted that they would be willing to spend huge money, so I don't think it would be too farfetched, to sign Mark Teixeira, and trade for Holliday, and maybe pick up a middle of the pack free agent pitcher to use as a #5 starter, given that we let Frankie, Juan Rivera, Garrett Anderson, and Jon Garland all walk, which is what I would hope happens given the possiblity.

Also, letting all of those players go would also free up a DH/RF for Kendry Morales which he could split up with Vlad Guerrero given Vlad's knees and outfield deficiencies. Obviously, this is all wishful thinking on my part, but I wouldn't think its out of the question just as long as the Angel management felt the same way.

The possiblity of a line-up looking like this excites me:

1. Maicer Izturis/Erik Aybar
2. Howie Kendrick
3. Mark Teixeira
4. Vlad Guerrero
5. Matt Holliday
6. Torii Hunter
7. Mike Napoli
8. Brandon Wood
9. Kendry Morales

Probably a little more power than Scioscia would be used to, but I don't think it would hurt to give it a shot given our recent lack of success in the playoffs. Even its not Matt Holliday, maybe a work out a trade for another Outfield Power Bat, like someone mentioned earlier, a Jermaine Dye, or anyone else that could fit into the Angels style of play.

"If the Angels trade for Garrett Atkins, Youngman suggests that Chone Figgins could move to left field and replace Garret Anderson."

"What team would K-Rod be a good fit on for 3/39 besides the Mets right now?"

If that is what K-Rod would take, the Angels would have locked him up already. Their tabled offer is 4/52, and he is worth every penny of that for the combination of production and marketability. 5/75 and 4/60 is what the Halos have balked at.

@ Sam Sanchez - Why would you trade an established guy like Figgins so a still unproven Wood can play everyday. It is harder to find a guy like Figgins, with the combo of great OBP skills, lightening speed and GG caliber defense (look up his 3B numbers, they are out of this world) for a guy who is easier to find (a slugger prone to Ks and without much in the way of OBP). If anything, Wood should be playing SS or DH, not replacing Figgins.

"After Willits went once through the league, he's hit around the .200 mark. I love his speed, but he's not an everyday outfielder... at least not for a playoff contender."

Willits is basically a switch-hitting Juan Pierre with a better arm who replaces contact with walks. If Willits could hit like Pierre with the same eye, he would be locked into LF for the Angels. As it is, his patience has actually cost him because he is overly selective with his pitches and lets a lot of them pass right down the middle.

"There are at least 4 guys on the Angels that can play better SS than Figgins. He's been better than expected at 3B, but LF would be a good spot for him if a power hitter can be found."

Ugh. You don't seem to know Figgins' history. He was drafted by the Rockies as a SS and can probably play that position better than Rodriguez (who is actually a natural CF), Wood and maybe even Izturis. Aybar is the only one there with more raw SS talent. As for 3B, Figgins may well have been the best all-around 3B in the AL when you look at both the sabermetric numbers and the classic ones. He not only gets to every ball and has one of the strongest arms at the position in baseball, he also doesn't boot anything. Sure, he can play above-average defense at any position other than C, but 3B really seems to be his home, so why change it because 3B are "supposed" to be power hitters.

"why not move Figgans to Short. Willits to LF and then trade for Atkins"

Atkins is a terrible defensive 3B. I mean truly bad. Based on 2008 numbers alone, where Atkins only played about 2/3 of the season at 3B, that would be a 22 run turn around in +/- alone. When you add Atkins' terrible road numbers to that, I don't care how many homers that dude hit at Coors, he is a terrible downgrade, especially in a pitcher's park like Anaheim Stadium. Also, why Willits in LF? Why not have Kendry Morales play there? He may not handle the position as well, but he has a strong arm and will certainly hit better.

AA.... good point. I didn't even think of the Angels. If that is all it would cost, I am sure they would bring him back.

He may be the better 3B, but he would almost automatically also be the better 2B, which is a more important defensive position.

"@ Sam Sanchez - Why would you trade an established guy like Figgins so a still unproven Wood can play everyday. It is harder to find a guy like Figgins, with the combo of great OBP skills, lightening speed and GG caliber defense (look up his 3B numbers, they are out of this world) for a guy who is easier to find (a slugger prone to Ks and without much in the way of OBP). If anything, Wood should be playing SS or DH, not replacing Figgins."

@AA:
I'm not gonna downplay how valuable Figgins has been to our to team, but the Angels have obviously already put Figgins out there on the trading block pretty much. I think my scenario easily tops the possibility of getting Garrett Atkins at third. The Angels could shake up a few things and I don't think taking a risk with Brandon Wood at third instead of Figgins offsets the how good it could be for the team to acquire another solid power bat for the outfield. Brandon Wood, at the end of the year, finally began to show some promise, it was only when he finally get steady playing time. He is solid defensively, and has experience playing third, though primarily a shortstop. In worse case scenario, he would end up being like a .240 with about 15+ HRs, which I would imagine those power numbers could potentially even be in the 20-25 range as early as next year. And in my opinion coupling that with getting a Matt Holliday, or a Jermaine Day, or a ::insert whoever else may be on the market::, (I would say Pat Burrell, but I'm pretty sure he's staying with the Phillies), I think its a fairly low risk, high reward situation.

And as I said previously, I think the Angels should try a shift to playing more of a power team out there, that could still play small ball, rather than a small ball team, with a little bit of pop. If the Angels would have got out of the first round at least once in the last couple of years, maybe I would be less enthusiastic about switching things up a tad, but I feel it should at least be considered.

If the Angels can manage to get Tex, Sabathia, Burnett, Dunn, Burrell, and trade for Holliday, their lineup & rotation would be stacked.

BJSGuess. go fcuk yourself..don't speak...dik

yeah i think the angels would need to be blown away to trade figgins, hes to valuable to them.

if the angels lose tex they should sign dunn. and play him at lf/dh/1b.

figgins 3b
kendrick 2b
vladdy rf/dh
dunn lf/dh/1b
hunter cf
morales 1b/lf
wood/aybar/izturis ss
mathis/napoli c
fill in the holes as the days progress.

i also think they need to bring back garret anderson, he is a lifetime angel and he still is a good hitter.

"IF the Yankees can manage to get Teixeira, CC Sabathia, & AJ Burnett, their lineup & rotation would be stacked"

Thankfully you provided the amended line up and rotation to prove they would indeed be stacked. Where would the world be without Yankee fans like you?

"Anyone think the Angels aren't the least bit concerned with a rookie or Scot Shields closing?"

Arredondo isn't a rookie anymore and made a very good, but quiet case for ROTY in 2008.

That said, I agree with you and that is why I think the Angels should stand firm on that 4/52 they offered K-Rod and have it ready for when the Mets don't offer the same money. Forget Brian Fuentes, unless he wants to take LHSU money.