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Rosenthal On Matthews, Thomas, Hammel, Niemann

By Tim Dierkes [March 31, 2009 at 9:05am CST]

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a new column...

The Angels attempted to sell the Reds on Gary Matthews Jr., but it was a one-sided discussion. The Reds have no desire to trade Bronson Arroyo or Aaron Harang for Matthews. Angels GM Tony Reagins told Rosenthal, "We haven't had much discussions with respect to trades and trade possibilities." UPDATE: Reds GM Walt Jocketty told John Fay he hasn't talked to the Angels since the Winter Meetings.
Free agent DH Frank Thomas is still waiting for an offer. He intends to delay a decision about retirement until at least the All-Star break. My thought - his situation just got a bit tougher with Gary Sheffield becoming available.
Rosenthal says the Rays could keep both Jason Hammel and Jeff Niemann and cut Lance Cormier, if trade offers for the first two aren't acceptable. Rosenthal adds the Rangers, Nationals, and Indians to the already known suitors (Padres, Pirates, and Rockies). He names the Brewers as "yet another possibility." Rosenthal says the Angels attempted to acquire Niemann a year ago but learned from Reagins that they're not actively looking for pitching.
The Phillies ate Adam Eaton's contract, but team president David Montgomery is unwilling to do the same to make Geoff Jenkins go away.
Rosenthal says the offers received for Rockies infielder Jeff Baker "have not been enticing." They may elect to keep him.

Comments

mattews is a bum no way you trade arroyo or harang for him

Posted by: redsfan | March 31, 2009 at 09:27 AM

doesnt this
"The Angels attempted to sell the Reds on Gary Matthews Jr., but it was a one-sided discussion. The Reds have no desire to trade Bronson Arroyo or Aaron Harang for Matthews."

make this
"Rosenthal says the Angels attempted to acquire Niemann a year ago but learned from Reagins that they're not actively looking for pitching."

look incorrect?

I dont buy the Angels sitting back right now at all. What does thier non-injured rotation look like? Saunders, Weaver, Mosley, Adenhart, Loux? They are looking for a pitcher, they have to be.

Posted by: SuzysMan | March 31, 2009 at 09:34 AM

If the Angels aren't looking for pitching, then Reagins is being awfully optimistic with his injured/young pitchers. And that almost never works out.

Posted by: scribbletone | March 31, 2009 at 09:52 AM

To add a little insight, the Rockies sent Matt Murton down. He was the only other right hander on the bench besides Torrealba and Baker. Trading Baker would pretty much open up a hole there. I'm guessing sending Murton down means that they intend to keep Baker.

Posted by: mkorpal | March 31, 2009 at 10:03 AM

If the Tigers hadn't traded for Josh Anderson, I would've suggested a Matthews for Robertson swap with Detroit, but now it seems unlikely that the Tigers would need an additional outfielder.

I doubt Matthews can get dealt without LA taking on an almost equally as bad contract.

Posted by: scribbletone | March 31, 2009 at 11:21 AM

Reagins: Yeah, um we kinda want Arroyo or Harang, we need to make sure we have a stable rotation...
Jocketty: Alright, what do you have for me?
Reagins: Well you remember that catch (Jocketty hangs up)? It was just such an amazing catch, imagine what your fans would do if GMJ made another catch like that!
Reagins: So are you catching my drift? Walt? Hello?...well %^&$.

Posted by: Grizzlyfox | March 31, 2009 at 11:52 AM

"I doubt Matthews can get dealt without LA taking on an almost equally as bad contract."

That idea you just came up with Scribbletone, Robertson for Mathews actually makes some sense. Robertson is only due 2/17M however and Mathews 3/33m, so Anaheim would still need to pick up an awful lot of cash and is Mathews really a huge upgrade over Thames? Or is Thames moving to DH in that setup?

Posted by: johns | March 31, 2009 at 12:09 PM

I don't think that deal goes down simply because I think that Thames and Josh Anderson can make up a more productive left fielder than Matthews can be.

As I said before though, if Thames was Detroit's only option in left now (assuming that Guillen moves back to first, Cabrera to DH), then I could've seen something come together like this.

A bad contract for bad contract swap really seems like LA's only way to get rid of Matthews.

Posted by: scribbletone | March 31, 2009 at 12:41 PM

Reagins would have earned his stripes if he some how moved GMJ AND picked up a quality starter like Arroyo or Harang at the same time. Arroyo would be a nice fit because of has a pricey contract too but would undoubtedly see his game play better at the Big A where the long ball wouldn't be as much of a threat.

"I dont buy the Angels sitting back right now at all. What does thier non-injured rotation look like? Saunders, Weaver, Mosley, Adenhart, Loux? They are looking for a pitcher, they have to be."

I am sure they are looking for one. I am also thinking the Angels are pissed they DFA'd Nick Green to make room for Abreu. Still, the key would be for this rotation to hold down the fort until the end of April, which is only 3 weeks after the start of the season this year. At that point, the Angels may have all three of Lackey, Santana and Escobar back and be frightening.

The other thing I have been thinking is why not stretch out Darren Oliver? The guy has loads of starting experience and is effective against RHB.

"A bad contract for bad contract swap really seems like LA's only way to get rid of Matthews."

Pre-Manny, I would say that a Dodger-Angel Pierre-Matthews swap would have been a good move. Pierre would thrive with his best friend, Chone Figgins, and with Scioscia's style of play. Matthews would have injected more power into a lineup that needed it.

That was pre-Manny of course ;-)

Posted by: AA | March 31, 2009 at 01:14 PM

“The other thing I have been thinking is why not stretch out Darren Oliver? The guy has loads of starting experience and is effective against RHB”

He hasn’t started in 5 years, and he could hardly last 4 innings when he was doing it then. Stretch his arm out might just end with it falling off. I would use Shields in the rotation before Oliver, and just pray someone came back quickly. And actually, before doing either, I would sign recently released Armas Jr and use him as my fill-in.

Posted by: SuzysMan | March 31, 2009 at 01:52 PM

The Halos are just fine in pitching. They dont need Nate Robertson, nor Oliver to start. They will be fine to start the season with Saunders, Weaver, Moseley, Adenhart, and Loux. By May 1st at latest, we will be healthy: Escobar, Lackey, Saunders,Santana, Weaver, with Moseley spotting and long relief. Angels batting will keep them in games til staff gets healthy; then they'll go strong on a trade of their stud surplus infielders to Toronto for Doc Halladay.

Posted by: SoCal- Mike | March 31, 2009 at 10:01 PM

How about a trade with the Giants, they have two bad contracts Zito and Rowland trade either one of those two player for Matthews

Posted by: bobbybonds254 | March 31, 2009 at 10:34 PM

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Rosenthal On Matthews, Thomas, Hammel, Niemann

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