The Angels will be able to spend as they please this summer, GM Tony Reagins told Jim Bowden of Sirius XM Radio (Twitter link). Reagins said the Angels have the financial and positional freedom to make the additions his club needs.
The 41-34 Angels are 4.5 games behind the streaking Rangers in the AL West and may need infield help. Injuries to Erick Aybar and Maicer Izturis could force Reagins to pursue a shortstop, though that hasn't been the biggest problem for the team in 2010; Angels third basemen have combined to post a .596 OPS with four homers. Manager Mike Scioscia has found ways to fill in for injured first baseman Kendry Morales, but the team could also pursue a replacement via trade.
The Angels could use some pitching, too. Only the Indians, Orioles, Astros, Pirates, Brewers and D'Backs have allowed more runs. The team's bullpen, a major strength for much of the last decade, has posted a 4.94 ERA so far this year, so Reagins could pursue a second lefty to complement closer Brian Fuentes.
Franklin Morales…you’re new situational lefty…lplease take him off our hands.
Leaveit to the unknowledgeable media to overstate the Angels troubles. If the media was even 50% right, the Angels would have sunk years ago.
– Kevin Frandsen is a great fill in at 3B, he’s doing better than most starting 3B right now and even Baseball America clearly said, he’s a major league #2 hitter. He’s not even our starter either. Izturis should be back in 2 weeks.
– Brandon Wood is doing and acceptable job at SS. Aybar said he should be ready to go on Friday, so we don’t need another SS. Wood’s our 3rd string SS behind Izzy and Aybar.
– The Angels have one great pitchers (Weaver), one good pitcher (Santana), and two solid pitchers (Pineiro and Saunders). They are fine. Pineiro has done every bit as well as Lackey and is many cases better for much cheaper.
– The bullpen needs help, no doubt. Alas, help is on the way. Fuentes is OK at closer but Rodney is even better. Jepsen has regained his control. Bulger should be back next week. And finally there’s two minor leaguers that are embarrasing AAA pitching, Michael Kohn and Rich Thompson.
The Angels don’t need to make a move, they’ll probably still win the West. It’s nice to know however that we have the financial freedom to make a move if necessary. We don’t buy championships like the Red Sox or Yankees, we still have to grow them, but the team salary looks decent.
Have you watched Saunders pitch lately?
So true, so true!
Theriot and Ted Lilly for Trevor Bell
No Thanks
Aybar comes back tonight, Izturis injury isn’t anything serious
that should have been to the Chris guy sorry
or Tyler Skaggs
No Thanks
haha. funny
Frandsen is doing fine. Angels need to get rid of Wood as soon as Aybar and Izturis are healthy. He has had his chance and just hasn’t produced. Hopefully, he has better luck elsewhere. Bullpen has been nerve racking to watch, but everyone seems to be pitching better and, generally, getting the job done. Saunders and Kazmir have had some bad starts, but it is hard to give up on them given there age and previous records.
Angels just haven’t fired on all cylinders yet. Not sure if they will, but definitely still have a chance to make the playoffs. I wouldn’t be opposed to a trade, but not sure who you get rid of, other than Woods, and who you get.