It's early, but this wasn't the start the Angels were hoping for. They've lost more games than they've won, allowed more runs than they've scored and Albert Pujols still isn't hitting. Here are some links as we await tonight's home game against the Athletics…
- GM Jerry Dipoto told Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times that he remains very confident the Angels will be able to sign Erick Aybar long-term. “I'm very encouraged by where we are and that we will ultimately get there," he said. The Angels would prefer to sign Aybar for something close to Howie Kendrick’s four-year, $33.5MM extension, but the shortstop appears to be seeking at least five years and $50MM.
- MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez hears the Angels offered free agent left-hander Mike Gonzalez the same minor league deal they offered Jason Isringhausen. Gonzalez seeks more money and wasn't interested, however.
- There are no takers for Rich Thompson so far, Gonzalez writes. The Angels are shopping the recently-designated right-hander since his velocity is down and they don't trust him in high-leverage situations. The Angels would like to bring up ground ball pitcher David Carpenter.
I thought the Angels were going to let Aybar walk and give Jean Segura a try?
They should. Aybar isn’t worth that. No way does he deserve more than Kendrick.
Agreed. Plus, I’m sure the Angels payroll could use a break. Why not let a minimum salary player with talent take over? Aybar is making just above $5MM this year, and he’ll probably want more than that annually to sign an extension.
Aybar is a better all around player than Kendrick and plays a premium position.
Makes sense.. Guess shaky forgets he was worse overall and finished up worse than Isringhausen last year. Then Izzy doesn’t have that steller top line agency guiding him that has led him to being jobless so far either and maybe no prospects on the horizon for a MLB one coming anytime soon.
Maybe Shaky could call the Indians…
I think Pujols is trying way too hard right now and isn’t giving himself time to adjust. He’s seeing brand new pitchers, he’s in the first two weeks of the second or third largest contract in the history of baseball and he’s on a brand new team. I really think it’s that old Yogi Berra thing of “90% of baseball is half mental.”
He started quite a bit worse last year. I don’t think he puts any extra pressure on himself and nothing distracts him, that’s how he’s been so great. He will start to hit. It’s a slow start on a small sample size. It seems the last 3 or 4 years he has really struggled early in the year and everyone gets worried. He will come around, he always does.
Yeah, no way he hits .240 or slugs around .320 over the course of a season…heck, he’s done better than that with one wrist
Wouldn’t that be awesome though?
No.
Braves should consider Mike Gonzalez……better than Chad Durbin