Carl Crawford will have suitors lining up for him after the season and we've been assuming for a while that the Angels will be one of them. Owner Arte Moreno doesn't seem to mind spending on his team and Crawford told Mark Saxon of ESPNLos Angeles that he likes Anaheim.
"The weather's great. The grass is really soft. It's one of the best places in the big leagues," Crawford said.
It's not the first time he has said the right thing about a potential free agent destination. Over the weekend, Crawford told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that he likes Oakland's young pitching. Both teams could use Crawford, but let's see how he'd fit onto the 2011 Angels. The team has five viable outfielders under team control for 2011:
- Bobby Abreu – He is showing his typical mixture of speed (17 SB), power (15 HR) and patience (68 BB) this season. He'll be back in 2011 for $9MM.
- Torii Hunter – Hunter is having another strong season. He'll be back in 2011 for $18MM.
- Peter Bourjos – The fleet-footed 23-year-old hasn't hit much in 71 major league plate appearances, but his minor league track record (.861 OPS at Triple A this year) suggests he should.
- Juan Rivera – Rivera has been playing a little first base, but Kendry Morales should bump Rivera back to the outfield in 2011. The Angels will pay Rivera $5.25MM next year, but his production has dropped off (.256/.309/.415 line).
- Reggie Willits – Willits goes to arbitration for the second time this winter, but he isn't guaranteed a contract offer or a roster spot on the 2011 Angels.
- Hideki Matsui hits free agency after the season and seems likely to depart. It's not too early to get excited about Mike Trout, but it is too early to pencil him onto the team's 2011 roster. The top prospect has yet to play in the upper minors.
The Angels do have room for Crawford if they let Matsui walk and move Abreu to the DH spot. That would give the Angels a strong defensive outfield of Crawford, Bourjos and Hunter and could mean the Angels part ways with either Willits or Rivera.
They could also part ways with Abreu, who may bring more in trade that Rivera. Also, Rivera will be in a “contract year” and we all know how that seems to go.
Sign Crawford, let Trout develop a couple years(he’s 19) to replace Hunter, and dump a catcher or two plus Rivera to get a few dependable arms in the bullpen. KEEP WILLITS, always nice having a speedy guy around. I should be a GM.
Easier said than done… Willits and Bourjos are similar players, and if Bourjos hits well in September, he might be the one to stick. But I wouldn’t want him to be on the bench often, so it’s a strange situation to be in.
An OF of Crawford, Hunter, and Abreu/Rivera would be amazing. If Bourjos or Willits is at that corner spot, those are three tremendous defensive OFs.
I think it’d be more likely for Rivera to be moved for a reliable bullpen arm though. I think he has one year left on that contract he signed a couple offseasons ago, but would that work for other teams?
Bourjos is the Centerfielder not at the corner. Hunter has been moved to Right Field where he should be
Is it just me or are the Tigers the obvious place for Crawford to end up?
Its just you. :)
Very likely, but not obvious. Thanks for not mentioning how much money Detroit has coming off the books, that has gotten old.
That’s my bet as well. Tigers are perfectly suited for him and having gobs of money coming off the books doesn’t hurt either.
A couple things about the Tigers and free agents:
– True that the Tigers have $ 75 million in expiring contracts
– True that they have only four very minor arbitration cases
– True that Crawford would be a great fit in the No. 2 slot
– True that Crawford brings speed that is sorely missing, defense that needs an upgrade
– But no team in the AL has signed fewer free agents since 2006 than the Tigers
– No team has relied more heavily on extending existing players than the Tigers
– The Tigers have signed only one free agent to a multi year contract since 2006 (Valverde)
– The Tigers have not given a multi year contract to a free agent position player since Ordonez before the 2005 season
Sure, Tiger fans are hopeful that Dombrowski will alter his methods, go shopping and upgrade the roster with some class free agents, but that hasn’t been his M.O. for several years.
Even if Dombrowski did change his ways and offer a multi-year deal, what would make Crawford choose Detroit over New York, LA, Boston, or one of the many other suitors for his services? All three can offer equal or more money, are in better positions to compete over the next 4-5 years, and are more attractive locations. As much as I’d love to see Crawford in Detroit, Johnny Damon can only do so much to raise the appeal of the city.
if they sign crawford that would still be around 60 million left which can still buy alot of good players
Of course it is ultimately up to the player to choose a team, but I disagree that the Angels or Boston are in a better position to offer more money, especially not the Angels. The Tigers have much, much more payroll flexibility, have a recent history of spending more than the Angels, have a ton of salaries coming off the books, have just as much if not greater need, and the Angels have limited salary room with 94 million committed, losing a closer, and that doesn’t count ten arbitration eligible players.
Ask Damon whether Boston is more desirable, and I’d rather be the Tigers in the Central than Boston in the AL east. The Tigers are in a prime position to be competitive, if not favorites in their division for the foreseeable future. All in the eyes of the beholder.
But my point was that a necessary ingredient is that the Tigers GM has to WANT to spend the kind of money that Crawford would cost, and recently that has not been the case in terms of free agents. Start the competitive bidding, and DD runs away.
“Ask Damon whether Boston is more desirable, and I’d rather be the Tigers in the Central than Boston in the AL east. The Tigers are in a prime position to be competitive, if not favorites in their division for the foreseeable future.”
And the Red Sox aren’t? They’re less than half a dozen out in a year where four of their starting nine for opening day are effectively done for the season. Damon opted to stay in Detroit for a lot of reasons, none of which is likely going to be that the Tigers are in a better position to compete going forward than the Red Sox.
do your red sox have 1 good bat ?? they r going to let ortiz go no guarentee elsburry is gonna be like elburry from last year pedroia is not gonna be as good coming off the broken foot . the tigers have the mvp on there team in cabrera .the rookie of the year in jackson . and 1 of the best bullpens in the league . and the tigers got somethin like 75 million to spend in the offseason which can get crawford and some other good players for example
Interesting that they won those awards already…
How do you know that Pedroia or Ells won’t be the same after coming back from their injuries? They will have an entire off season to recover. They aren’t going to let Ortiz go if they can’t get someone like Pena or Dunn. The Sox will have a really good lineup again next year, Theo won’t let the Red Sox not have a good lineup. Cabrera most likely won’t win the MVP since he isn’t on a playoff team and have you ever heard of a player named Neftali Feliz, I think he’s a little more deserving of the ROY award than Jackson. And just because a team has $75 mill to spend doesn’t mean that they will get who they want, they may completely strikeout this winter with free agents.
just because cabrera is not on a contendending team doesnt mean he wont win an mvp. and feliz is all saves 31 saves and he comes in when there team has a 3 run lead. jackson is ba. sb. defense ext.
Even if the Red Sox were the favorite in the Yankees and Rays would be right on their tails. The AL Central is a weak division and the Tigers could be a sure favorite with the right additions.
The strength of the AL Central has no bearing on the Red Sox’ odds of contending. They’re in no worse position than the Tigers. Even with half their opening day lineup on the DL (Seriously, they’re ten up on the Tigers and have had one of the most injury plagued seasons in recent memory), the Sox are a better team than the Tigers right now, have a deeper farm system and more money to spend overall. Yes, the AL East is stronger than the Central, but that’s irrelevant when it comes down to the playoffs. The Sox have just as good, if not even better, of a chance of contending going forward as the Tigers do, even in a stronger division.
So yeah, the Red Sox are in a much better position to contend than the Tigers.
Perhaps the Angels or Red Sox don’t have as much too spend as the Tigers this offseason. However, just because the Tigers have $75M expiring, it doesn’t mean that they’ll have $75M to spend. Ilitch may decide to reduce the payroll down to $100M, which means they may not be able to spend $17-22M for Crawford plus fill all the other holes (C, 3B, SS, 1-2 SP).
I don’t put too much stock in Damon’s statements – he’s hoping for a contract in 2011, but that’s another topic. I hope Crawford loves Detroit. The past few FAs to sign here (Pudge, Magglio, Damon, etc.) have all loved the city, the fans, and the ownership.
However, it certainly all goes back to your original point: Will Dombrowski being a major player in FA this offseason?
I also wonder how much playing in the AL East his whole career may affect his decision. He is the best player in the (Devil) Rays’ short history. He may choose not to sign with the Yankees or Red Sox for that reason alone. That would improve the Tigers, Angels, or White Sox chances.
i dont think the white sox will get him with a full outfield and manny on waivers (which they will work out a deal for if he gets to them.) which will leave the bidding war to the tigers and angels. (which in my opinion the tigers win) a four year 62.5 million dollar deal
The things that stand out to me, looking at the Angels payroll, is that they have some $ 93.667 million committed (per Cot’s contracts), that does not include Fuentes option for $ 11 mil, and also does not include ten, that’s TEN players that are eligible for arbitration this winter.
The Angels do spend money at a reasonable rate, but they don’t go silly. They let Figgins, Vladdy, K Rod and Lackey walk away rather than over pay them. They will be interested in Crawford, but so will the Tigers, Red Sox, Dodgers, maybe White Sox and Yankees. I put the starting bids at around $ 60 mil for four years, and expect a fifth year to come in pretty quickly in the bidding. CC could be the most sought after free agent on the market this winter, but there are other options such as Jayson Werth, Brad Hawpe, and Adam Dunn for those teams looking for a big bat. Crawford brings more than just his bat. Only he and Werth bring versatility and CC is clearly the cream of the crop, IMO.
Not that its a big deal, but Fuentes option is $9M not $11M, and is not guaranteed (not even a buyout). I think he may not be returning.
The Angels let Figgins, Lackey, and K-Rod go because other teams vastly overbid for their services. Vlad is a different matter, but money was not a determining factor.
Crawford would be an upgrade, not a necessity. If he is signed, other moves can be made in order to accommodate him and his contract, and again, money is not the deciding factor unless some other team vastly overpays for his services.
Thanks. I misread the “11 opt” to be an 11 mil option on cot’s. It is 9 mil, but I still think they decline it with so many other late inning relievers on the market. The good ones will cost a first round pick, though.
Fuentes won’t be coming back unless the team foolishly offers arbitration and he wisely accepts.
I agree, but the point is that you then have a vacancy in the bullpen. If you move Rodney into the closer’s role (yikes!), there’s still one late inning relief spot left vacant, and the Halos have struggled with that lately.
Rodney has actually done well whenever he is called on to close a game. Its when he is brought in at other times he has problems. There are a few other young pitchers in the system that seem to be being groomed for the closer role.
walden throws 98-99 easy…they sculpt him a bit …he could close…8 and 9th
ur right…they have the closing position covered…rodney/jepsen etc…they need guys that can come in the middle innings and deliver though…
and something needs to be done with kazmir…as long as hes been with Anaheim hes never really got it together…
I am in no way saying Kazmir was a good trade for the Angels but after getting him in 2009, Kazmir had a 1.73 era for his 6 starts. Now, he definitely sucks this year and his periphs have been declining for a while (while in TB and continuing in Anaheim) but to say he never really got it together isn’t very accurate since he had it together when he first got moved.
I think the guy has good stuff…he just needs to be less erratic…I like having him on the team…but I mean we brought him in towards the end of last season…and he was somewhat solid until we hit the offseason…and it seemed like everything he threw was up and in the danger zone…
and then this year…well ya…
Either way there still may be hope for him…and as things are looking were going to have a pretty solid rotation next year…and im almost 100 percent sure that this is going to be our starting 5…
I think that Fuentes’ option vests if he finishes 55 games (which he wont) and thats it
CC is quite a nice outfielder, but the bidding will get out of hand and someone will grossly overpay for him. Let’s hope that team is NOT The Angels.
What do you consider overpaying? He’ll be 29 at the start of next season. He’s one of the top 5 OF in the game. A 5 year deal puts him at 34 at the end of the contract.
I would draw an absolute line at either 4 yrs – $64 million or 5 years – $75 million. If a-holes (like the two New Yuck teams) want to go beyond that, then let them and walk away.
did you intentionally title this post to sound like the 1990s kids movie?
I believe Matthew McConaughey was the CF for that team.
If CC is going to be an Angel a few things need to happen.
— Do NOT bring back Matsui
— Trade both Rivera (if the market isn’t there now wait until early next season) and Abreu. That would save you about $15m in 2011.
— Outfield now consists of Bourjos, Hunter, and Crawford. Arguably the best OF defense in baseball.
— If things go right, Trout should be ready by mid-season 2012 – just in time for Hunter to move on. An outfield of Bourjos, Crawford and Trout would be the best defensive outfield in baseball.
I don’t think the Angels can be serious contenders for CC unless both Rivera and Abreu are moved. They don’t have the payroll flexibility otherwise.
I think it can be any two of Rivera, Abreu, and Napoli (face it, Scioscia isn’t going to play him and he will make at least $5M), with Fuentes gone as well. Rivera is probably the least desirable, but 2011 will be a “contract year” for him, and we all know how that seems to go.
A lot hinges on Bourjos showing he can hit major league pitching. If he does, he will most likely move to leadoff, making Abreu redundant.
The angels will not bring back Matsui. But would Abreu then just slide into the DH rol with the occasional OF days? Who else would DH? Trumbo? All i am saying is i don’t think they have to get rid of both Rivera and Abreu, although Abreu does make a decent chunk of change
When I saw this, I thought they were talking about Pagan. :-(
Angel Berroa?
Quite a bit depends here on what the Yankees decide to do. If they enter the bidding for Crawford in a serious way, they have shown that they can buy any player that they want. I’d be willing to bet that the Yanks will go hard after Cliff Lee as their top priority, and the Cash man may decide that their next priority is another guy for the rotation if Pettite retires. By the time that they get Jeter and Mariano taken care of, and add Cliff Lee and either Pettite or another SP, they’re already setting new payroll records, and each player they add costs them double what it would anyone else because of the tax. Unless they move Granderson, I don’t think they’ll go after Crawford.
Right, but you can never rule the Yankees out until the player signs his name on the dotted line for someone else.
If the Yankees aren’t seriously involved in the bidding, I think he could sign for less than $20M/yr, maybe 5yr/$85M. If the Yankees show interest, he becomes a $20M player. They might just act like they’re interested to drive up the price. I agree, their focus will be Cliff Lee and the extensions to Jeter and Rivera.
yeah there focus will probably be on lee for a while which will hopefully distract them for a while so other teams can get good players
The Yankees will almost certainly show interest. Even if they’re content to stand pat with Garnder, the Yankees know that the Sox have absolutely got to be interested in a guy like Crawford. They simply can’t afford to not hike up the price for them at the least.
I think I’d rather see the Angels get Adam Dunn. He’d cost less and would probably love to come to a contender after some of the teams he’s played for. That’s of course with trading Juan Rivera for whatever they can get. But either way it would be cool. They just better get some damn offense!
Dunn does not want to DH… no thanks!!!!
Crawford is a complete ball player. Dunn is a slugger, with DH tattooed all over him.
That’s what they Angels need. A slugger! And yeah he’d primarily be a DH but could sub in LF/1B. Imagine if you will:
LF Abreu
SS Aybar
1B Morales
DH Dunn
RF Hunter
C Napoli
2B Kendrick
3B Callaspo
CF Bourjos
I don’t think that would be too shabby at all. With the rotation they got and some bullpen help in the offseason, there’s no reason to think they won’t be back on top again.
And for cheaper than Crawford would cost…
Dunn will not sign with the Angels, he has already said he does not want to DH
The Red Sox can show Interest and so called “aggresively chase him” CC probably won’t end up there. Much better to see him go to the Angels, Twins, Oakland, or back to Tampa Bay(even if they aren’t gonna afford him).
I don’t know how much Angels Fans will like or think of this trade proposal, but you guys need a consistent reliever ill give you Nick Masset for Mike Napoli fair? Masset after his struggles in the beginning of the season hes become on of our most consistent Relief pitchers aside of Rhodes.Granted Reds would have to throw in some prospects but having him for a year or 2 untill Grandal comes up,since we don’t having anything besides Messarco and Grandal but Mess is in high a i belivie with this is the first year hes hitting and we just signing Grandal. what do you say?
Relievers arent worth their wait in dog sh#$t. Inconsistent from year to year. Napoli is a C/1b who can hit for power. This deal gets rejected 10 times out of 10
Understandable.
The Tigers could be an offseason trade partner for Napoli. He’d be a huge upgrade offensively over Laird and would split time with Avila.
The Angels plans should be simple. The amount the Angels can spend will depend on who exactly gets dealt. Let’s go over it quickly.
– The Angels have 3 catchers, Napoli, Mathis and Wilson, with one of the best young catchers in the minors in Hank Conger in AAA. Napoli and Mathis are both getting more expensive, so if Mathis is dealt of cut, that saves about 2 million.
– Juan Rivera ia in line to make 5 million next year. This is an agreeable price for .280 and 25 HR’s which is what you can expect from Juan across 150 games. There’s should be 3 or 4 suitors for Rivera’s services. That frees up another 5 million.
– Let Fuentes walk, the Angels have too many relievers as it is, and several younger ones have shown great promise late in the season, specifically Jordan Walden and Francisco Rodriguez.
This should leave the Angels with around 20 million to play with before they even come close to this year’s salary. Then all you do is pick your poison, Dunn or Crawford.
With Dunn, you’d get a 3-4-5 of Hunter, Dunn, Morales and that’s as good as any 3-4-5 in the game.
With Crawford, the Angels immediately have the best defensive OF in thegame. No CF comes close to matching Bourjos’ range, no RF have nearly the GG’s that Hunter does (outside of Ichiro) and no LF would have Crawford’s range, not that he’ll need it with that speedster Bourjos in CF.
Either way you look at it, the Angels need to trade a catcher, and they need to trade Rivera, and they need to land either Crawford or Dunn. Once they do that, you can forget about the Texas Rangers repeating.
Also, why did anyone let this become an stupid East Coast thread? No one out West gives a crap about the stupid Tigers.
The Angels could choose Dunn, but he will not choose the Angels
Nice post.
I would like to see the Angels get Dunn and Crawfor next year. Hopefully they can trade Napoli and Rivera to help stock the minors at the AA & AAA level. Let Matsui walk, Shields and Fuentes. My ideal line-up would be:
CF Crawford
2nd Kendrick
DH Abreu
RF Hunter
1st Morales
LF Dunn
3rd Callaspo
C Mathis
SSAybar
Bench:
Willits
Bourjos
Izturis
Wilson
Wood
Rotation:
Weaver
Haren
Santana
Pineiro
Kazmir
Bullpen:
Palmer
Stokes
Bulger
Daniel Davidson(AAA lefty)
Jepsen
Rodeny
cool idea…idk if they can land both dunn and crawford…
plus u forgot about kohn and walden…as relievers…
not to mention get rid of wood…useless..
Horrible bullpen and WTF is up with that lineup order dude? Hunter and Abreu batting 3rd and 4th over Dunn and Morales? Really? I doubt the Angels can afford both Crawford and Dunn anyways… And Crawford doesn’t want to play CF.lol @ Mathis in the lineup. The guy sucks.
don’t make fun of El Gato. He calls a great game and is one of our better catchers. Even Bobby Wilson is a better defensive catcher than Napoli.
some people have already said it but oh well….
Walden and Kohn will be in the pen, as well as Francisco Rodriguez (who has become a favorite of Scioscia lately).
The lineup is all jacked up too. Crawford sturggles as a leadoff hitter so i’m sure he wont be there. CC will also not play center field.
The only way they land Dunn and Crawford is if they trade Rivera, Napoli, and Abreu. Bourjos is going to play center unless he struggles big time the next month and in the spring. But even if the angels trade all of those people i dont see it because Dunn would realize the angels want him to DH and in return he would demand a bigger contract if he was going to deal with them at all