The Red Sox should complete a seven-year extension worth $154MM or so with Adrian Gonzalez at some point in the next ten days, as ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reminds us. On a lighter note, Olney points out that Boston appears to be functioning despite a winless week for the Red Sox. Here are the rest of Olney’s rumors.
- Starlin Castro has “made the adjustment” to the big leagues and is no longer phased to be playing at the highest level, Cubs GM Jim Hendry says.
- Another young shortstop, Alcides Escobar of the Royals, may be the best defensive shortstop in the American League, according to at least one scout.
- Angels fans may not like hearing it, but one evaluator says that in sending Mike Napoli elsewhere they “traded a player who would've given them similar production to what they'll get out of Vernon Wells , except it'll cost them about $75 million more."
- Instead of delaying Michael Pineda’s service time and/or arbitration, the Mariners called him up to start the season in Seattle. "He earned the right to be on the club," GM Jack Zduriencik said. "We actually talked about calling him up last September."
these so called experts still don’t know why napoli was traded. anyway, happy parting around arlinnton, nap.
because Vernon Wells is a much better player… (sigh)
Dont bother, he is an angels fan who doesnt get it!
No, you don’t get it. Mike Napoli is absolutely horrible w/ RISP. That’s why Mike Scioscia never let him start full time.
Starlin Castro is no longer FAZED to be playing at the highest level. He is past that PHASE. Do you guys need a copy editor? I’ll work cheap.
I’ve been as criticial of that Wells trade as anybody, but that statement is just ignorant. Wells will outhit Napoli. Napoli had to have regular rest or his bat slowed down considerably. And I’d hate to see Naps patrolling LF. Of COURSE the contract is way too high, but that’s just asinine.
Good thing the Rangers are keeping him well rested. He may not get as many AB’s as Wells, but with that kind of power in our ballpark, he’ll be just as valuable to us that Wells is to you at about an 8th of the price.
Not really b/c Napoli doesn’t play left field so he isn’t as valuable for what we needed. He is valuable for you – but not for us so that’s why he isn’t on the Angels anymore and Wells is.
The improved defense over Bobby Abreu and Juan Rivera already makes the team better. Mike Napoli has always hit homeruns, but has always been horrible w/ RISP. Why would a team playing in a pitcher’s ballpark want that kind of a bat in their lineup? It’s an upgrade over both players. Although I will agree that Vernon Wells is nowwhere near worth $23 million, which is prorated on the Angels side.
Tell us Angel fans something we don’t know. That’s why Tony Reagins is such a moron. And Scioscia is too for playing Mathis over Napoli all the time. Now we are ready to see what Hank Conger can do, and he’ll be riding pine while Mathis continues to suck.
If you’re going to call Reagins a moron, then YOU are the moron. Mike Napoli is one of the worst hitters in MLB w/ RISP. That is exactly why Mike Scioscia never let Napoli start full time.
The Pawtucket Red Sox won a game. Our triple A team, who has only played 1 game, has more wins than the parent club 🙁
At least Iglesias looked great last night picking up 2 hits in his first 2 AAA AB’s. Linares gave the Sox the lead for good with a 2 run triple off the wall in dead center. Atchison picked up 8K’s over 4.2 IP in an emergency start. Hill looked good too.
bryce brentz! 3-5 with a HR 4 RBI and a SB! HOFer!
I didn’t see anything below AAA yesterday. It’s certainly a good sign that he’s starting to display that power that got him drafted so high last year.
Anyway, the reason I mentioned it is that the only real question around Iglesias is how his bat would respond to AAA, and last night he held his own. As for Linares, it was the game winning hit, and he got around to 3rd on a ball off the wall in dead center (400 ft), displaying good speed, power, and contact skills. He also looked good in the field.
Everybody knew this about the Napoli/Wells trade except for our imbecile GM
No, they didn’t. Mike Napoli was pure dead weight and needed to go. The outfield defense is already saving runs that Rivera and Abreu would have let score because they are too slow or lazy in the OF.
Olney made the original mistake, but I’m going to assume that Hendry meant that being in the majors doesn’t faze Castro, rather than phase Castro. Unless Hendry meant that Castro was on some different phase of existence last season, like on Star Trek.
I like how angels have 1 bad offseason and are projected for the first tine in years not to win the division and now all the bandwagon people are jumping ship.
Except they didn’t win the division last year either?
and they look like the second, or maybe even third, best team in that division.
Rangers have no rotation and the A’s have no offense. It could be 3 way tie.
The Rangers rotation is questionable sure, but only because they are a bunch of young guys who are relatively unproven, it’s not because they are no good. They have looked pretty good so far this year and they looked good last year; if they click again this year like they did last Texas could walk away with that division.
Angels could win that division with the pitching staff they have even without making the Wells trade.
It is great to see Pineda up to start the season rather then keeping him in the minors to delay his service time. I wish MLB would come up with a different plan for service time. I understand why teams delay calling a guy up but if a guy can help you now he should be on the team.
Hmm, angels fans feeling distressed! The rest of the division is turning on them….hmmm. Sounds awfully familiar over the years when the mariners made horrible decisions, and the angels fans couldn’t wait to “Boast” their division championship over their heads. Now that the tables have turned (For the most part, mariners still suck) and the rangers are on top, angels fans are wondering why they are bein harassed about their team. Well all I can say is that Vernon is “Not” as good of a player right now as Napoli, but certainly was better in his prime. Either way, the division belongs to Texas, and the other 3 teams are shamefully fodder this year. JUST WAIT THOUGH! Few years, we will be playing a different tune on our piccolo’s (I went there), as the other teams hopefully can develop their talent properly and make this division interesting. I liked what I saw out of Pineda for the m’s, and so long as Trout does not pull a “Brandon Wood” (I know Trout is a better prospect), and we all know about Billy Beane and the A’s, who will make it work sooner than later. THIS is why I love the AL west. 4 teams in 1 division makes the teams match ups so much more personal! Plus, you know that one garbage team, has a chance to turn things around in the near future, with only 3 other teams standing in their way! That is baseball, and my rambling has ended….
Napoli is horrible w/ RISP and allows almost a SB per game. Wells has already improved the OF defense, but is off to a bad start, just like Carl Crawford. The Rangers have no rotation and have to prove they can repeat; the A’s have no offense. All the Angels need to do is stay healthy and the division will be their’s again. There’s no way all those Halos will have another down year.
I don’t get it about Napoli and Wells? That statement is moronic. Napoli is a catcher who was barely going to play on the Angels…Wells is an Gold Glove outfielder who will play everyday…the two aren’t comparable. I mean if you are looking at just numbers on paper sure, but we’re talking about baseball where people play positions not just comparing stats. You have to take into consideration playing time, and positions when making these comparisons. First, if Napoli was a Gold Glove outfielder he wouldn’t have been traded — but he isn’t a gold glove outfielder, he’s an OK catcher with power and little else. Also, if Vernon Wells was a catcher, the Angels probably wouldn’t have traded for him. The Angels needed an outfielder who was better than Juan Rivera and after losing out on Crawford they sent two pieces that were going to not be used in the Angels line-up to Toronto for something they needed.
Why is it the Angels are getting bashed for over paying for Wells. Did we forget that the Yankees and Red Sox both over pay for every player they get? Another example iss why isn’t the Nationals getting bashed for Werth. They could of just signed Jason Bay last year or even go a fielder who has the same talent level as Werth for a hell of a lot cheaper. The Thing is all these teams can afford to over pay so if they can why not? Plus Wells gives us the best OF in MLB. So yes over pay, but is it worth it? It will if the Angels make the Playoffs.
Theres a difference between picking up a bad contract, and having to overpay in free agency.
No, there isn’t.
great argument..
Free agents are more rare and have a bunch of teams trying to obtain their services, which drives up the cost, its economics 101, supply and demand.
Where as is trade, you already have the player under contract, its cost controlled, so you have to just trade assets in order to obtain another asset.
I’ll agree with whoever had the glowing reports on Escobar. As a Royals fan, it’s great to see someone who knows what he’s doing out there at short.
I happen to be against holding starting pitching back because of arbitration. If a pitcher is ready for promotion, you promote him. Even if it’s going to cost you. If you keep him down to control his clock and he gets injured, you could end up getting nothing. Use him when he’s ready, if your lucky he’s good enough to get expensive.