The Angels are next in our arbitration eligibles series.
- First time: Jerome Williams
- Second time: Kendrys Morales, Alberto Callaspo, Jeff Mathis
- Third time: Howie Kendrick, Erick Aybar
Mathis is a non-tender candidate, though the Angels retained him last year and his performance hasn't changed much. His salary would be virtually the same, around $1.8MM. Though it's only been 30 innings, Williams has done a nice job and would cost only $700K or so to retain.
The Angels' entire projected infield (aside from Mark Trumbo) is arbitration eligible. Having missed all of 2011, Morales projects to stay at the same salary, $2.975MM. We've got Kendrick for $5.1MM, Aybar for $4.5MM, and Callaspo for $3MM. The middle infield tandem of Kendrick and Aybar will be entering their walk years.
If Mathis is cut loose, the Angels' five arbitration eligible players could cost $16.275MM. Adding in players under contract for 2012, the team's commitments could total about $118MM not including minimum salary players. The Angels' Opening Day payroll in 2011 was about $23MM above that point, so GM Tony Reagins should have flexibility this winter.
C.J. Come Home!
HAHAHAHAHAHA REAGINS!
Willing to bet that Mathis will be getting a raise. 🙁
he will probably have a killer last week of the season (ie maybe have a multi-hit game) and angels will double his salary due to his new found offense force and how great he is with catching the ball
Hey Tim, I think you forgot to add in Weaver’ s new contract which brings the total closer to $120MM for 2012.
Big oversight – thank you.
The Angels need to cut Mathis! This dude is the worse player in baseball!!!
Options for the Angels
A) Fielder
B)Wilson/Aramis Ramirez
c) Fielder/Aramis
D) Trade Bourjos, Conger, Chatwood, Morales for something good
1.) Fielder will not happen,Trumbo and Morales are of a much better value.
2.) Bourjos is going to be, if not already, one of the best players in the game.
3.) What they need to do is get rid of Bobby Abrue, as backwards as that seems.
No trading Bourjos! Dude is headed towards stardom.
LOL no.. not going to happen.. Maybe in AAA but not in the bigs. He’ll be average at best 250/12/40 250/290/310 he’s nothing special, another Juan Piere with a bit more pop
You are right. He won’t be a star.
The guy has 688 total PA’s as a major league (roughly equivalent to one full season). During that time he has put up 6 WAR.
You know a lot of other players that put up 6 WAR in their first season?
that’s coming from the innings in the outfield mostly, not much from the 688 PAs. but he’s still a very valuable player
Pete double digits in every category Homers, 2b’s, steals.. everything but triples missing it by one!…. why you gota be hating Jack? jus coz you aint in the pro’s or why?
wow are you serious? 1A)Your stupid we already stacked in 1b and you want another one?…. 2b) Ramirez will be a great sign 3c) we have Morales and Trumbo 4d) are you stupid agian trade Peter? and Morales+ chatty? are you kidding me right now chatty started off great and then 2nd half collapsed he will be back next year and better… Abreu must go to clear space for outfield and so Hunter and Wells switch off as DH.. Keep Conger trade Mathis.. Also trade rodney and sign 1 more quality guy in the pen to make it stronger than it is already never such thing as enough pitching.. another thing promo shoemaker and give em a shot during spring training so we can have 1)Weav 2)Haren 3)Santi 4)Richards 5)Shoemaker/Williams if will is resigned
Jerome not Je-Ro-My
The guy was out of the Majors for 4 years. He’ll let you call him “lil’ buddy” as long as you let him stay 🙂
I think there is a great chance that Mathis will be cut.
1. He has shown no signs of improvement.
2. The team has a little less risk now that Conger has gotten half a season under his belt of ML baseball. While his season was disappointing it is pretty clear that Conger’s floor is still better than Mathis’ ceiling.
3. The team can probably think of much better ways to spend $2m.
I’d put it at 70% that Mathis won’t be back via arbitration. However, they could refuse arb (which grants him his release) and then resign him for league minimum. I definitely could see that. Mathis would get a chance to stay on, play, and hopefully build some value. The Angels retain a safety net of sorts. Weave keeps his private catcher.
The 2012 Angels should go with:
— Rotation at 1B and DH between Abreu, Morales, and Trumbo. This would keep everyone fresh (and hopefully healthy). Provide some insurance in case Trumbo regresses or Morales doesn’t return to his 2009 form.
— Trout in LF, Bourjos in CF, and Hunter in RF (arguably the best OF defense in baseball). Wells can spell someone if needed.
— Conger starts at C. Kendrick at 2nd, Aybar at SS. Izturis provides back-up at all 3 MI positions.
— Callaspo gets traded. Big FA/trade investment is at 3rd base. Need a big bopper at 3rd base that can inject some power into this lineup. Spend the dollars here and for a back of the rotation starter.
aramis ramirez on line 1
but if you’re willing to put wells’ salary on the bench, i don’t know why you’d hesitate with abreu. trumbo needs progression – and a lot of it – to be an MLB player. morales is a question mark with big upside. if fielder can be had at an uncrazy price, the angels badly need his bat
even if they don’t get fielder, they need a better solution at DH/1B than abreu/trumbo
That is such a weak lineup. Sorry.. Conger has one of the longest swings i’ve ever seen and the worse hitting coach in the game to tudor him. Abreu is just awful, and the fact he’s making 9mil next year makes me sick.. Izzy should be on the bench to add depth. The Angels need to sign Fielder as their main source of power source. Trumbo-Fielder-Wells-Kendrick-Trout-Wright YES!! Trade Bourjos-Conger and whatever to the Mets for Wright and Chris Capuano. Bring up the good players for depth and boom
Freddy Sandoval or Branyon 3B?