The Angels avoided arbitration with shortstop Erick Aybar by signing him to a $5.075MM deal, tweets ESPN's Enrique Rojas. MLBTR had projected the SFX client for $4.7MM. The Angels have now signed all of their arbitration eligible players.
Aybar will be eligible for free agency after the 2012 season, but GM Jerry Dipoto told Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times via text message, "We are continuing to work toward an extended contract and definitely desire to keep Erick in an Angels uniform for the long term."
Hmm no multi-year? I’m ok with that.
I’d rather extend Izturis and see where Segura is next year.
You would rather extend a guy who is a utility player at best than a SS who can play everyday and has a combination of good defense with the ability to hit .275 and above and can run?
I’m willing to bet Segura gets traded. With all the money available next winter, if the Angels don’t extend Aybar, and let him walk, I expect a veteran there in 2013.
Aybar will be the only legitimate SS on the market in 2013 (if Drew and Peralta’s options are picked up). If we think Segura is close to being ready, a tandem of Izturis and Segura may be better than paying Aybar 10mil+/year
No bueno.. I read an article on Google news about a month ago that said that Angels will like to extend Aybar and Howie which they already did to Howie and keep Segura to play 2nd…Therefore Howie moves to 3rd (if Howie is able to play 3rd) and Aybar stays as SS..But like Ryan said Segura can likely be traded also
I actually really like this idea. Can you imagine a lineup with Bourjous, Trout, Aybar, Segura? The Angels will be a blur on the bases! LOL
No bueno.. I read an article on Google news about a month ago that said that Angels will like to extend Aybar and Howie which they already did to Howie and keep Segura to play 2nd…Therefore Howie moves to 3rd (if Howie is able to play 3rd) and Aybar stays as SS..But like Ryan said Segura can likely be traded also
I’d rather extend Izturis and see where Segura is next year.
Tim, if you want to add another website to the family, avoidarbitration.com is available. Jump on that sucker!
I think the Angels win all around with this.
His 2012 salary is very manageable. If he plays outstanding I doubt that it will raise his price much more than what he was looking for in an extension this off-season. If the price does go up too much you let him walk and collect the picks.
Aybar went from a great year in 2009, to a lousy year in 2010, to a good year with a GG in 2011. So, if this is even the case, it makes sense to me that the Angels would be in a more wait and see mode, hoping for 2 good years in a row, to see where they stand as far as what they should actually pay him on an extension.
But they can afford him if his price goes up. And the FA market for SS’s isn’t that great next winter.
But they can afford him if his price goes up. And the FA market for SS’s isn’t that great next winter.