A swap of bad contracts may be the Angels' best way to move Vernon Wells, opines MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez, who lists a few other players with bloated deals that could be acquired in exchange for the remaining two years (and $42MM) on Wells' contract. Even when taking on the likes of John Lackey, Chone Figgins or Barry Zito, however, the Angels would still have to cover the difference on Wells' deal. Gonzalez addressed some other offseason possibilities for the Halos in a reader mailbag….
- Gonzalez predicts the chances of Torii Hunter re-signing with Los Angeles "lean slightly toward him coming back," though the Rangers and Yankees should be interested in the veteran outfielder. Gonzalez predicts Hunter will end up with a one- or two-year contract worth around $9MM per season.
- If Hunter is re-signed, Peter Bourjos could become expendable and would attract attention from several teams in need of center field help.
- The Angels could be better served finding a closer through the trade market than through free agency, Gonzalez opines. He also thinks the Halos should look to add a left-handed reliever.
- The Angels' 2013 payroll should be $10-$15MM lower than last season's $159MM total.
- "The similarities have long been unmistakable" between Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols' contracts, Gonzalez writes. While Pujols' numbers have been declining over the last few seasons, there are reasons that Pujols (33 next season) could age more gracefully than Rodriguez, whose future as an everyday player for the Yankees is in question at age 37.
If Bourjos becomes available, I hope the Braves take a look. He’d be a nice RH bat in the leadoff stop.
I love his defense, but if the Braves are going to get a CF who can also lead off, it would be great if they’d find one who has a better OBP than Bourjos’ current career .301 mark.
Looking at his career OBP in the minors (.347) and the one full season the last (.327), I think he on-base skills are fine. The big question is what would it cost the Braves?
There’s no way steroids don’t have an effect 17yrs later. Pujos adjusted after 1st month and takes care of his body much better.
for all the trouble Arod gets, he was the 2nd best offensive 3B in the game this year. Amazing its not good enough for people
I’d say third best if you consider Cabrera as a 3rd baseman with Beltre a solid 2nd best offensive 3rd baseman
I was talking statistically, he was behind only Headley. I can’t remember exactly what the basis was but I assume it must have included defense otherwise Cabrera would have been up there. Overall, he’s still top 5 easily, and I’d say top 3 with Headley and Beltre with him. I don’t consider Cabrera a 3b, more like a body at 3b that they can’t wait to move back to a position that won’t kill them on defense. Wright is up there, but is behind guys like Arod, Headley, and Beltre
I would question what statistics you’re using, among 3B with 350 PA’s, Alex Rodriguez is 14th best in OPS. He can still start in this league, but I think it’s pretty clear he’s no longer among the elite 3B.
I’ll have to look it up when I get home. A member of a dodger community did the research when the story came out about the dodgers potentially acquiring Arod
By OPS (.783) he was the 9th best 3B in MLB. By wOBA he was 8th. If you add in
defense and go by WAR, he was 15th with 2.2, behind such stalwarts as Alberto Callaspo and Jamey Carroll. I was actually shocked when
I went to fangraphs and looked it up. Granted some of it is because he lost time due to injury, but even considering that ARod had a terrible season by his standards.
you are correct. I looked at the thread on the other site that I was thinking of, and I was incorrect about his placement on the list
He was 14th in HRs, 7th in runs, 16th in RBI, 10th in average, 9th in OPS, 5th in strikeouts, and 10th in WAR among 3Bs with enough ABs to qualify for the batting title, according to ESPN. That just doesn’t add up to “2nd best offensive 3B in the game.”
Instead of looking up all the stats you could have just scrolled down 3 comments to where I said I was mistaken
That would take a little effort, rather than just blowing off steam here.. Something we see too little of here far too much :-(
its because he’s ARod. and he’s a Yankee. and even Yankee fans don’t really like him. (then again, for $275M, any of of of us would take the heat)
If I had a choice between Vernon Wells and Chone Figgins, I’d probably take Wells. Figgins has been atrocious the last two years. At least Vernon was still hitting home runs.
Eh, with Figgins he’s cheaper and will likely be off the books sooner.
Figgins is over 30MM cheaper, assuming the option doesn’t vest (and it won’t if he’s used as a bench player/defensive sub).
Interesting on LH relievers. Boston has a glut of them that were really effective and they probably are going to have to move 1 of Miller/Hill/Breslow and keep Morales as the swing man for relief/starting, but have to wonder which lefty they are going to shop.. My hope is Miller is the one they hang onto, but fear is he is the 1st dealt.
Best of luck this offseason, Angels. But not too much luck!
I’d take Zito for Wells over the other options
Of the 3 teams listed as possible destinations, Boston, Seattle, or
San Francisco, I think SF would be the only one the Wells might waive his no-trade clause for.
I’m sure when the Yankees looked at A-Rod they figured he’d age better as well. Otherwise you don’t do the contract. There’s still doubts in some people’s minds about Pujols’ true age. The fact is, giving anyone a 10 year contract is outrageous, risky and overall a hindrance to the organization no matter who that player is. I’ve always been a fan of AP’s and i don’t foresee that changing, but i am so very happy the Cards didn’t shell out that contract.
At the minimum A-Rod plays 3B while Pujols plays 1B.
As long as A-Rod is passable defensively, even if his bat ends up completely gone before the contract is over, he’ll at least provide some value because the 3B market is perennially scarce. If Pujols’s bat declines significantly, he becomes an even bigger liability than A-Rod because offense is far more important for a 1B than a 3B.
Of course, injuries could destroy either.
A-Rod’s defense is already rated as worse than replacement level, so it seems like wishful thinking to hope he remains “passable defensively.”
wait, wouldn’t it be harder to replace 3B production than 1B according to your points?
I wouldn’t rule out the Red Sox for Torii Hunter. They have the $$ and they’ll be looking for a short term OFer. The Sox clubhouse could also benefit from having a guy like Hunter around.
Just let Hunter go. Keep Wells as you will not be able to dump his salary. You save 9 million by letting Hunter go, then Bourjos and Wells get to play . Angels if they sign Greinke have enough to make a playoff run.
Swapping his contract for an overpaid pitcher (e.g. Lackey or Zito) could make the most sense for the Angels. With the definite departure of Santana, and the likely departure of Haren (even if he does re-sign), they could use a solid #5 like Lackey or Zito. Even if they underperform to former standards, I believe they are fully capable of replicating Jerome Williams numbers at the very least, with a higher ceiling than Jerome.
Lackey isn’t going back to Anaheim. He let Scioscia have it with both barrels on his way out.
As a 10-5 guy now with blocking rights? Last place he would put himself into a position it seems to repeat with the contempt he showed for his ex manager when he left as long as Scioscia is around at least.
My plans for the team:
— Trade Wells for a bad pitching contract. Make the dollars work out. Angels will need a 5th starter.
— Bring back Haren only if it’s on a one year deal at less than $10m.
— Don’t touch A-Rod with a 10′ pole unless you are also moving Callaspo and paying no more than $7m/year.
— Bring back Greinke.
— Don’t bring back Santana or Izturis or Hunter.
That leaves you with Ianetta at C, Pujols at 1B, Kendrick at 2B, Aybar at SS, Callaspo at 3rd, Trumbo in RF, Bourjos in CF, Trout LF and Morales at DH.
Your rotation would be Weaver, Greinke, Wilson, Haren with Richards/Williams/and whoever you get for Wells fighting it out for the 5 spot and back-up roles. This can be done for less money than they spent last year.