FRIDAY: The $1MM is not actually guaranteed, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register (Twitter links). Gentry’s contract is a major league deal but its full value isn’t promised, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com explains on Twitter.
WEDNESDAY: The Angels have signed center fielder Craig Gentry to a one-year, Major League deal, per J.P. Hoornstra of the L.A. News Group and Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times (links to Twitter). Gentry, a client of RMG Baseball, will earn $1MM and can net an additional $250K via incentives, tweets SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo.
Gentry, who turned 32 last week, will give the Angels a defensive-minded fourth outfielder with a history of solid offensive production against left-handed pitching, although he’s struggled at the plate in limited action over the past two seasons. Gentry is a career .274/.354/.366 hitter against lefties (.256/.321/.311 vs. righties) but has slumped dating back to 2014, hitting a combined .230/.297/.273 in 314 Major League plate appearances.
Gentry’s most valuable asset is his glove, as defensive metrics offer glowing reviews of his work in the outfield. In 1860 innings as a center fielder, Defensive Runs Saved pegs him at +40 runs, while Ultimate Zone Rating is similarly impressed at +37. He can also offer the Halos plenty of value on the basepaths, where he’s been successful in 77 of his 90 career attempts in stolen bases. Gentry’s career-high of 24 stolen bases came back in 2013 despite the fact that he received just 287 plate appearances that season.
By signing with the Halos, Gentry remains in the American League West — the only division he’s ever known. The Rangers took him in the 10th round of the 2006 draft, and he’s spent his entire career prior to this point in the Rangers and Athletics organizations.
I like this move if we use him as a 4th outfielder… But if he is the solution for left field I will be disappointed.
I’m not sure if he isn’t just a defensive replacement (aka 5th OF)
Exactly my thought
I agree, if it was the case for him to be an option in LF we would have been better off keeping Murphy.
The Angels are really trying to protect their young flyball rotation with OF defense. I love the idea, and it flys in the face of the non-metric based offseasons seen in the past. Still wonder if Heyward is gonna be too expensive though. The angels need a high obp, strong glove solution out in LF.
I haven’t seen the Angels as a legit option for Heyward b/c his asking price handcuffs them. By adding a player in the Parra range that still allows them to upgrade at 2b. Parra alone would be a major increase in production both offensively and defensively compared to last season. Then add an upgrade at 2b that would be icing on the cake and be more production then just Heyward/Upton/Cespedes at less cost.
Sounds as if Arte is balking at going over the Luxury Tax threshold. This might be a LF platoon situation. Good grief…I’m going to cry…
Why?
Right….seems like we are not going to get one of the top outfielders on the market….
Wonder if in the next year or two Trout asks to be traded.
That’s crazy talk man. I don’t see Trout doing that..
Sounds like Scioscia’s kind of big bat….2 HR’s, 24 steals. Congratulations, Arte. Get comfortable in 4th place.
Hahaha
How about spending money on some decent pitching before all the good ones are taken. I’m still having nightmares over the unnecessary Josh Hamilton contract.
with all of our needs, pitching is the least of our worries.. Our rotation last year was the only reason why we barely held on.. we need to buy runs
plus with all these teams interested in Santiago and shoemaker, how come Cargo or Gardner on the top of our list? way less money needed to stay under the luxury tax
how come they aren’t on the top of our list**
Cargo would be an awesome fit.
Could sending out Shoemaker and a couple of prospects get this done?
I would love to see Cargo playing in Anaheim but I don’t know if we have the pieces for him. Apparently the Rockies asking price on him is high
Not sure the Angels have anymore prospects to give after all the trades
Shoemaker or Santiago?
Noooooooooooo!
He is, at the very best, a pinch runner. The Angels will be sorry they ever signed this paperweight.