Veteran outfielder Angel Pagan is perhaps the most talented player among unsigned free agents, but the 11-year Major League veteran tells Yamaira Muniz Perez of El Vocero that he’s planning to sit out the 2017 season and spend time with his family rather than further pursue a contract. Pagan has reportedly turned down a pair of Major League offers this winter in addition to several minor league contracts. Muniz Perez reports that the Blue Jays, Braves and Nationals were among the clubs to offer minor league deals.
Pagan says that he’s not formally retiring, as he could once again feel the urge to compete in 2018 and beyond. He also notes that the decision is not one which he made on his own but rather with his entire family. Pagan says that at present, he is “100 percent dedicated” to his family.
That the 35-year-old Pagan remained a free agent all winter after putting up a .277/.331/.418 batting line with 12 homers and 15 steals last season was something of a surprise, even if his outfield defense had deteriorated. The switch-hitter was still worth one to two wins above replacement in 2016, depending on one’s preferred defensive metric (+1 rWAR, +2.1 fWAR), and there were a number of clubs that appeared to be fits. At various points, the Jays, Braves, Nats, Pirates and Orioles were connected to Pagan. Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports went so far as to report that Pagan had even reached an agreement with the Orioles at one point this winter before a failed physical sank the deal.
Whether this closes the book on Pagan’s career remains to be seen. Pagan suggested to Muniz Perez that he was never interested in taking a minor league pact this winter (as previous reports had suggested), but after sitting out the 2017 campaign he’ll assuredly have to do just that if he wishes to play in 2018. However, if a year away from the game comes with a continued desire to compete, then perhaps the notion of proving himself in Spring Training won’t be so off-putting.
Pagan’s big league debut came with the 2006 Cubs at the age of 24, but he didn’t cement himself as a big league regular until three years later with the Mets. Across the 11 years in which he played in the Majors, Pagan hit a combined .280/.330/.408 with 64 homers and 176 stolen bases between Chicago, New York and San Francisco. He won two World Series rings with the Giants and has earned more than $51MM to this point in his career.
Good player
He will sign with a contender in July.
Agreed
Hoped the Jays would sign him
Now he would just reduce the Jays chances of the #1 pick.
You haven’t seen the padres
Jays always get hot in the summer
Then why did he play in the WBC, if so committed?
Because that was what, a month of his time?
Perhaps because he has a lot of national pride, he didn’t have a MLB team pressuring him not to go, and because the opportunity would likely not come again for someone of his age.
Exactly!
I bet he’s hurt. He failed the Orioles physical. They were interested in him.
who doesn’t fail the Orioles physicals?
Just a tourney
Pirates and Braves both could use him.
He’s made 51 million and he is 35. Enjoy life!
All this while Mat Latos gets an opportunity to start for the Blue Jays this weekend. Something is amiss in MLB…
Latos is only 29, accepted a minors deal, and actually wants to still play. Nothing is amiss that he is still playing over a 35 year old guy who won’t accept anything less than a Major League deal and who doesn’t seem to really want to play that badly
Agreed. Nothing gives in this particular situation. He’s an aging, injury-prone player who was seeking an MLB deal as an everyday player. Top it off, he was asking for $5-7M this off-season before failing a physical in Baltimore ( as sketchy as that may be). He could find any number of MiLB deals or lower value MLB deals as a platoon/bench player but that’s not the route he’s chosen.
Pagan is great in the clubhouse, gives 100% on the field, and is a true stand up guy outside of baseball. He deserved a big league contract this year…I hope his time with his family is exactly what he is looking for! We miss you in SF Angel. Good luck with all your future endeavors.
I truly agree with you…He is missed. we miss him like crazy . I wish the Giants would have signed Pagan not the same without him or Blanco.
Good news for the Braves. Here i thought we will live in a world where Bonifacio and D’arnaud are no longer the first two options for Snitker to pitch hit with bases loaded 1 out. Best bench in baseball!
Remember Greg Norton……….
In that situation, Snitker would use Flowers or Suzuki, whichever one didn’t start the game. It’s not the best bench in baseball, but it’s a lot better than people give it credit for. Bonifacio and D’arnaud (and Jace Peterson who won’t be starting when Kemp gets back) are all fast guys who can play multiple positions which is really valuable. They may only have one “power bat” on the bench, but they aren’t as bad as everybody says
Of course there is always a dumb individual like you around!
Bonifaco is slashing .130
Posturing for a bigger better contract, once injuries occur.
I don’t get this. If he was so about “family” (in domic toretto voice) why did he go as far as taking a physical for the O’s? Did he just recently decide this?
No. This is called “saving some face when you’ve overestimated your market.”
At 10.144 years of major league service, he’ll be eligible for a Hall of Fame vote in the winter of 2021 (not that he stands a chance of enshrinement).
I love Angel, but the fact that he wants to play on his terms says a lot: I missed him in cf last year, but his clubhouse demeanor was well known amongst Giants fans: if you’re not about team over self you won’t get re-signed (conversely the Giants have given contracts to ailing and aging vets who loved their team more than themselves, often to their own detriment and the chagrin of the casual fan), I’ll never forget him going balls out in 2013, that inside the park call from kuyper is insane, but I’ll watch D-Span from the bleachers again this year knowing he loves and respects his club and that he won’t be giving fake salutes to the dugout.