Offseason In Review: Los Angeles Angels
The Angels are next in our Offseason In Review series.
Major League Signings
- Scott Downs, RP: three years, $15MM. Angels also gave #74 overall draft pick to Blue Jays.
- Hisanori Takahashi, RP: two years, $8MM.
- Total spend: $23MM.
Notable Minor League Signings
Trades and Claims
- Acquired LF Vernon Wells and $5MM from Blue Jays for OF Juan Rivera and C/1B Mike Napoli
Notable Losses
Summary
The Angels entered the offseason seemingly ready to spend; they were a strong fit for free agents Carl Crawford, Adrian Beltre, and Rafael Soriano. However, they came up short on all major free agent targets, succeeding only in upgrading the bullpen. Then GM Tony Reagins made matters worse by acquiring Vernon Wells, who has one of the worst contracts in baseball.
Wells has four years and $86MM left on his contract. If we are to consider Juan Rivera to be dead weight, that's $5.25MM cleared, and the Blue Jays reportedly sent another $5MM. The Angels' reluctance over the years to give playing time to Napoli unless they had to indicates they weren't fond of his receiving skills, and I'm guessing they didn't want to pay him $5.8MM in 2011. Still, could have been non-tendered if the Halos didn't want him and he did have trade value by himself. Since he wasn't a pure salary dump, I can't subtract Napoli's contract from Wells' burden even if Arte Moreno does. Ultimately, it's as if the Angels gave Wells a four-year, $75.75MM free agent contract, with the bonuses of opening up an extra roster spot and not having to surrender a draft pick.
Wells isn't a $19MM player at this point in his career, though I am curious what kind of contract he would have gotten this winter as a free agent. I think coming off one good year following a pretty bad one would have set his ceiling at four years and $52MM at the very most. My comparison is Victor Martinez, another player who can handle a premium defensive position but is not regarded as good there. So even with this generous comp, the Angels overpaid Wells by at least $20MM. For the Wells deal to work out for the Angels, he'll need to improve defensively with the switch to left field and have offensive seasons resembling '08 and '10 rather than '07 and '09. You can cherry-pick Wells' 2010 numbers either way, but it was a streaky season bookended by strong performances in April and September. From May through August, he hit .251/.300/.449. The ZiPS projection system calls for .260/.313/.432 in 2011 (and presumably worse in future years), which would make this trade a disaster.
As for lefty relievers Downs and Takahashi, the Angels certainly paid full sticker price. But their bullpen needed the upgrade and such expenses are justified for big budget contending teams.
On the plus side, the Angels have improved their outfield defense, which is crucial given their flyball pitching staff. The Angels have serious offensive concerns, but all of the AL West contenders are flawed. Despite a poor offseason, the Halos' fine rotation may still carry them to the playoffs in 2011.
Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.
Offseason In Review: Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks are next in our Offseason In Review series.
Major League Signings
- J.J. Putz, RP: two years, $10MM. $6.5MM club option for 2013 with a $1.5MM buyout.
- Geoff Blum, 3B: two years, $2.7MM.
- Aaron Heilman, RP: one year, $2MM.
- Melvin Mora, 3B: one year, $2MM.
- Xavier Nady, 1B/LF: one year, $1.75MM.
- Willie Bloomquist, OF: one year, $1.05MM. $1.1MM mutual option for 2012 with a $150K buyout.
- Henry Blanco, C: one year, $1MM. $1.15MM mutual option for 2012 with a $250K buyout.
- Total spend: $20.5MM.
Notable Minor League Signings
Extensions
- Stephen Drew, SS: two years, $13.75MM. Includes $10MM mutual option for 2013 with a $1.35MM buyout.
Trades and Claims
- Claimed RP Brian Sweeney off waivers from Mariners
- Claimed RP Joe Paterson in Rule 5 draft from Giants
- Acquired 1B Juan Miranda from Yankees for SP Scott Allen
- Acquired SP Zach Duke from Pirates for SP Cesar Valdez
- Acquired RP David Hernandez and RP Kam Mickolio from Orioles for 3B Mark Reynolds and a player to be named later or cash considerations
- Acquired SP Armando Galarraga from Tigers for SP Kevin Eichhorn and RP Ryan Robowski
Notable Losses
- Mark Reynolds, Adam LaRoche, Rodrigo Lopez, Blaine Boyer, D.J. Carrasco, Scott Allen, Cesar Valdez, Kevin Eichhorn, Ryan Robowski, Carlos Rosa
Summary
In hiring Kevin Towers as GM, the Diamondbacks brought in a veteran dealmaker to right the ship after a 97 loss season. However, don't forget that interim GM Jerry Dipoto was behind the summer trades that brought in Dan Hudson, Joe Saunders, Tyler Skaggs, Pat Corbin, David Holmberg, and Rafael Rodriguez. Towers furthered the makeover during the offseason, revamping the Majors' worst bullpen, adding a couple of starting pitchers, and signing a half-dozen veteran role players to big league deals.
For each of the 2008-10 seasons, Diamondbacks hitters finished first or second in baseball in strikeouts. Reynolds was public enemy number one in that regard, though he was also the team's biggest power threat. LaRoche was allowed to leave, though I don't think the D'Backs had the payroll space for him regardless of his strikeout total. With .320 OBPs and SLGs under .500, Reynolds and LaRoche weren't all that productive in 2010. Nonetheless, Mora and Blum represent a downgrade at the hot corner. Over at first, Branyan is a less healthy, poor man's Reynolds. The team has a more interesting candidate in Brandon Allen, so hopefully Branyan doesn't steal too many plate appearances.
Towers' return for Reynolds was nothing special, and I wonder if the new regime should have waited for him to rebuild some value in a healthier 2011 season. Still, Hernandez is a sleeper who may end up filling in for Putz in the ninth inning this year. Putz (pictured) represented Towers' big free agent splash; the team had vowed to import a closer. Putz is coming off a strong season and $5MM a year is the going rate, but he's a 34-year-old who must be handled carefully. Why not just let Hernandez run with the job? The Putz signing seems like an overreaction to last year's awful bullpen, a risky luxury the team didn't need at this stage. I'd been expecting Towers to show off his shrewd bargain basement bullpen-building skills.
Towers used free agency to assemble a veteran bench. No one was particularly expensive, but the main benefit seems to be leadership and other intangible qualities. The Bloomquists of the world become a concern only if they start taking plate appearances from younger, better players.
The D'Backs acquired Duke and Galarraga to round out their rotation, though Duke is out until late April with a broken hand. They amount to $6.55MM worth of rotation filler. More interesting is a potential 2013 rotation fronted by Jarrod Parker, Tyler Skaggs, Dan Hudson, and Ian Kennedy.
The 2011 Diamondbacks are in an uncomfortable spot – right fielder Justin Upton is in his prime and shortstop Stephen Drew is only under contract for two more seasons. They also spent over $25MM on short-term additions this offseason. However, the team does not appear to have the talent to reach the playoffs this year or next. Perhaps Towers should focus on restocking the cupboard to begin a sustained period of contending around 2013, starting with the #3 and #7 picks in the '11 draft. Though Towers flirted with the prospect of trading Upton, the 23-year-old is under contract through '15 and should be a big part of the next good Arizona team.
Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.
Red Sox Acquire McKenry, Send Turpen To Rockies
The Red Sox acquired catcher Mike McKenry from the Rockies for righty reliever Daniel Turpen, the teams announced. The Red Sox will have to make a 40-man roster move for McKenry, tweets Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.
McKenry, 26, hit .265/.328/.424 in 384 plate appearances at Triple-A Colorado Springs last year, catching 94 games. He's thrown out 37% of attempted thieves in his minor league career and is said to have good intangibles as a catcher. A year ago Baseball America ranked him 13th among Rockies prospects, saying, "his best role may be as a high-energy backup."
Turpen, 24, spent the spring in Yankees camp as a Rule 5 pick but was returned to the Red Sox. The Sox had acquired him from the Giants in August for reliever Ramon Ramirez. Turpen posted a 4.30 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, and 0.5 HR/9 in 69 Double-A relief innings last year.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post first reported the trade, which the Red Sox initially denied.
Today’s Outrights: Marquez, Mather, Rizzotti, Misch
Several players cleared waivers and were removed from the 40-man roster today by way of an outright assignment. The latest:
- Jeff Marquez of the White Sox cleared waivers and is headed for Triple-A, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter).
- Braves utility player Joe Mather cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (on Twitter).
- The Phillies removed Matt Rizzotti from the 40-man roster and outrighted him to the minor leagues, according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter).
- Mets lefty Pat Misch was outrighted to Triple-A, tweets Andy McCullough of the Newark Star-Ledger. He's expected to accept the assignment. Misch, 29, posted a 3.82 ERA, 5.5 K/9, 1.0 BB/9, 1.0 HR/9, and 52.0% groundball rate in 37 2/3 innings for the Mets last year, tossing another 150 2/3 innings across 23 starts in Triple-A.
- Brewers outfielder Brandon Boggs was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville, tweets Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Boggs, 28, hit .290/.406/.470 in 439 Triple-A plate appearances last year while playing all three outfield positions. He has until Wednesday to decide whether to accept the assignment or elect free agency, tweets Haudricourt.
- The Mariners outrighted southpaw Cesar Jimenez, tweets ESPN's Shannon Drayer. Jimenez, 26, missed most of the 2010 season recovering from labrum surgery.
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Blue Jays Acquire Jayson Nix
The Blue Jays acquired infielder Jayson Nix from the Indians for cash considerations, according to a tweet from the team. The Jays will have to find a spot for Nix on the 25-man roster or risk losing him to a waiver claim or free agency. They found a spot on the 40-man by placing Jesse Carlson on the 60-day DL.
Nix, 28, hit .224/.281/.396 with 14 home runs in 363 plate appearances for the White Sox and Indians last year, playing mostly second and third base. He was in the mix this spring for a backup infield job with the Tribe, but Adam Everett won that battle. It became clear yesterday that the Indians would try to trade him.
Rangers Made Offer To C.J. Wilson
The Rangers made lefty C.J. Wilson an offer this month, the pitcher revealed today on ESPN's Ben & Skin Show. Wilson indicated that the offer came too late in the offseason, as "a multiyear contract is a very complicated scenario."
Rangers assistant GM Thad Levine told ESPN's Richard Durrett he's open to further discussions with Wilson's agent Bob Garber during the season. The offseason talks were described as "amicable" a few days ago by Wilson, who at that time preferred to resume discussions after the season. Still, it seems possible Garber can negotiate midseason with the Rangers' front office without distracting Wilson.
Levine happened to sit next to Wilson on a flight to Dallas Monday afternoon. Wilson joked that he was surprised he didn't read about the meeting on MLBTradeRumors.com.
If Wilson does reach the free agent market at age 31, he'll be one of the best starters out there aside from perhaps C.C. Sabathia. MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith identified a few comparables in this March 18th article.
Mets Acquire Allan Dykstra For Eddie Kunz
The Mets acquired first baseman Allan Dykstra from the Padres for righty Eddie Kunz in a swap of former first-round picks, tweets Darren Smith of XX 1090.
Dykstra, 24 in May, hit .241/.372/.438 in 469 plate appearances at High-A last year. He was drafted 23rd overall by the Padres in '08. Two years ago, Baseball America ranked him eighth among Padres prospects, praising his "plus-plus raw power and plate discipline" while expressing concern about a hip ailment and his lack of athleticism. Dykstra did not crack BA's top 30 Padres prospects '10 or '11. He's one of Paul DePodesta's guys, tweets Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus.
Kunz, 25 in April, posted a 5.34 ERA, 5.1 K/9, 5.5 BB/9, and 0.6 HR/9 in 111 1/3 Double-A innings last year, including 12 starts. Drafted 42nd overall in 2007 as a supplemental pick for the loss of Roberto Hernandez, Kunz last made the Mets' top 30 prospects one year ago at the #25 spot. According to BA, Kunz's stock plummeted as his fastball and slider regressed and he struggled with his command and conditioning.
Rays Acquire John Shelby
The Rays acquired outfielder John Shelby from the White Sox for future considerations, tweets Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.
Shelby, 25, hit .249/.293/.412 in 440 plate appearances at Double-A last year, his second stint at the level. He plays center and left field. A year ago, Baseball America rated him 25th among White Sox prospects, noting his speed and versatility but wondering whether he has a future beyond that of a fourth outfielder.
Orioles Notes: Britton, Hendrickson, Andino
The latest on the Orioles, who start their season Friday evening in St. Petersburg…
- Top prospect Zach Britton was optioned to Triple-A, as expected. He's likely to be up by the end of April, as the Orioles look to ensure they control the Scott Boras client through 2017 instead of '16. MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli discussed the situation with Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, who's been through it. Said Longoria, "It's just understanding the politics of the game."
- The Orioles made the curious decision to cut veteran southpaw Mark Hendrickson yesterday, and the 36-year-old must decide by tomorrow whether to opt out or head to Triple-A. Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun talked to Hendrickson, who would like to keep his family in Pennsylvania. The Phillies seem like a decent fit.
- Out of options shortstop Robert Andino made the team, notes Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).