Angels Rumors

The Corner Outfield-DH Market

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 7, 2009 at 1:12pm CDT

There are still many jobless players who could contribute as a corner outfielder or a DH, so it’s a good time to take stock of the market. Manny Ramirez, Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu are the big names, but Garret Anderson, Andruw Jones, Luis Gonzalez, Jim Edmonds and Ken Griffey Jr. want jobs and Jermaine Dye, Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher could be available through trades.

Here’s a look at the teams who have reportedly had interest in this type of player, starting in the AL:

White Sox: They thought about Abreu and Dye’s been involved in rumors all offseason, much to the frustration of Kenny Williams. Dye will earn $11.5MM in 2009.
Angels: They aren’t interested in Dye, but they could be interested in Abreu or Dunn at the right price. Don’t look for them to make a play for Manny though; GM Tony Reagins said it won’t happen. Garret Anderson won’t be back.
Mariners: The Ms could sign Griffey, but they prefer Abreu and Anderson.
Braves: They are the top suitor for Swisher and they have some interest in bringing back Jones. Atlanta has about $5-9MM to spend, so they could change plans and pursue Dunn or Abreu if they’re willing to accept a deal worth under $10MM. Don’t rule out a Nady trade, either.
Nationals: The Nats have offered Dunn a contract, which he’s been sitting on for a while. They’re also monitoring the Manny market.
Mets: Abreu and Ramirez won’t sign with the Mets this offseason. If Griffey’s willing to sign at a major discount, he could sign with the Mets, but indications are he wants $5-6MM.
Dodgers: The Dodgers have targeted Manny Ramirez all offseason, and he’s rejected two contract offers from them. The first was for $45MM over two years with a club option; the second was for $25MM over one year. Dunn appears to like the Dodgers, and Abreu’s an option, too.
Giants: The Giants are also courting Manny, but some have said they just want to prevent the Dodgers from getting a deal. Abreu could also fit in San Francisco.
Reds: Yet another team that could pursue Abreu, the Reds spoke with Luis Gonzalez’s agent ealier in the winter. Adam Dunn won’t return to Cincinnati this offseason.

Odds And Ends: Anderson, Griffey, Varitek

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 7, 2009 at 11:09am CDT

Links for Saturday…

According to Bill Dwyre of the LA Times Garret Anderson has no ill will towards the Angels.
Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times thinks the Mariners need to sign Ken Griffey Jr. He adds that the Mariners may be "warming to the idea."
The Kyodo News reports that the Blue Jays have finalized Ken Takahashi’s contract.
According to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe, Jason Varitek passed his physical.
Jay Jaffe, Kevin Goldstein and Christina Kahrl of BP fill in the remaining holes on National League teams.
Buster Olney of ESPN.com writes that players should "go the extra mile" to please fans in the weakened economy, as they did in 1995 after the strike.

Angels Interested In Abreu, Dunn

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 7, 2009 at 9:16am CDT

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, major league sources say the Angels have spoken to Bobby Abreu’s agent and have expressed interest in Adam Dunn. When Rosenthal asked Angels GM Tony Reagins about the club’s interest in the two players, Reagins said "If something makes sense for us, we’d look at it."

After losing Mark Teixeira to the Yankees, the Angels could use high OBP players like Dunn and Abreu, especially on one year deals. Vladimir Guerrero, Juan Rivera and Torii Hunter are the current Angels outfielders, and Gary Matthews Jr. is slotted in as DH.

Reagins has said the Angels will not be in on Manny Ramirez.

Stark On Andruw, Swisher, Hudson, Pedro

By Tim Dierkes | February 6, 2009 at 11:50am CDT

The latest from ESPN’s Jayson Stark…

Stark looks at all the factors influencing this year’s slow-moving free agent market, talking to all sorts of anonymous execs. It’s a good read.
Among all the teams, the Phillies have added the most to their payroll this winter ($30MM+). Only ten teams raised payroll this year. The Phils are still looking at the same cast of righthanded bench bats, and are also looking to sign a reliever for one year. Names of interest: Joe Borowski, Rudy Seanez, Will Ohman, Joe Beimel, Dennys Reyes, and Randy Flores. Stark notes that Flores is out until June due to shoulder surgery.
Andruw Jones is looking for a team that will give him playing time. One of Stark’s sources says Braves manager Bobby Cox is "lobbying harder for Jones than the rest of the baseball operation."
The Braves are the top suitor for Nick Swisher, but their suggestion that the Yankees eat some of Swisher’s contract was shot down.
Stark has heard that Angels owner Arte Moreno is ticked at Scott Boras and Mark Teixeira for the way they handled negotiations.
Stark received conflicting answers on whether the Elias formulas "can be changed without a special negotiation." It figures that the players union would push to eliminate the Jason Varitek/Juan Cruz/Orlando Cabrera situations we saw this winter. The D’Backs may have interest in re-signing Cruz, but don’t look for a Cabrera-White Sox reunion.
The Yankees and Mets have not pursued Orlando Hudson, despite Hudson’s statements of their interest. Stark sees a one-year deal with the Nationals or Dodgers in his future.
One assistant GM doesn’t think the WBC will be a good gauge for Pedro Martinez’s abilities, since he’ll be doing short stints.
Stark has details on Eddie Guardado’s contract, which has interesting provisions if he is to be traded.

Manny Ramirez Rumors: Thursday

By Tim Dierkes | February 5, 2009 at 9:05pm CDT

9:05pm: Jayson Stark has been told that the Angels will not pursue Ramirez. GM Tony Reagins put it plainly to ESPN.com:

"I can make this very brief and very clear. We are not in on Manny — and will not be."

9:01pm: According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angles Times, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti wrote in an e-mail that he "hasn’t had any conversations today" with Scott Boras. This is fun, isn’t it?

2:33pm: ESPN’s Jayson Stark talked to Rangers GM Jon Daniels, who dismissed the idea of signing Manny.

2:13pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman learned from Ned Colletti that the Dodgers do not have a "drop-dead date" on the Manny negotiations. Heyman says that Joe Torre prefers Bobby Abreu to Adam Dunn, in terms of a backup plan.

8:47am: Your daily dose of Manny Ramirez: Ken Rosenthal says the Dodgers’ one-year, $25MM offer contained some deferred money, but Scott Boras didn’t seem put off by that aspect of the offer. He still rejected it quickly though. Rosenthal says Boras is holding out for more years especially since players such as Rafael Furcal, Derek Lowe, and Raul Ibanez received at least three.

According to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti sent out a text message to reporters about his Wednesday talks with Boras:

Colletti wrote that the two sides restated their respective positions — Ramirez has been asking for at least a four-year deal and the Dodgers are interested in something shorter. The sides agreed to maintain communication over the next few days.

Hernandez received a clarification from Boras, who expects Manny to be signed by the time Spring Training games begin (Feb. 25) rather than when camp begins (Feb. 14).

Odds and Ends: Hearings, Anderson, Selig

By Tim Dierkes | February 2, 2009 at 2:23pm CDT

Links for Monday…

MLB.com’s Tom Singer looks at the effects of arbitration hearings on players. He found that most players don’t experience a post-hearing performance decline, but they do change teams at the first opportunity.
MLB.com’s Lyle Spencer says the Angels and Ervin Santana are $725K apart with a hearing scheduled for later this month and "no progress" according to GM Tony Reagins.
The Tigers are hopeful about bridging the $950K gap with Justin Verlander.
Athletics Nation’s conversation with MLB.com’s Mychael Urban, Part 2.
Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald wouldn’t be surprised to see the White Sox trade Brian Anderson.
Murray Chass reflects on the Homestead camp for unsigned players heading into the 1995 season.
Commissioner Bud Selig earned $18.35MM in the last fiscal year, according to Eric Fisher of Sports Business Journal.
The latest minor league transactions from Baseball America, including the Nationals’ signing of Alex Cintron and the Rockies’ addition of Scott Munter.
Even with a new stadium, the Marlins will continue to prefer going year-to-year with most players.

Stark On Greinke, Manny, Dunn, Swisher

By Tim Dierkes | January 29, 2009 at 2:26pm CDT

The latest from ESPN’s Jayson Stark…

The Cubs’ ownership situation is not close to the finish line, which is one reason the team won’t be acquiring Jake Peavy anytime soon.
One source of Stark’s suggested Zack Greinke nearly left his current agent John Courtright of SFX for Scott Boras, a whisper I’d heard as well. But now Greinke is happy with his contract and agent.
Free agents such as Manny Ramirez and Ivan Rodriguez could reasonably wait until March to sign. Not a bad thing for this website!
Adam Dunn would like Manny to sign earlier, as he’s waiting to see what the Dodgers (his preferred team) do. The Nationals have been Dunn’s most aggressive suitor, the Orioles have mild interest, and the Braves have backed off.
Stark questions the idea of talks for Manny heating up lately, since the Mets, Yankees, and Angels are out and the Giants are only conditionally interested.
When Alex Rodriguez was a free agent last winter, Joe Torre advised the Dodgers against signing him.
The Phillies would like to move Geoff Jenkins for a right-handed hitting outfielder, but Jenkins is paid too much. Jay Payton and Emil Brown are not on the Phillies’ radar; they still like Nomar Garciaparra.
The Yankees are apparently "softening to the idea of trading Nick Swisher," with the Braves the top suitor.

Angels Avoid Arb With Maicer Izturis

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 28, 2009 at 6:20pm CDT

According to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, the Angels avoided arbitration with Maicer Izturis, signing him to a one year deal worth $1.6MM. Izturis also earns $25K for reaching 475, 500, 525 and 550 plate appearances.

Izturis originally asked for $1.885MM in arbitration and the Angels countered with $1.4MM.

The Angels have now avoided arbitration with all of their eligible players except Ervin Santana.

Rosenthal On Manny, Garcia, Greinke

By Tim Dierkes | January 27, 2009 at 8:44am CDT

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a new column…

Rosenthal speculates that the Giants may not be the right fit for Manny Ramirez, given a challenging ballpark and questionable supporting cast of hitters. Rosenthal suggests a contract that might work for Manny and the Dodgers: two years with a third-year player option, with no-trade protection covering only the first two years.
Many remaining free agents – Adam Dunn for example – may prefer a one-year deal because it will increase their options and allow them to re-enter the market after the season.
The White Sox found the price for Freddy Garcia to be too high ($1.5MM plus $6.5MM in incentives). Rosenthal deems Oliver Perez a bad fit for the Sox in part because he’s a flyball pitcher. Also there’s the whole Scott Boras thing.
Among the right-handed hitters the Phillies are mulling, Rosenthal feels that Nomar Garciaparra and Rich Aurilia make the most sense.
The Angels may go to Spring Training with their current club.
Zack Greinke received "very minor" no-trade protection in the first two years of his new deal, with seemingly no protection when his salary shoots up to $13.5MM in 2011.

Angels Non-Roster Invitees

By | January 21, 2009 at 5:45pm CDT

The Angels have extended 25 non-roster invitations to their spring training camp in Tempe, Arizona. Lyle Spencer of MLB.com compiled the list of invitees:

Catchers Hank Conger, Anel de los Santos, Ben Johnson, Alberto Rosario and Flint Wipke.
Right-handed pitchers David Austen, Ryan Brasier, David Herndon, Sean O’Sullivan, Matt Palmer, Fernando Rodriguez, Jordan Walden, Matt Wilhite and Francisco Rodriguez (not this one).
Left-handed pitchers Barret Browning, Daniel Davidson and Alex Torres.
Infielders Luis Figueroa, Hainley Statia, Ryan Mount, Adam Pavkovich and Andrew Romine.
Outfielders Peter Bourjos, Brad Coon and Chris Pettit.

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