Discussion: Angels Face Big Decisions
Yes, the return flight from New York has barely touched down, but the Angels are already facing a large number of difficult decisions, and the writers who cover them have wasted no time in evaluating them.
MLB.com's Lyle Spencer rates the various chances that 2009's Angels hitting free agency will return in 2010, with Bobby Abreu and Darren Oliver 50-50 to return, and several other players, such as John Lackey, far less than even money.
Meanwhile, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times speculates that free agent Aroldis Chapman might be who the Angels use to replace Lackey.
What would you do? Would you keep any, or all of the free agents? And should the Angels reach for Chapman?
Abreu Rejects Angels’ Extension Offer
FRIDAY, 2:25pm: Heyman says Abreu turned the Angels' offer down.
THURSDAY, 8:34pm: The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim offered Bobby Abreu a two-year extension worth about $16MM, according to SI.com's Jon Heyman (via Twitter). Heyman indicates that Abreu is looking for a better offer, coming off an extremely productive season for the Angels.
Abreu, who turns 36 in March, hit .293/.390/.435 with 15 homers and 30 stolen bases in 2009. Last winter, the right fielder signed a one-year deal worth $5MM (plus incentives, which have earned him another $1MM so far), making the Angels' offer of about $8MM per year a moderate pay raise. However, given the lack of elite hitters on the free agent market this offseason, besides Matt Holliday and Jason Bay, Abreu is clearly banking on receiving more alluring offers.
Do you expect the Angels to pony up the money it'll take to retain Abreu, or will he be wearing a different uniform in 2010?
Discussion: The Angels And Bobby Abreu
Last offseason was hard on aging, positionless players. Just ask Jason Giambi, Luis Gonzalez or Richie Sexson. Even though he was coming off a solid season, Bobby Abreu signed a deal that guaranteed him just $5MM.
He turned out to be a real bargain for the Angels, posting an .825 OPS and stealing 30 bases. Abreu drove in 100 runs for the seventh straight year, played almost every day and drew 94 walks. The Angels had the game's second-best offense, partly because of their right fielder.
Abreu's offensive skills are still there, but he'll be 36 when next season starts and his strong arm doesn't make up for his lack of range in the outfield. He's consistently been a defensive liability in recent years, according to UZR. As a result, Dave Cameron of FanGraphs says Abreu straddles the border between outfielder and DH. Cameron and Tyler Hissey of Around the Majors agree: the Angels shouldn't offer much more than the two year $16MM deal Abreu reportedly rejected.
If the Angels offer Abreu arbitration only to see him sign elsewhere, they'd receive a first or second rounder, since Abreu's a Type A free agent. If you're Angels GM Tony Reagins, how much do you offer?
Odds & Ends: Webb, Abreu, Indians
Here are some afternoon tidbits:
- The Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro, in his latest piece, reiterates that Brandon Webb only wants to discuss his 2010 option. The Diamondbacks are hoping to add a 2011 option to the deal. Webb, however, hopes a healthy 2010 will increase his 2011 value.
- Dave Cameron at Fangraphs breaks down Bobby Abreu's value, and concludes that a two-year, $16MM offer from the Angels is a fair one.
- Both Bobby Valentine and Clint Hurdle refused to comment on Cleveland's managerial search, adding to speculation that both are being considered for the job.
- The Baltimore Sun's Peter Schmuck thinks that Bob Melvin should be Baltimore's next bench coach.
Heyman On Abreu, Fielder, Hoyer
The latest from SI's Jon Heyman…
- Heyman says the Angels and Bobby Abreu are still far apart on a new contract. Abreu earned $6MM this year.
- The Brewers will attempt to sign Prince Fielder to a long-term deal this winter. Fielder, a Scott Boras client, is signed through 2010 and under team control through 2011. Given the way teams pay for power, Fielder might expect $20MM+ to buy out free agent years.
- Heyman sees Red Sox senior VP/assistant GM Jed Hoyer as the favorite for the Padres GM job.
Abreu Wants To Remain With Angels
Perhaps the biggest benficiary of last year's depressed free agent market was the Angels, who received a .293/.390/.435 batting line and $11.8MM of production (according to FanGraphs) out of outfielder Bobby Abreu. It's a marriage made in halo heaven, and Abreu wants it to be a marriage that lasts beyond this season, according to Jill Painter of The LA Daily News.
"Of course I want to be back," [Abreu] said. "I have a good time over here. This organization, the team, the manager and the fans, too, they've treated me very well here. I think they really appreciate the job that I've been doing all year round.
"Of course I want to come back. I don't want to go nowhere else. I want to stay with the Angels."
Abreu earned just a $5MM base salary in 2009, although bonuses tied to plate appearances put another $1MM in his pockets. Despite his production, Abreu's .825 OPS was the second lowest full season mark of his career, and his defense was as bad as ever, checking in at –4.6 UZR/150 between left and right fields.
What kind of contract do you think Abreu, 36-years-old on Opening Day 2010, has coming to him this offseason? Would two-years and $18MM be too much, not enough, just right?
Heyman On Padres, Rockies, Abreu
The latest from SI's Jon Heyman…
- Heyman talked to Padres CEO Jeff Moorad, who is looking for a disciplined and strategic general manager rather than an intuitive exec like Kevin Towers. Heyman says the new GM will be hired within weeks. Boston's Jed Hoyer is in the mix, and Oakland's David Forst fits the profile.
- The Rockies will offer new contracts to GM Dan O'Dowd and manager Jim Tracy.
- The Angels made an offer to Bobby Abreu, who is finishing up a one-year deal that will pay him at least $6MM. Heyman says "no progress has been reported thus far." Abreu said in September that he wants to return.
Fixing The Mets
The New York Post's Joel Sherman offered up some suggestions for shaking things up in the Mets clubhouse this offseason. He worries that Luis Castillo won't be able to replicate his strong 2009 and that Jeff Francoeur (.826 OPS with New York) may not be able to build on his solid second half. Unsurprisingly, his chief concern is the Mets starting rotation.
However, Sherman suggests that the Mets first address their other holes before looking at starting pitchers, considering the weak crop available this winter:
"Put out strong one-year offers with a 2011 option to a group at each position. Say Rod Barajas/Bengie Molina/Miguel Olivo at catcher; Nick Johnson/Russ Branyan/Adam LaRoche at first: and Bobby Abreu, Mark DeRosa and Jermaine Dye for left field. The first guy to take the offer in each group gets the contract."
The Mets were linked to Bobby Abreu for some time last offseason, so it would make sense for them to re-visit that idea again this year. Adam LaRoche looks like a completely different player in Atlanta, posting .354/.432/.618 with 12 HRs in 49 games. Abreu projects to be a Type A free agent whereas LaRoche should be a Type B.
Should the Mets address their pitching woes via free agency? As badly as they need to bolster spots two through five, there won't be a great deal of options available. Would you extend multi-year deals to the likes of Rich Harden or Joel Pineiro? Should the Mets pick up where they left off last year and consider Randy Wolf?
White Sox Rumors: Jenks, Podsednik, Linebrink
Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune has a new mailbag up, in which he answers some questions about potential offseason moves for the White Sox. A few highlights….
- Gonzales expects the Sox to hang on to John Danks, whose quality innings still come at an affordable price. He can, however, envision them shopping closer Bobby Jenks, perhaps in search of a leadoff hitter.
- Given Scott Podsednik's consistent production this season and the struggling economy, Gonzales thinks there's at least a decent chance the 33-year-old outfielder will be back in Chicago in 2010.
- He sees the Sox keeping Gordon Beckham at third base, where they expect his power to eventually develop enough for a corner infielder.
- If the White Sox want to make a play for Bobby Abreu this offseason, they'll have to be willing to pay more than the $5MM he earned this year.
- Gonzales doesn't anticipate there being any market for Scott Linebrink, meaning the Sox will have to hold on to him and hope that he bounces back next spring.
Rosenthal Chats With Chone Figgins
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com sat down for a chat with Chone Figgins of the Angels, who you surely know is up for free agency after the season. They spoke about plenty of topics, including his offseason workouts with Juan Pierre and his improved defense, but here's a wrap up of the hot stove talk…
- Figgins gave credit to free agent pickup Bobby Abreu for helping balance out the team's lineup and adding patience. The Halos have scored the second most runs in baseball, 43 more than any team outside of the Bronx.
- When asked what it's like "being a man in demand," in regards to his upcoming free agency, Figgins said "it's fun" and the best part about it is that it never affects him on the field.
- He said he's just "going to have fun on the field," and let all that other stuff happen when it happens.
- Figgins said that no matter where he goes after the season, his game isn't going to change. By no means did he rule out staying with the Anaheim, saying that he loves it there.