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Arte says it’s goodbye, K-Rod
November 13th, 2008, 1:47 am · 35 Comments · posted by Earl Bloom, staff writer
So the Angels will not pursue their record-setting closer, Francisco Rodriguez. In a Wednesday interview with AM-830 radio, Angels owner Arte Moreno said the club will not attempt to re-sign the 62-save closer of 2008. In the SportsTicker story, Moreno also said the Angels would pursue Dodgers free agent Manny Ramirez if the club is unable to re-sign coveted slugger Mark Teixeira.
The Rodriguez decision likely leaves Jose Arredondo, 24, or veteran Scot Shields in the closer’s role for 2009. Should the club opt to keep those two in their setup roles, a short-term free-agent option might be major league career saves leader Trevor Hoffman, 41, who is no longer in the San Diego Padres’ plans after 15 seasons as their closer. Hoffman grew up in Anaheim (Savanna High); his brother Glenn (the Padres third base coach) is a former Angels infielder; their late father, Ed, was a longtime usher at then-Anaheim Stadium and also often sang the national anthem before games.
Trevor Hoffman, who made $7.5 million in 2008 while recording 30 of his record 554 career saves, was mulling a one-year, $4 million offer from San Diego before the club abruptly pulled it this week. He might not give the Angels that much of a hometown discount, but a return up the freeway to his roots would seem to make a lot of sense for both parties. That is unless the Angels opt to try the Arredondo-Shields options in the closer role and add or promote a setup reliever.
What do you think?
Click here for a slide show of K-Rod through the years.
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35 Comments
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Arte, Go after Manny anyways!!!!!!!!! This move will make up for that stupid idea to put LA in our name.
We already a version of Manny and Mike gave him his walking papers.
Good Choice Artre .. However do your best to sign Mark Teixeira we need him in the club.
K-rod is a chump…every time he is on the mound….everyone bites there nails…..you never know what ur gonna get from this character…..even when u are up in the score…..its nerve racking….peace k-rod
Goodbye to teh drama queen that is K-rod. No way he comes close ever again to his performance of last season. He is due for a big injury with his violent delivery.
Oh and do not sign Manny the other drama queen. It is a team sport and manny is all about manny and no one else.
This is good news, thanks Krod for the years. But my heart will be more healthy this year. Perhaps we resign Texeira and the next closer doesn’t have to be in every game because we score more runs.
“Angels owner Arte Moreno said the club will not attempt to re-sign the 62-save closer of 2008″
Good choice,
Please keep Tex in Orange County!!!!
The answer is that it depends. I so no problem in offering K Rod a 2-year deal. But he’s apparently looking for a 4+ year mega deal and the Angels should not pursue that course of action.
Spend the money on Teixera.
Yea right, let’s invite trouble by signing Manny! Why don’t you also sign another hot headed player like Jose Guillen or bring back the ever-famous nose candy player Darrell Strawberry (tongue in cheek). Heck, Terrell Owens wants to play baseball! Sign that wanker too! We need team players than increase the synergy.
MANNY thinks he’s bigger than the game. NEXT …
K-Rod has to go! His ego is way too big and he puts us in the hole just about everytime he gets up to the mound. Go for Tex! Oh well, if that doesn’t work it was his choice not to stay. It shouldn’t always be about the money, it’s about the game and the fans. Manny, ehhhhh better something than nothing I always say.
I have been an Angel Fan for 10 years (im 28) and we need to keep Texeira and good riddance on K-Rod. He has become too pompous and too confident. UGH and don’t make the mistake of getting Manny please…
It was just a matter of time. No closer is worth the money KRod will demand and receive. Time to use that money and make a big push for signing Teixiera.
Great Decision Artie- DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP TEXEIRA !!!
Artie, we can play it safe and have another season where we don’t get back to the series or sign Tex and (Man Ram), after the last few playoff runs which we haven’t been able to get back to the world series its obvious we need a proven clutch hitter(Man Ram). You know the guy that MASHES like no other in the playoffs. Its only temporary he is usually good for 2 years and then he melts down so lets roll the dice???
I think we all agree that letting K-Rod go is in the teams best interest and signing Tex is the most important goal this off season. Lets see if Arte has any magic up his sleeves to get it done. Go HALOS!!!!!
I never seen such ignorant post about K-Rod. This was everything to the Angels success I will hate to see K-Rod go.
Thanks K-Rod for the memories. Your first W.S. performance will go down as one of the best in baseball history.
Lights Out!
I think it’s a good call to let K-Rod go at this time. Yeah, he had an unbelievable season this year, but you really never knew which K-Rod was going to show up on the mound. I think Arredondo - not too sure about getting Hoffman with his age and velocity. I don’t even think getting Manny is a good idea, we REALLY need to focus on re-signing Teixeira! He’s a great addition to the Angels lineup!
OVERRATED!… dun.. dun… dundundun…
OVERRATED!… dun.. dun… dundundun…
OVERRATED!… dun.. dun… dundundun…
Best call I’ve heard all year. Let’s sign Tex or CC and also go after Manny.
Let’s ask ourselves the core question of why he has 62 saves. It’s because we don’t have the offensive horsepower to make it a multi run lead.
If we had bigger bats and more offense we wouldn’t have 62 saves. Arte is right in not resigning him.
i dont think Manny would be a good move for the angels. Hopefully Texeira loved the last few months.
I agree, Eating Fool, that K-Rod’s record season - although impressive - is due more to Scioscia building a National League offense in the American League.
The Angels’ offense is below average. In 2008, the Angels scored 4.72 runs per game - which was 10th in the AL.
I will definately miss K-Rod. Thank you for some great memories! It’s probably time but I don’t have to like it. Keep Tex, great team attitude and amazing player. Can’t wait for spring training ‘09!!
Yes!!!! Now I won’t be scared to watch the ninth inninng. Sorry Frankie but you aren’t worth the money. You got to greedy for us Southern Californians.
It’s unbelievable how many people are rising up against K-Rod. There have been few guys in history that have the stuff to keep hitters so off balance! He often makes big leaguers look like little leaguers. Unless Moreno is concerned about possible arm troubles in the future (The loss of 4 miles an hour off of K-Rod’s fastball last year) there is no reason to get off K-Rod other then Arte’s ego. Arte should have secured K-Rod financially a lot earlier in his career like the Rays have done with Evan Longoria. K-Rod was a star from day one and barring an arm injury was going to make an impact. Now that he has Arte “pay him” what he’s worth and own your own foolishness of how you mishandled him earlier.
I am a Dodgers Fan, and even though Frank McCourt is not the best owner The Dodgers ever had (and many Angels Fans have made that point very clear in the last few years), at least he cares about the fans. This recent owner of The Angels has been everything but fan friendly. First he spits in the faces of all the sports fans in Anaheim and Orange County with his stupid name change, starts of turf war with The Dodgers, then he continually raises ticket prices, now he is tossing a closer, who set an all time record this past season, out like an empty beer can. Wake up Angel Fans. A good owner can put a constant winning product out on the field without doing any of these things.
Craig,
What if K-Rod had 35 saves? Would that warrant the kind of money he’s asking? I doubt it. If the Angles spend the money saved on Anderson and K-Rod they might be able to swing deals for Tex and/or Manny. If you get enough runs on the board you won’t get into as many save situations.
We need the power hitter, no doubt, but signing Manny would be a mistake. Team chemistry would go out the window. Looks like there might be enough freed up money to give to Tex. But, if that doesn’t work (Boras) just keep trying to improve our chances for the next playoffs.
K-Rod at $15m is ridiculous. I agree that every K-Rod appearance is a nail biter. But now what? Shields? He won’t create nail biters because he’ll either shut ‘em down or give up 8 runs immediately.
Well if the Angels don’t want K-rod, despite his antics he is a hell of a closer, I am sure Hoffy wouldn’t mind closing some games for em’. Hey I’d love to see Hoffy in SD but management obviously doesn’t respect what he’s accomplished while with the Padres.
Eating Fool,
I’m not saying K-Rod deserves a ridiculous amount of money. But he deserves to get paid along with the other top closers in the game. The sad thing is the Angels could have headed off this stalemate in negotiations with K-Rod by paying him earlier in his career and locking him up for a lot more years for less. K-Rod wanted a longer and bigger contract before last year but the Angels did a wait and see? Now that they waited they got burned and will have to pay top market. Had they in good faith done something earlier like Tampa just did with Evan Longoria they would have kept the good sentiment between the parties. K-Rod was quoted earlier this season as saying something like, “I waited 6 years to get paid what’s a couple more months”? This was in regards to free agency. What he was really saying was why didn’t they lock me up earlier in good faith? Arte needs to take some responsibility here? But with K-Rod you have to be concerned about his loss in velocity last year? Is he breaking down?
Wake up people. K-rod was given an opportunity to sign but wanted to wait because of the contract the Yankies gave to whats his name. His dilema of his own choosing. He claims to have wanted to be an Angel forever. How can a guy spend all those millions. Ego baby. Ego. PS If the Angels hadn’t been as good as they were last year, can anyone tell me how K-rod would have had as many opportunities to set his record. This was not his doing, only getting in and out of his own jams was his own doing - the angels gave him the opportunity to set the record.
MANNY thinks he’s bigger than the game. NEXT …
COuldn’t agree more with this statement. Manny is an arrogant a** who needs to stay far away from the Angels team. Big, BIG mistake to bring him on….. Keep Tex!!!!!
A lot of people bash Manny. But before you do that take a good look at the reaction of his teammates when and after he hits a home run. Also, take a look at the way he includes his teammates in his success after a home run.
He brought a much needed looseness & fun to the Dodgers. Turned a solemn and unproductive dugout into a fun place to be and a team with little success into one that believed they could achieve! The guy is hardly a cancer or a me player. Why do you think the Dodgers are so excited to sign him again? Because he’s cancerous or a good kick in the pants!
Dave Campbell,
Grab a stick and take one at bat against K-Rod and then pop off!!! Otherwise, give credit where credit is due. And you wake up! The Angels waited until the last year of K-Rod’s contract to do something. He’s been a star since day one. Once again look at what Tampa just did with Evan Longoria? The Rays are a small market team so they gave Longoria a lot of years and more money then usual for a young star but they sealed the deal on a lot of years! If Longoria reaches his full potential he will be a grossly underpaid Superstar but he will still feel good about the Rays because they stepped out in faith from the beginning. The Angels ought to take notes because they blew it with K-Rod.