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GA and Tampa Bay a good match
December 9th, 2008, 7:33 am · 7 Comments · posted by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM
LAS VEGAS
Garret Anderson will look out of place in any uniform but the Angels next season. But he could find a home alongside a familiar face — in Tampa Bay.
Rays manager Joe Maddon (a long-time Angel coach and minor-league instructor) said the defending A.L. champion’s main need this off-season is outfielder-DH types. Last year’s DH, Cliff Floyd, is a free agent unlikely to return and the Rays are expected to lose free-agent outfielder Rocco Baldelli (possibly to the Red Sox).
The Rays were already unhappy with the production they got from their right fielders last season, Maddon admitted.
“If you just break down the team, it’s not rocket science to see where offensively — what we did at that position last year — the potential to improve upon it is there,” Maddon said this afternoon.
Anderson would qualify as an upgrade and would slip nicely into a reunion with Maddon.
“Yeah, I love GA. GA is wonderful,” Maddon said of the possibility of signing Anderson. “Actually, I thought over the last two seasons, I thought GA’s game got even stronger. I thought offensively speaking, I thought he was swinging the bat great.
“When we played against him, I thought he was very crispy the last time, running well, the whole nine yards. I think that’s attractive to a lot of people right now. Regardless of his age. He looked very good last year.”
The Rays have a long list of outfield possibilities and hope the asking price of free agents like Pat Burrell, Adam Dunn or Bobby Abreu drops into their range. But Anderson could find a new home there.
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I sure hope so. While I was not in favor of bringing him back, I’m still a fan of GA, and I think it’d be great to see him land in a classy, and now competitive, organization like the Rays.
nooooo !!!got to keep G.A……that number needs to retire a angel!!
its really arrogant of people to think that getting rid of the second best run producer on our team would be profitable to the Angels. not once has GA ever declined significantly as an Angel and he has been the team leader for years. just because he doesn’t smile on the field and doesn’t make an impact in the media doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have the heart that so many people hold against him. the only gripe i have ever heard him speak about is wanting to play more……wow….really bad!!! i want everyone to look at his career #’s ( go ahead and look) and tell me one good reason why he should not be wearing an Angel uniform next season…….
GA is right up there with B. Downing (#5) my favorite two Angels. All they did was perform!
I would love to see GA finish out as an Angel. He is a great player and, even more important, a wonderful person who has the kind of class you rarely see in high-profile athletes, actors or others in the public eye.
I love everybody’s posts. In 2008 GA had the highest average with runners on base. I can’t find one other player in all of MLB with a higher average with runners-on. If the Angels lose him, then I will go with GA. How about the Yankees in Right field? If he goes there, he will surely make the Angels pay when he comes to town- I promise you it will be ugly. I love you GA! You are clutch and class!
Regardless of whether they re-sign G.A., he deserves a homecoming celebration for his return to Anaheim and his number should eventually be retired by the Angels. He was as important - perhaps moreso - than Tim Salmon ever was.