Orange County Register

 17 Comments

• AngelsFan says:

  January 5, 2009 at 8:36 am

  The Angels are “lurking” on every free agent because they’re cash-rich and have room in their payroll. Did you notice Heyman says it’s unlikely? By the way, Heyman is on Boras’ unofficial payroll - he generates more hype than the agent himself! If the Angels sign Derek Lowe to a huge contract, they might as well put Gary Matthews and Lowe on the cover of the media guide with the caption: “The Two Worst Deals in Angels History”

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• Mark Whicker, ocregister.com says:

  January 5, 2009 at 9:00 am

  Or they could put the preceding comment on the cover of the guide and call it: “Least-Informed Post In Blog History.”

  Derek Lowe has pitched 10 years and hasn’t been on the DL once. No other pitcher in the big leagues can say that. He would be a terrific sign. In ‘09 Jered Weaver would suddenly become the best fifth starter in the history of baseball. And it would be insurance against Lackey leaving next year, if negotiations run aground.

  I don’t think it’s going to happen because Lowe wants to go East, and the Mets make a lot of sense, especially with their improved bullpen situation. And it would require Moreno and Boras to bury the Teixeira hatchet.

  But any time you can add a pitcher like Lowe, you should.

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• Earl Bloom, staff writer says:

  January 5, 2009 at 9:19 am

  Concur with Whicker. Lowe-Matthews comparisons are simply absurd, given Lowe’s career. And while Matthews bashing has merit based on production for money spent, just WHO would YOU, AngelsFan, have played in center field for the Angels in 2007? In 2006, the Angels used Chone Figgins (106 games), Tom Murphy (29), Darrin Erstad (27), Juan Rivera (20) in CF. Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand were a year away from the open market. So you could choose between Matthews or Juan Pierre or J.D. Drew (a reach at that position with health concerns, too). I didn’t hear any outcry for Kenny Lofton or Marlon Byrd, either.

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• Earl Bloom, staff writer says:

  January 5, 2009 at 9:22 am

  My apologies to Darin Erstad. I knew how to spell his name when I covered him every day.

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• Halocidal says:

  January 5, 2009 at 9:45 am

  It’s nice to see that Whicker can offer a constructive and insightful comment now and again.

  We know you’re still learning, Mark, but it appears you might need some help with the technicalities; Earl’s contribution was the “post,” AngelFan’s a “comment.”

  If need be, call the IT guy.

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• Todd Smith says:

  January 5, 2009 at 1:24 pm

  While Angel Fan is over the top, the context he/she is attempting is that Lowe would not be a “terrific sign” (Whicker’s words) and the Mathews context is that you have a guy with one good year that got a contract for a more complete track record. They paid 10 million per to get 3 - 4 million level of play.

  While Lowe has been injury free and has a strong body of work, here is what is not mentioned: He will want 15+ Million a year while is last two season’s in the AL were poor, he is 36 and most important, hes benefitted from the NL and Dodger stadium as one of the best pitcher’s parks in the Majors. His ERA away from home is 4.42. He allows alot of contact and a fair number of hits and isn’t getting younger. Put him in Angel stadium and a 4.5 ERA is highly likely with average to poor secondary numbers. So you think this would be terrific?

  Lowe would remind many of us of Barry Zito. declining numbers were ignored and now the Giants are hamstrung. At least Ztio is young which allows more possibility to rebound. Lowe is not. He is no Mathews, but signing him losing draft picks and paying through the nose would amount to a terrible signing.

  I will continue to beat this drum, go get Peavy and include Gonzo if possible. I would part with Wood, Adenhart, Morales and or Trumbo to get these young performing players. At least Peavy is a buy at his present salary and young.

  Stop the insanity.

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• matt says:

  January 5, 2009 at 1:29 pm

  Todd -

  stop beating that drum! it’s dead!
  Kevin Towers openly said that there was no way Gonzalez was going anywhere! let it go, man!

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• Craig says:

  January 5, 2009 at 2:24 pm

  If the Angels haven’t noticed the Yankees, Red Sox and now the Rays with the signing of Pat Burrell have all gotten better and the disappointing Angels have regressed. If the Angels want to compete for a World Series they should go get Jake Peavy and sign Manny Ramirez plus another big bat at DH.

  Juan Rivera nor Gary Matthews have enough pop to be regulars in the outfield or DH. You also need to give Brandon Wood a full season unconditionally at either SS or 3B and yank either Aybar or Figgins out of the lineup. Izturis is a great utility player but not an everyday starter. Aybar is not as consistent as either Figgins or Izturis and should be the one replaced and traded! But these moves are necessary to revamp a weak Angels offense that cannot compete the way were set-up last year or with what they got left this year.

  Manny Ramirez is the only Big Bat out there that could silence the loss of Texiera on offense and make the Angels offense dangerous enough to compete with three bigger boys :Yankees, Red Sox, or the Rays. Right now the Angels are on par with the Twins and their lack of market agressiveness and contentment to seemingly stay put while everybody else gets better probably catapults even the Twins above them and that’s NO JOKE!

  I hope Arte is playing possum right now and plans to make the moves suggested otherwise the Angels won’t compete for a title and you’ve got to question whether management really wants to? Raise ticket prices for what? How do you justify that Arte when you’ve put a much weaker product on the field. Show us you haven’t quit!!! Show some fight and make the necessary moves!!!!!!!

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• G.T. says:

  January 5, 2009 at 3:10 pm

  Why don’t more people put on their GM hats when they post blogs ?! Craig says to trade for Peavy and sign Manny. As much as I would love that, let’s look at the financial impact. Peavy’s 2009 salary is $13M. Manny will get at least $20M. Add that to the current payroll and you’re looking at over $130M. No way Arte can afford that. I’d be happy with one or the other. Or Dunn.

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• Charles says:

  January 5, 2009 at 3:13 pm

  Sounds like Boras is working his magic behind the scenes, or some sportswriter it trying to stir the pot.

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• Todd Smith says:

  January 5, 2009 at 5:32 pm

  Hey Matt: Hence the “if possible” caveat on Gonzo. Still Peavy is possible if the right offer is made. That makes FAR more sense that the silly suggestion of signing Lowe. I appreciate the correction though.

  AS for others, Manny is another lack of judgment. Here are the main reasons: Head Case who plays his way when he wants and that rarely includes defense, another outfielder (why sign Rivera?), he wants 20 million a year and several years, he is 37 et al.

  IF they think Rivera and Morales suffice, fine but go get a proven young pitcher like Peavy. OR look at trades. People commenting seem to think that only FA players are accessible at the loss of draft picks and lately crazy dollars. Pitching and defense is still the foundation on which to build. If you can’t find the offense, get some depth there but get another very good young arm. and enhance the strength of this team even more.

  Worst case I imagine O Hudson and O Cabrera will soon not ask for much ;-)

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• Craig says:

  January 5, 2009 at 5:33 pm

  G.T.

  Do the math! The Angels were willing to lock in Tex at 20 million over 8 years my friend “Bad Contract”. They were willing to pay K-Rod 12 million a year for three years he’s worth more. They got neither so put Peavy’s contract together with a two year contract for the most explosive hitter in baseball “Manny Ramirez” and you’ve got less years of tying up big money and a true number one starter in Peavy and the most explosive hitter in Ramirez. You’ve also lost the contract of Anderson & Gardner from last year too. So, don’t give me this can’t afford it story? The only thing that justifies your comment is if your inline to inherit Arte’s estate. But, even then Arte’s estate will be worth more if they make the moves I presented because they could win a World Series which would drive up the value of the team for a sale and he could justify raising the ticket prices again. Arte can do it and needs to in order to compete and justify raising ticket prices. You also get your fifth starter when acquiring Peavy because you move everybody else down a notch and then you don’t have to rely on Escobar coming back healthy. If he does ‘great’ use him in the bullpen or to spruce up an under performer in the rotation. There’s my GM hat and I’ll take the job tomorrow and do what needs to be done!

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• Disco says:

  January 5, 2009 at 5:50 pm

  No way Lowe gets 16mil a year from the Angels to be the fifth starter. All the Angels starters now were developed in their minor league system, so why not give a prospect a shot?

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• G.T. says:

  January 5, 2009 at 7:40 pm

  Craig,
  Estimated / Projected 2009 salaries:
  Hunter = $17.5M
  Vlad = $15M
  Matthews = $10M
  Escobar = $9.5M
  Lackey = $9M
  Fuentes = $8.5M
  Figgins = $6M
  Shields = $5M
  Speier = $5M
  Rivera = $4M
  Oliver = $4M
  Santana = $1.5M
  Napoli / Izturis / Morales / Quinlan = $1M
  Mathis / Aybar / Kendrick / Wood / Willits / Adenhart / Arredondo / Jepsen / Saunders / Weaver = $500k each
  Total = $104M
  Again, Peavy ($13M) and Manny ($20M) would push the payroll over $135M. As much as I’d like to see it, it ain’t happening (now if we had not signed Fuentes…). So, again, I’ll take Peavy or Manny or Dunn.
  My guess is they go for a $7-8M position player and a $7-8M starter. Not sure who…
  I’d prefer (1) Manny, (2) Peavy and let the kids play or (3) Dunn and let one of the kid pitchers at it at #5.

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• Craig says:

  January 6, 2009 at 12:20 am

  G.T.,

  You still fail to realize that the addition of Fuentes is still less then K-Rod made last year and the Angels lost two other big contracts: Anderson & Gardner as well. They have the money to sign Manny and trade and pay Peavy. Trust me!

  But they also need somebody potent at DH as well. Look at the Yankees, Red Sox, and now the Rays with the addition of Pat Burrell. They can flat out rake man! The Angels are not explosive. They need to play Wood full time and add Manny for sure. And all you people who say Manny is a Head Case? Did you see the effect he had on the Dodgers and their clubhouse? He lit it up man. Turned a boring and uptight clubhouse into a fun place to play and brought some era of success that had been escaping the club. Ask Joe Torre and the Dodger organization if Manny was a problem?

  Manny alone could be enough but to add Peavy and a potent DH as well tells the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays you ain’t got nothing on us!

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• Jules says:

  January 6, 2009 at 3:59 pm

  Hey GT and Craig,
  Who is Gardner?

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• Earl Bloom, staff writer says:

  January 6, 2009 at 5:22 pm

  Jules: “Gardner” aka Jon Garland … I think. All those 14-game winners look alike …

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