Orange County Register

Ken Rosenthal says the Angels aren’t in on any of the remaining free agent hitters, but may look to make a trade during the season to add offense:

The way club officials see it, the possible emergence of Brandon Wood at third base could displace Chone Figgins, adding to the team’s glut of outfielders and forcing Vladimir Guerrero to get more at-bats as a designated hitter. First baseman Kendry Morales and outfielder Juan Rivera are clearly in the Angels’ plans.

Mid-season trades tend to involve players who are approaching free agency, and next year’s free agent class is fairly weak. But there are some interesting names in it:

Matt Holliday

Pros: Does everything well. One of the top defensive left fielders, stole 28 bags at 93 percent success rate, pads good home run numbers with loads of doubles, still in prime.

Cons: Some uncertainty how he’ll do outside of Coors Field; has been just an average hitter on the road, with .803 career OPS. Won’t be available unless A’s drop out of the race.

Chipper Jones

Pros: May have been baseball’s second best hitter in 2008, he plays an average or better third base, and despite his age has actually improved each of the the past four seasons.

Cons: Durability issues, as he misses 25-50 games every season. His age will make him a risky free agent signing, so he’d probably be only a rental.

Adrian Beltre

Pros: A league-average hitter and the world’s best defensive third baseman.

Cons: Right-handed and free-swinging hitter, something the Angels have a few of.

Nick Johnson

Pros: When he’s healthy, he’s an awful lot like Teixeira, with a great glove, tremendous patience and a bit less power. In his last two healthy seasons (2005-2006) he was a five-win player, just below superstar value.

Cons: And when MTV plays videos, it’s stll a good network.

There’s more:

Carlos Delgado

Pros: For his career, his OPS in the second half is .970, compared to .899 in the first half.

Cons: What’s more convincing, the last three months of 2008 (.991 OPS) or the previous year and a half, when his career looked to be rapidly concluding? I’m not sure. Mets would likely require major league talent in return, as New York should be in a pennant race, too.

Adam LaRoche

Pros: As consistent as they come, and he even looks a little bit like Casey Kotchman.

Cons: I can’t think of any, but I’m not real excited by it, either. Maybe by July.

Miguel Tejada

Pros: When he ultimately has to move off shortstop, his value will be nil, but for now his bat and glove carry the position. Rarely strikes out, so his batting average never dips too low. And a trade for him would no longer require Ervin Santana.

Cons: His OPS+ has dropped the past four years, even after moving to the weaker league and a good park for hitters. After 40-50 walks per season most of his career, plummetted to 24 in 2008.

Troy Glaus

Pros: In the four years since he left Anaheim, he’s only been hurt once, and has had an OPS at least 20 percent better than the league average every year. He’s improved his defense and cut down on strikeouts, and can play first base if needed. Believe it or not, if he ages well he might be putting together a Hall of Fame career.

Cons: His isolated power (slugging percentage minus batting average) has dipped the past two years, so he’s no longer a real threat to hit 40 home runs.

Jason Bay

Pros:All-around awesomeness.

Cons: The Red Sox ain’t trading him.

Carl Crawford

Pros: Top-of-the-order speed that would lessen the pressure to put Chone Figgins in the lineup. The best defensive left-fielder in the game. Entering what could be his peak years.

Cons: Or he could be past his peak, as his power has declined and 2008 was his worst year. Quite possibly costlier in trade than any of the players listed her, especially if the Rays are still hanging with the Yankees and Red Sox at the deadline.

Rick Ankiel:

Pros: We’ve probably seen enough to say his success as a hitter is no fluke. Big power that could still be getting better as he gets more experience. Bats left, and also hits lefty pitchers well.

Cons: Not a very refined hitter, but that may still come. He’s not a good defensive center-fielder, but might be better on a corner.

Andruw Jones

Pros: Hahahahaha.

Cons: Seriously, though.

Mike Cameron

Pros: Still a good defensive centerfielder, and his walks/steals/homers approach makes him roughly as valuable as Torii Hunter.

Cons: His glove would be wasted in a corner.

Jermaine Dye

Pros: 2006

Cons: 2007

Prons: 2008

Brian Giles

Pros: Way underrated, just like when he was in PIttsburgh. His numbers really suffer for his park, but on the road he was a .316/.408./488 hitter.

Cons: I’m still thinking.

Other possibilities, who are less appetizing, less likely to be dealt or likely to have a team option picked up:

• Xavier Nady
• Victor Martinez
• Magglio Ordonez
• Randy Winn
• Jayson Werth
• Austin Kearns
• Hideki Matsui
• Jim Thome
• Gary Sheffield

Anybody on there you’d want?

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