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Angels looking at Jermaine Dye, according to report
January 12th, 2009, 8:36 pm · 20 Comments · posted by Sam Miller, The Orange County Register
Via Halos Heaven, the Chicago Sun-Times says the Angels have inquired about Jermaine Dye and that Chone Figgins’ name keeps coming up in background conversations. 
Dye would have fit in well with the Dunns, Abreus and Burrells of this free agent market. He plays outfield terribly, he hits well enough, and he costs $11.5 million this year. That’s a bit overpriced for Dye, who was worth $9.7 million in 2008, virtually nothing in 2007 and $14 million in 2006. Which of those three wildly different years best represents him? Well, he was very lucky on balls in play in 2006, very unlucky in 2007 and just about right on in 2008, according to the Hardball Times new BABIP data. And the power spike of 2006 is now 27 months old. So I’d lean toward 2008.
He’d actually be more valuable as a DH, worth about 1.6 wins (or about $8 million) in 2009 according to the projections. Those projection systems* all pretty much agree on what he’ll be: A .270/.335/.500 hitter. Put him in the field and he’s worth only about 1.3 wins if his defense stays the same.
A Figgins for Dye swap would make some sense, giving the Angels a middle-of-the-order bat and clearing the way for Brandon Wood, who really has to play this year, and for Maicer Izturis to take over as the practically perfect utility guy. I’m already reading a lot about the Angels’ glut of outfielders, but the truth is that they have two good outfielders, a somewhat risky option in Juan Rivera and a fourth outfielder/defensive replacement in Gary Matthews, Jr. Dye would fit just fine. In fact, I’d be kind of excited about a lineup that went Hunter/Kendrick/Guerrero/Dye/Napoli/Wood/Rivera/Morales/Aybar.** That’s pretty tasty.
On the other hand, if that’s what you’re looking for, why not simply go after Adam Dunn, who is likely to sign for about the same annual cost, wouldn’t cost Figgins and hits just as well, from the left side for good measure. The Angels have apparently ruled that out, and I don’t see how Dye is any better.
[UPDATE: Both GMs are denying this one.]
* The projection systems I used were Marcel, Chone and Bill James.
** Oh, am I the only one who thinks Torii Hunter should bat leadoff? Hmm, maybe I should reconsider.
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really, the only switch-off between Dunn and Dye is that Dunn is left-handed, will hit for more power, but less average. Oh yeah.. and he gets on base more, which means the Angels won’t like him. They are more interested in someone who’ll hack, not walk.
However, Dye really wouldn’t be that bad, and if it was Dye for Figgins, I’d do it.
But Hunter as the leadoff guy? I’d try this…
Kendrick 2B
Hunter CF
Guerrero DH/RF
Dye RF/DH
Napoli C
Morales 1B
Rivera LF
Wood 3B
Aybar SS
in response to your ** question -
i’d rather let Howie leadoff in that situation… he’s got more speed and a better career OBP (albeit in a small sample size) than Torii. plus, if the guy continues to hit doubles like he does, he could be lethal at the top… especially if he learns how to walk.
really, Torii is better suited for the middle of the order if you’re looking strictly at OBP, but i think he would do well in the 2-hole, too.
It amazes me how people instantly attach credibility to every rumor that comes along. 99% of the time, rumors are flat-out wrong. General managers don’t share the content of their phone calls with beat writers.
Just for laughs, a few years back some of us on a Usenet group started a rumor that the Angels were thinking about trading Troy Percival for John Rocker. Within a week, it showed up on ESPN — not the fan board, but ESPN itself — as a trade rumor.
I realize the media this time of year are desperate for content, but let’s keep these rumors in perspective.
Indeed, Stephen. I probably should include a disclaimer on every rumor post, and include a link to this post:
http://fromthedugout.freedomblogging.com/2008/12/02/rumors-gossip-and-speculation/6210/
So yes, everybody listen to Stephen. A lot of this stuff is way preliminary, and some of it is outright fabrication. Still fun to talk about, of course.
If this rumor is true, giving up Chone Giggins for an “Over Priced DH” is ridiculous. I’m a huge Angels fan and am not looking forward to our Offesively Challenged team this year. All of those 1 run games we won last year could turn to losses this year. This season is going to be the worst of the Mike Scioscia years. Better get ready Angel fans. It’s going to be a long season
Where to start with this Chicago report? Well, take a look at the start of the last paragraph: According to the source, the Angels are not thrilled with what’s left on the free agent outfield market and do not want to be pawns in the on-going Manny Ramirez game. … All we need the source to add is, the earth is not flat, the sun will set in the West and Barack Obama has been elected President. … That said, the Angels have apparently had some Dye interest for awhile; the Ken Williams quotes about Figgins are from June.
You should read the Sun Times article. Dye has more home runs and RBI than any other A.L. outfielder since 2005! He also plays much better defense than Dunn and Manny. Dye has lost a step, but he can still catch the ball, throw the ball, and is not afraid to lay out to make the play. That’s more than I can say for Dunn or Manny. Oh, and by the way, he’s a great clubhouse guy that everyone respects. We’ve needed a guy like Dye for 5 years. I’m frustrated that we hear that every year and it never happens.
I like Dye a little bit, too, but trading Figgins for him is not the way to go. The Angels don’t need to get any slower.
And I read that Brandon Wood really has to play this year. Is that in his contract? Or on stone tablets? No. Brandon Wood has to play only if he plays well.
With all due respect, Mark, how else are we to know what Wood can do unless he plays everyday? Obviously if we get a few months into the season and its painfully obvious that hes just not going to learn to hit big league pitching, then we find an alternative. Yong hitters need time at the big league level to learn how to hit at the highest level. Some do, others never get over that hump. But I don’t think this should be a spring training decision. Let the guy have his reps and then figure out what you have.
Are they crazy??!!! Get rid of Chone for some questionable OF/DH??
You can’t win with only muscle, you need some heart. The Angels seem to want to get rid of the heart. Gain 1.3 games by getting Dye. How many do the Angels loose by trading Figgy.
A couple observations …
* Chone Figgins really isn’t the offensive force he once was. His stolen bases have declined every year since 2005. Some of that is due to injury, granted, but he’s gone from 62 to 2005 to 34 in 2008.
His AVG/OBP/SLG in 2008 were .276/.367/.318. His career year was in 2007, when they were .330/.393/.432. His near-total absence of power in 2008 is a major concern. He’s 31, so he’s not going to get any better, and he can be a free agent at season’s end.
We all love Chone, but if we’re looking at cold reality then this may be the time to move him while we can get something of value. He’s versatile, but Sean Rodriguez can play the same positions Chone does, and we have enough depth with Aybar and Izturis, who can also play multiple positions, that versatility isn’t an issue.
* As for Brandon Wood, I suggest everyone check out Mike Schmidt’s early career statistics:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/schmimi01.shtml
At age 23, the age Wood was in 2008, Schmidt’s numbers were .196/.324/.373. Schmidt struck out once every 2.7 at-bats. If he did that today for the Angels, people would be screaming that Schmidt was a “bust” and should be traded immediately.
Schmidt struck out a lot in his early years. He also got a lot of walks because the rest of the Phillies were pretty bad so pitchers pitched around him.
Patience is a virtue. The Angels coaches and instructors are not idiots. They know what Wood can and can’t do. In the end, it’s up for Brandon to manifest his potential. There’s no one walking this planet who can “make” a player do that.
So I’d much rather move Figgins for what we can get and put Wood at 3B. The transition might be a bit rough in the short run, but it’s time to make or break with him.
As for leadoff, I’d gladly have Howie Kendrick in that position. He has decent speed and his OBP should be about .350 at least if he can stay healthy. Bat Izturis #2 and I think the rest of the lineup takes care of itself.
Do the Dye deal for Figgins now. A steal. Figgy is done. Now lets get some hitting value for Aybar, and put Izzy at short.
That’s the way to go. We won’t be faster, but we will be a whole lot smarter and more disciplined at the plate.
Now will someone please get us rid of Mickey Hatcher?
Dye is a premium bat and quality locker room presence. He’s Garret Anderson with power. They must have a proven power bat behind Vlad to make the rest of the lineup work. Mathews is a fourth outfielder. Dunn is slow and not the presence the Angels look for. The Angels might jump on Abreu if the price is right and they can land him on a one or two year deal.
If we want another aging has-been for the outfield, why not just re-sign GA.
If the Angels can trade for Konerko, okay. Dye…no way!
I think that the Angels should hold on to their chips for now. Why trade for Dye when, as it has already been said, Dunn is practically the same guy and signing him won’t require giving anybody up in exchange. I understand the fact that the Angels do not want Dunn and that it’s going to come down to a trade or nothing (because the Angels will not sign a free agent bat) . . . but why not wait?
I have heard numerous reports that there may be some teams headed to a financial crisis with the way the economy is going. Why not hold out for a better deal? Maybe later in the season a trade can be made with a small market team for a player who happens to make too much money for the owner to be able to afford. We all remember how the Lakers ended up with Gasol right? I know it was different circumstances but the bottom line is that Dye is a temporary solution but a great fit may be looming in the near future.
I thought the Angels were giving the youngsters a chance to play; players like Kendry, Wood, etc, so why go after an old player like Dye?
Trade Figgins for Dye. Have you people lost your friggin mind?
First you trade Kotchman for that over priced rental and now this? Wake idiots!
J Kromet — because Figgins blocks one of those young players and Dye wouldn’t.
Figgyblock!
Angel infielders: Wood, Aybar, Izturis, Kendrick, Brown, Rodriquez… that is six players for three spots. Figgens is more valuable in a trade then he is blocking some of these other players. We need POWER! If it is a trade for Figgens - Dye straight up, are you kidding me? YES YES YES YES. Remember, this is real baseball, not fantasy league.