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Angels start off-season right
November 5th, 2009, 12:10 pm · 3 Comments · posted by Mark Whicker, ocregister.com
Today’s signing of Bobby Abreu eases concern that the Angels were going to lose all their free agents and also gives them a better outline for 2010.
The Associated Press reported the terms of the deal will guarantee Abreu $19 million for two years. That’s $9M apiece for 2010 and 2011, and a $1 million buyout if the Angels don’t pick up a $9M option in 2012 when Abreu will be 38.
But if Abreu has 550 plate appearances in 2011, or 1,200 plate appearances in 2010 and 2011, that option for 2012 becomes guaranteed.
With Abreu back in right-field, the Angels are in a better position to let Chone Figgins go into what will be a pretty frenzied free-agent market, if they so choose. The reason is that they could plug Brandon Wood into third base, leave Juan Rivera in left-field, and not have to worry about promoting an outfielder or buying or trading for one.
That would also allow the Angels to make Erick Aybar the leadoff man. It’s obvious Aybar isn’t as sophisticated in that role as Figgins was last year, but with Abreu around to guide him, he could learn. Aybar also led the Angels in batting average this year and only struck out 54 times in 504 at-bats.
This isn’t to say the Angels won’t sign Figgins. They’re just in a better position now, if they don’t.
I remember Mike Scioscia, when the team-MVP arguments were going on, saying Abreu would be his candidate. That’s when most of us were nominating Kendry Morales or Figgins or Torii Hunter. That should have been a sign that Abreu would be back.
More, obviously, to come from Bill Plunkett and others……
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Garret Anderson deserved better than what the Angels did to him after 14 seasons. Oh if they only had him for the Yankee series this year… GA had a .555 average against Petit in 2008 and .600 against Petit in 2007. The Angels let him go with a season .294 average and .338 RISP average (that’s better than Tori). Nice move Tony and Scioscia.
Batting only tells half the story. GA had little range in left field and isn’t nearly the defender that Torii is. With that said, despite how good GA is against Pettitte, it’s not to say he’d have been good during this playoff let alone against the others as well. ALCS aside, Torii had a great year especially defensively where he does things that GA can’t come close to. Oh one more thing, Torii is a center fielder… they are incomparable. If you’re going to compare, compare Bobby or Juan Rivera. All the Angels did with Torii was upgrade over GMJ.
Lay off the Meds TJ!
The Angels wouldn’t play the Yankees and Petit every game of the season. Or have you noticed that there are a number of other teams and pitchers to face. GA was over paid and needed to go.
We’re you watching the Angels or living in a dream world? The guy never hustled in the outfield and God forbid he try to leg out an infield hit.
If Juan Rivera stayed healthy, we probably could’ve gotten rid of GA earlier and maybe not even be stuck with the latest version of Andruw Jones…Gary Matthews Jr.
I bet if you were the GM or Owner, you would’ve signed GA to a $50M 2 year extension because you worship GA like the Dodgers did Manny. The objective here is to win a World Series, not baby a has been. Look forward, not backwards. It’s about, what have you done for me lately…and looking at your favorite players stats, GA did nothing but take his money to the bank laughing at all us Angels Fans!…and yes I know, he probably had direct deposit.
GA
2007 BA .297 HR 16 $11.6M
2008 BA .293 HR 15 $12.6M
2009 BA .268 HR 13 $ 2.5M
Juan Rivera
2009 BA .287 HR 25 $ 3.25M
Don’t take it personal, facts are facts. Go Halos!