Off-Season Moves Watch Thread

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angels news update links:

http://www.ocregister.com/sections/angels-664481/

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/angels/

http://www.angelsbaseball.com

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angels pass on anderson's option

http://whicker.freedomblogging.com/2008 ... th-ga/226/

Garret Anderson said Wednesday that he was “surprised but not surprised” by the Angels’ decision not to pick up his option, and that he hadn’t yet been in contact with the Angels or any other club.

“I was a little surprised because of what I’d been able to do over the years for the club,” Anderson said, “but I was not surprised because I kept reading and hearing that they weren’t going to pick up the option. You read things over and over again, pretty soon you begin to think it’s reality.”

Anderson does not have an agent, but said he might consider hiring one if other clubs begin calling. He doesn’t expect to use one if he’s only negotiating with the Angels, who have given no indication that they’re going to pursue their alltime leader in hits and RBIs.

Asked if he had a preference when he thinks about other clubs, he said, “Whether they have a chance to win is one consideration, but mainly it’s going to be whether I have a chance to play every day. I think I can still do that, but we’ll just have to wait and see.”

He did have an opinion on whether the Angels should sign Francisco Rodriguez, who set an alltime major league record with 62 saves in 2008.

“I’ve been on the other side of it and I’ve seen what a closer can do,” Anderson said. “The numbers speak for themselves, but what he does is show you that he’s not scared to take the ball. He wants to be out there with that responsibility, even after he gets his head beaten in. You can’t really put a price on that.”

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juan rivera files for free agency, so does oliver

http://fromthedugout.freedomblogging.co ... list/3867/

Forty-two more players filed for free agency on Friday for a two-day total of 107. The latest batch included left-hander Darren Oliver and outfielder Juan Rivera from the Angels and Nomar Garciaparra from the Dodgers.

Rivera could be quite a bargain for an outfielder-starved team like the Giants or Padres (though he might be better suited to an A.L. team where he can DH at least part of the time) and deserves a chance to play more often than he has with the Angels the past couple years.

Missing from the list of eligible players to file so far? Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez.

He has plenty of time. Eligible players have until Nov. 13 to file. But — maybe we should start checking the local Del Tacos to see if GM Tony Reagins is hashing out a new contract for Rodriguez over a Double Del burger and chili cheese fries?

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Vlad and Matthews have surgery. Napoli will have surgery soon.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/seas ... ulder-knee

ANAHEIM - Two years after resisting suggestions that he have surgery on his troublesome knees, Vladimir Guerrero submitted to a minor procedure to repair the medial meniscus in his left knee earlier this month.

In addition, outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. had surgery Tuesday to repair a tear in the patella tendon of his left knee and catcher Mike Napoli is scheduled to have minor surgery on his right shoulder Friday.

Guerrero and Napoli are expected to recover in time to participate in spring training with no limitations. Matthews' recovery, meanwhile, is expected to take four to six months, according to GM Tony Reagins, and extend into March and possibly April. He is not likely to be ready to play when the Angels open the season April 6 against the Oakland A's.

Matthews was bothered by patellar tendinitis during the 2007 season and those problems escalated in 2008 when a tear was discovered in the tendon. He hit just .242 with eight home runs and 46 RBIs this past season, losing significant playing time in the second half of the season due to the injury and his poor performance.

Napoli was bothered by shoulder problems for much of the 2008 season and spent a month on the disabled list (July 7-Aug. 7) with irritation in the shoulder and a frayed labrum. Reagins described Friday's arthroscopy surgery as a "cleanup procedure" to address any lingering issues in the shoulder.

Guerrero, meanwhile, agreed to his knee surgery this fall after playing through chronic knee pain all season, part of the reason he got off to the worst two-month start of his career (hitting a career-low .249 through the end of May) and needed a late surge to reach a .300 average and 25 home runs for the 11th consecutive season.

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Angels expect to make offer to Mark Teixeira soon

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/ ... 5652.story

The Angels have identified retaining Teixeira and signing pitcher CC Sabathia as their top priorities in free agency. General Manager Tony Reagins would not say whether the Angels could afford both players, at a combined total that could top $200 million.

The Angels are not believed to have made an offer to Sabathia, who isn't a Boras client.

Reagins said he has spoken with Boras but has no meeting set with him at this week's meeting of general managers in Dana Point. Reagins said he has not made an offer to Teixeira but said the Angels might submit a bid and ask for a prompt response "over the course of the next couple of weeks."

Said Reagins: "There will come a time when we have to know one way or the other."

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K-ROD: Mets 'good fit'

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11132008/sp ... 138420.htm

The Mets will have a new closer next season, and Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez wants to be the guy who fills their most pressing need when free agency starts at midnight tonight.

K-Rod's agent told The Post yesterday that Rodriguez is excited about the Mets and considers them "a good fit" among the four teams supposedly hottest in pursuit of the strikeout artist.

"K-Rod's pitched in high-pressure games, he's been in a pretty big market since he was 19 years old and thrives on it," said agent Paul Kinzer, who wouldn't name the other three clubs interested in his client. "New York and the Mets are very attractive to him."

Kinzer met with Minaya at the GM Meetings last week in Dana Point, Calif., and came away convinced that the Mets will open discussions about Rodriguez as soon as tomorrow.

Other sources say the 33-year-old Fuentes is higher on the Mets' list of favorites to replace Wagner, in part because of initial reports of Rodriguez looking for a five-year deal worth as much as $15 million per season.

The Angels are prepared to let Rodriguez walk at that price, and owner Arte Moreno told the Los Angeles Times that, "We're turning the page on this one."

But Kinzer said yesterday that Rodriguez "isn't wedded" to those contract demands. "We'd like a five-year deal, but we don't have any lines drawn," Kinzer said. "As for the ($15 million-a-year figure), that didn't come from me. You've got to be open in a negotiation, and we will."

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Angels to go after Peavy

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8926 ... tings-blog

The Los Angeles Angels will attempt to take advantage of the breakdown in San Diego's negotiations with the Chicago Cubs over a deal involving Padres ace right-hander Jake Peavy.

According to an Angels' official, the club has already put together a package for the Padres to consider in return for Peavy. It will take more than agreeing on players for a deal to be worked out. Peavy must approve any trade, and he has indicated a desire to stay in the National League.

Going to the Angels would cause a minimum of disruption in Peavy's life. He could commute to Anaheim from his new home in the San Diego area. --Gerry Fraley

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Teixeira offered 8-year deal by Angels

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3766460

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Angels made an eight-year offer to first baseman Mark Teixeira during winter meetings in Las Vegas.

Team spokesman Tim Mead said Friday that no financial details are being revealed about the offer to the free agent, who is being sought by numerous teams.

Boston, Washington and Baltimore all have expressed interest in the 28-year-old Maryland native, who also met with the New York Yankees ahead of the winter meetings.

reports say that they offered more than 160 mil, more than any other offer

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Red Sox reportedly offer Teixera an 8 yr 200 million deal

http://fromthedugout.freedomblogging.co ... lion/7632/

Dan Patrick reported on his show on AM 570 that the Boston Red Sox have made first baseman Mark Teixeira an eight-year, $200 million offer.
If so, that blows the reported eight-year, $160 million offers by the Angels and the Washington Nationals out of the water.
Patrick said Monday morning: “If it’s true they’re offering $200 million to a career .290 hitter, it’ll be interesting to see what the Angels do.”

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Angels, Rivera agree to terms

http://fromthedugout.freedomblogging.co ... erms/8338/

Outfielder Juan Rivera became the Angels’ first free-agent acquisition this winter when he and the Angels agreed to terms Friday on a three-year, $12.75 million contract through 2011.
“It’s good to have him back,” Angels general manager Tony Reagins said. “He’s going to be an important part of what we’re trying to accomplish.”

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Angels withdraw offer to Teixeira

http://fromthedugout.freedomblogging.co ... -tex/8420/

Angels communications vice president Tim Mead confirmed a report by ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick that the club is no longer pursuing first baseman Mark Teixeira.

“The offer has been withdrawn,” Mead said, referring to a bid that was estimated at eight years, $160 million.

The Red Sox had said the same thing last week, which would leave Teixeira to a field of pursuers including the Washington Nationals, the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees.

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Teixeira agrees to deal with Yankees

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3790141

The New York Yankees swooped in Tuesday and nabbed prized free agent Mark Teixeira, reaching agreement with the first baseman on an eight-year contract worth $180 million, three sources involved in the negotiations tell ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

The Yankees had made an offer to Teixeira weeks ago, but then withdrew it. Their intention all along was to make a deal if it fell within parameters acceptable to the organization. They made their formal offer Tuesday.

The contract will pay Teixeira an average of $22.5 million per season.

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Man I came here to look for some updates...are you the only poster on this board dcash?

Losing Tex...a pretty sad day for Angels fans. Are they really going to stand pat? If so, they're going to go quietly into the night.

They just don't have the power to go along with the pitching to compete in the playoffs.

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looks like i've been the only poster since the loss to the red sox.

as far as tex, i was expecting it just like the krod departure. sucks. looks like the angels are set on starting kendry at 1st

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/reag ... -feel-year

The Angels are loading their immediate future into an untested wagon named Kendry Morales.

No Mark Teixeira, of course. No Manny Ramirez. No Adam Dunn. Probably not Pat Burrell, Bobby Abreu or Milton Bradley.

"We got to the point with Mark whether we had to decide to be in or out," said Tony Reagins, the Angels general manager.

"Over the weekend we made the decision we were out. We had some other decisions to make to improve our ballclub. But we're also very comfortable with Kendry Morales."

the only reports as far as free agents are the angels looking at brian fuentes to sure up the bullpen.

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Angels sign lefty Fuentes

http://fromthedugout.freedomblogging.co ... ntes/9106/

California native Brian Fuentes wasn’t kidding when he said that he and the Angels would be “a great fit.”

The Angels and the free-agent reliever have agreed to terms on a two-year contract (not the three years and $30 million he had reportedly been seeking earlier this off-season).

The 33-year-old Fuentes immediately becomes the front runner to replace Francisco Rodriguez as the Angels’ closer, allowing the Angels to keep Scot Shields and Jose Arredondo in their setup roles — news that might come as a disappointment to Shields who has bided his time loyally in that role hoping for a shot at the ninth inning some day.

Fuentes was sixth in the National League with 30 saves in 34 opportunities for the Rockies last season. It was his third 30-save season in the past four years.

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Chone Figgins' new deal with the Angels includes incentives

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_ ... ne-fi.html

Chone Figgins' one-year, $5.775-million contract with the Angels includes $525,000 in incentives. He can earn $50,000 for making the All-Star team; $75,000 each for being named World Series MVP, League Championship Series MVP, a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger winner; and $150,000 for being named regular-season MVP.

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Garland signs deal with Arizona

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... QD9611I282

PHOENIX (AP) — Jon Garland and the Arizona Diamondbacks have finalized a one-year contract that will pay the right-hander at least $7.25 million.

Garland will assume the rotation spot held by Randy Johnson, who left as a free agent last month for an $8 million, one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants.

Garland gets a $6.25 million salary this year, and the agreement includes a $10 million mutual option for 2010. If Garland rejects the option, he gets a $1 million buyout. If the team rejects it, he gets a $2.5 million buyout.

He spent his first eight years with the Chicago White Sox before going 14-8 with a 4.90 ERA in 32 starts for the Los Angeles Angels last season.

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Angels sign former yankee Bobby Abreu

http://fromthedugout.freedomblogging.co ... ion/13602/

According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Angels and Abreu agreed on a one-year deal for $5 millon plus incentives. Abreu made $16 million as a Yankee in 2008.

The Angels certainly needed some LH help, as was pointed out early last month. But I think Abreu will cut into Gary Matthews’ ABs more than anyone’s. I still expect Juan Rivera to get as much action as he did in 2006.

All those Mickey Hatcher hitting approach critics should note that Abreu, like Mark Teixeira did, injects a very patient hitter into the Angels lineup.

Abreu has a career .405 OBP, with a run of eight consecutive 100-walk seasons from 1999-2006. His .371 OBP last year would’ve been second on the Angels to Teixeira.

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Angels and Ervin Santana agree to a 4 yr deal

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/sant ... g-contract

After regressing during a 2007 season that saw him demoted to Triple-A at one point, right-hander Ervin Santana had his salary cut by $5,000 when the Angels renewed his contract last spring.

Things have changed.

Santana is coming off an All-Star season during which he had personal bests in victories, innings pitched, strikeouts and ERA, so he and the Angels reached agreement on a four-year, $30 million contract Saturday that includes a team option for 2013 at $13 million or a $1 million buyout.

A scheduled arbitration hearing Friday was postponed when the two sides felt they were making progress toward an agreement.

"I'm very happy. You guys don't even know," Santana said as the Angels opened camp with their first workout for pitchers and catchers Saturday morning. "I just want to keep working hard and prove why I got the contract. That's what I'm going to do."

The agreement allows the Angels to avoid all three years of Santana's arbitration eligibility as well as the first year — and possibly second if the option is exercised — of his free-agency eligibility.

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Angels sign former yankee Bobby Abreu

http://fromthedugout.freedomblogging.co ... ion/13602/

According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Angels and Abreu agreed on a one-year deal for $5 millon plus incentives. Abreu made $16 million as a Yankee in 2008.

The Angels certainly needed some LH help, as was pointed out early last month. But I think Abreu will cut into Gary Matthews’ ABs more than anyone’s. I still expect Juan Rivera to get as much action as he did in 2006.

All those Mickey Hatcher hitting approach critics should note that Abreu, like Mark Teixeira did, injects a very patient hitter into the Angels lineup.

Abreu has a career .405 OBP, with a run of eight consecutive 100-walk seasons from 1999-2006. His .371 OBP last year would’ve been second on the Angels to Teixeira.

great pickup by the angels. despite losing tex and rodriguez, i still think we'll come out top in the AL west.