Injuries to Maicer Izturis and Erick Aybar could force the Angels to trade for or sign a shortstop. For now, GM Tony Reagins tells Bill Shaikin of the LA Times that he’s hoping Aybar’s left knee and Izturis’ left forearm heal on schedule.
"Hopefully, our injury situation isn't long-term," Reagins said. "If it is, you'd probably have to look outside the organization."
The Angels are aware of available shortstops. Adam Everett is a free agent; Maicer’s half-brother Cesar Izturis could become a trade target; the Rays have shortstop depth; Stephen Drew, Ryan Theriot, Omar Vizquel and others could also be available. But the Angels aren’t pursuing any of them.
"We're not at that point," Reagins said.
It’s not a good year to be an Angels infielder. Kendry Morales is out for the season after breaking his leg, so the Angels have been linked to available first basemen for weeks. Despite these injuries, the Angels are just 2.0 games out of first place in the AL West.
Do they move Wood back to SS?
Wood has been starting at SS since the Aybar injury.
only one game
What about the Angels going back to the Cubs and rehashing the Lee conversation and then maybe adding in Theriot?
Defensively, there is no doubt Brandon Wood can handle the position and handle it well. The problem is, he still isn’t hitting in the majors. That said, he isn’t a big difference from Everett, is cheaper and clearly has upside with his bat.
I agree. Think it’s easier to find a 3rd baseman than it is a SS. Let Wood play there for now. All we need is for Izturis OR Aybar to come back soon. Between Wood and one of them the hole should be covered – at least until the other one is healthy.
The worst thing the team could do is get too jumpy and make a bad decision that compromises the future of the organization. I’m all for taking on salaries that expire at the end of the year. Beyond that, stay pat and see what you have.
For what it’s worth – this is a pretty typical of the Angels. Seems like they lose players in bunches every season. Last year you had 4 out of the projected starting 6 pitchers unavailable at the start of the year (Lackey, Santana, Escobar and Adenhart). Then they lost Hunter, Guerrero and Rivera. Losing Morales this year really hurts but Napoli is filling in just fine so far. Have to cross our fingers that Mathis can hit when he gets back.
How about Alex Gonzalez?
Please trade for Cedeno or Crosby.
I really don’t think Crosby is cut out for full time duty at short any more and Cedeno is really punchless at the plate.
A’s fan here, you DO NOT WANT CROSBY; or was that sarcasm?
It wasn’t sarcasm, I was just saying that I don’t want either of these guys on the Pirates anymore.
Got it. I was under the impression that you were an Angels fan hoping that they trade for Crosby.
Cesar Izturis for Michael Kohn
That just is never going to happen. Kohn will be on the major league roster this season and is pitching well. The Angels need bullpen help just as much (probably more) than any other spot so I cannot really see them giving up relief pitching for Cesar Izturis.
Augie Ojeda for… nothing, really.
If the Giants picked up just about all of Renteria’s remaining salary, I wonder if the Angels would be interested. The Giants infield is crowded all of a sudden and it seems like Renteria would be the odd man out. No way you sit down Sandoval, Posey, Uribe or Sanchez right now…
Wood at Shortstop for now. Get a decent hitting third basemen. Platoon at first.
With Uribe leading the team in HRs and now batting fourth, the Giants could consider dealing Renteria. Renteria is an expensive rental, but the Angels would hold a club option for 2011 and could have him for just this season. He’s having a hard time staying healthy, but he’s hitting well when he’s in the lineup and he’s just come off a rehab assignment and is ready to resume his role as starting SS.
“hes having a hard time staying healthy” and so are the angels…so why would they want another player who is a huge health risk??
They may need a first baseman… They may need a third baseman… They may need a shortstop…
They may need to just plan for next year at some point.
2 games out of 1st place, no reason not to try at this point and see if you can win the crapshoot that is the playoffs.
You may need to follow baseball or read an article before taking your valuable time to comment.
And what, pray tell, did I say in my comment that proves to you that I don’t follow baseball?
Well for one all the injuries are not expected to carry into next year, so having to plan for next year just wouldnt make sense in relation to the announced injuries. More importantly as stated before they are trading places with Texas for the top of the division, the idea on planning for next year just doesnt make sense. It just seemed clear that you either hadnt read the standing recently or perhaps had some issues with your reading comprehension.
Yankees420 was responding to the original poster of the comment. The original poster was the one who said they should give up and try for next year. You are bashing the wrong poster.
Thank you.
I love the irony in you saying “perhaps [you] had some issues with your reading comprehension” after not realizing, or perhaps not comprehending, that I was advocating against the Angels planning for next year. Maybe the double negative I used threw you off? I don’t know, but I can put it in different terms for you: The Angels have every reason to try to win their division (in spite of their injuries) and then see if they can make a deep post-season run because the playoffs are a crapshoot. Better?
You really should take a closer look at what people wrote before you start tossing around insults about “reading comprehension.”
The playoffs are kind of a crap shoot, but the AL West could be won by a team that’s just so much worse than the other playoff teams that the odds are hugely stacked against them. The AL West always has that chance because it’s only four teams, one of which was run by Bavasi, one of which is rebuilding, and one of which punts whenever it’s not potential championship caliber. But the Angels have big, big holes, and most of their wins this year came before Morales and Aybar went down. So yeah, color me pessimistic. I think it will be hard for them to take the division without a bigger move than is suggested here, and while the playoffs are a crap shoot, I think this team in the playoffs is like laying your money on snake eyes.
I would like to see the Braves trade Yunel Escobar to the Angels for Kazmir.
As an Angels fan, I would love to see that too. But I can’t imagine the Braves would be willing to take on all that salary (pro-rated 8MM this year, 12MM next year, 13.5MM option with 2.5MM buyout for 2012, per cots) and also give up a decent SS with 3 years of team control remaining.
What about Escobar for Reckling and Trout?
Escobar is an average SS. not worth Reckling or Trout, let alone both. If you want Trout, I’d start with Kris Medlen and go 3 or 4 more prospects from there. To put it into a BRaves fan’s narrow perspective. He’s the next Jason Heyward, but with less power and much more speed and less K’s.
Just like I would like to see the A’s trade Eric Chavez for Albert Pujols and Jack Crust for Adrian Gonzalez. Joey, with all due respect, what’s the point of even mentioning that? It would never happen.
Well if Wood stays at short, then why not trade Wilson for Callaspo, because earlier this season Kansas City wanted a catcher and Wilson is a decent catcher, plus now they can bring Alex Gorden up and Callaspo will be a good player to fill in at 3rd.
Once again, non-Angels fans suggesting a course of action that’s not in the best interest for the Angels. When will you all learn? It’s the same argument over and over again.
– Why would the Angels trade their prospects away for a temporary solution at SS? Brandon Wood can play good defense at SS. He’s not hitting right now, but neither is anyone available on waivers. If the Angels trade for a shortstop, what happens when Izzy and Aybar are back? What do they do with Wood.
– It’s the same darn argument for 1B. Why would the Angels trade for Paul Konerko when the guy doesn’t hit a lick outside of his homer field in Chicago? Mike Napoli is hitting well and doesn’t cost us any prospects.
Idiot East Coast media perpetuating idiot trade ideas concerning the Angels and are backed by non-Angel fans that have no pulse concerning the innerworkings of the organization, its style of play or its minor league depth.
Generally agree with your post and I do urge caution. However, Napoli at 1st base may not be a good long-term solution. Mathis is a career 600 OPS hitter. Not someone you want catching the next 90 games. Now, in 2010 he has shown dramatic improvement. If he can hit for LA production then Napoli can stay at 1st. However, if he reverts to his 2005 – 2009 form then you will want Napoli behind the plate at least half the time (and preferably more).
You could platoon Napoli with someone at 1st base on the days he doesn’t catch. I don’t know who it would be though. Trumbo might be OK but it’s hardly a for sure thing.
If Konerko only cost money our best lineup would look like (assuming Aybar and Izturis get healthy in the next 2 weeks):
Izturis – 3B
Abreu – RF
Konerko – 1B
Hunter – CF
Matsui – DH
Napoli – C
Rivera – LF
Kendrick – 2B
Aybar – SS
That’s not bad at all. You take on about 7M or so in 2010 contracts. Possibly land a pick if you decide to offer Konerko arbitration or maybe bring him back as a DH in 2011.
Konerko is headed for type A free agency. The White Sox want much more than salary relief for him. They’ll want the Angels to take on the rest of his salary and two B level prospects, along the lines of Trumbo and Chatwood.
Call up Gary Patchett.
How about picking up Inge at third. He is great fielder and has a good stick. He wouldn’t cost much. Big improvement over Brandon (hitting .198) Wood.