Though they've acquired Dan Haren and Alberto Callaspo this month and reached an agreement for Derrek Lee eight days ago, the Angels may become sellers in the wake of Joel Pineiro's rib-cage strain yesterday. The injury will knock the righty out for six to eight weeks, writes Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times, and GM Tony Reagins is now open to trading veterans for prospects.
DiGiovanna speculates that Bobby Abreu, Brian Fuentes, Hideki Matsui, and Maicer Izturis might interest contenders. Abreu, Fuentes, and Matsui would be tough to move, and could be August trade candidates. Abreu is signed at $9MM for next year and may have another $9MM salary vest for 2012. The 36-year-old is hitting just .253/.347/.416. Fuentes' strikeout rate is back up, but he's been homer-prone and has over $3MM left on his contract. Matsui's market is limited by his DH profile, though he has tallied 122 innings in left field this year. He's been streaky this year, with his best work coming in April and June.
Despite an offensive downturn this year, Izturis should generate interest given his ability to play all around the infield. He's signed through 2012.
Would love to see Juan Rivera on that list.
^^What he Said^^ And Mathis, too. I’m scared that Scioscia’s man crush on Jeff coupled w/ their abundance of catchers will make them move Napoli, and to be honest, I think he’s a cornerstone guy, especially since his D has improved a bit behind the dish, and because he’s really been great at 1B and could spell Morales next year a bit assuming we don’t get a DH/1B this winter.
Oh, and send Fuentes ANYWHERE. I don’t know who’ll close, but I just don’t want him.
Who’s going to commit to Abreu’s salary for next year the way he’s been playing? Who feels a burning need for Matsui at his performance? And given their ages and dropoff, who’s going to be totally confident that either of those guys isn’t just done.
As for Fuentes, for the money, I would want someone that doesn’t make things so interesting in the late innings.
Matsui has a high value to one team and one team only, and that team is the Yankees. If the Yanks cant land Dunn then Matsui should be our priority (if Angels sell).
I think the Yankees spend enough money on nostalgia already.
It makes sense to win now, it’s stupid not to make the move for Matsui who’s only real value is with the Yankees, you think he has value with say, the Astros? I think not! They didn’t name him the WS MVP for nothing!!
That was last year in a small stretch during which he was healthy. He hasn’t been good this year. And your Astros comment is just silly.
THAT WAS MY POINT, he said he doesnt have much value and I said yea his value is with the Yankees where he has been, why would he have value with a club that he’s never played as AN EXAMPLE the Astros!
Your point makes little to no sense.
It makes some sense, you’re just being arrogant.
No, it really doesn’t. “I said yea his value is with the Yankees where he has been, why would he have value with a club that he’s never played as AN EXAMPLE the Astros!”
My arrogance did not make that nonsensical gibberish.
He wouldn’t be a fulltime player anyway, he’d only DH vs righties. The Yankees are looking for a left-handed DH…
Cashman get Matsui back ASAP! How do you not resign your WS MVP? I can understand not signing Damon and trading Melky but Matsui! I’m glad to see the Angels out of contention. They’ve been spoiled all these years by being the only good team in that division. MATSUI THE YANKEES WOULD LOVE YOU BACK!
Matsui wanted to play the OF, that is the reason he went to the Angels. Who would play Matsui over Gardner?
No, did we say we would play Matsui over Gardner?? No! Matsui was clutch, he gets big hits and homers when you need them. Yeah he can play left every once in a while so Gardy can get a day off, but he will also be used as the DH.
Well obviously they weren’t going to play him in the field, they didn’t sign him. Having Matsui in the field risk him getting injured and affecting you defense.
My thoughts exactly, i dont care if he is doing poor on the angels, he belongs with the yanks and should of been brought back. Us yankees love Matsui!!! Hope he comes back home!!
useless artical…
NOBODY wants these guys and the contract..(Izzy) the exception..
How great would it be for the Yanks to get Matsui back? That’s the one thing that has killed us, Godzilla was so clutch when you needed a big hit or a homerun. I don’t care whether he plays leftfield maybe a few games (but hopefully just DH) Cashman should get Matsui IF they don’t acquire Adam Dunn, who I think they REALLY should get, it makes sense.
They almost made a trade for Lee the same day. You cannot tell me that they are all of the sudden giving up just because pineiro got hurt.
They’re 8.5 games back in the division and have no shot at the wild card. I’d say it’s about time to call it a day. The Haren trade will help them next year, and Morales will be back.
And when did they almost make a Lee deal?
Derrek Lee denied a deal to LAA yesterday
It was reported yesterday. That has nothing to do with when the trade was proposed. It could have been 3 weeks ago for all we know.
For some reason I was thinking Cliff (hence the confusion). Derrek Lee wouldn’t help anything anyway.
I figured…and I agree,
Lee declined the trade to LAA before the Angels turned around and traded for Callaspo. The Angels aren’t going to be able to unload any of these guys (unless the Yanks come looking for Matsui or Abreu to DH)… I think they’re going to have to wait for the offseason and gear up for 2011.
Pineiro was just the icing on the cake – now they have to somehow patch together a 5-man rotation for the rest of the way. The playoffs were already a near impossibility before Pineiro hit the DL – after last night, they’re sitting right at .500, 8.5 games behind Texas and 10 games behind in the loss column. This ship isn’t getting turned around this year, Reagins would be smart to trade any of those guys if he can for prospects, or even salary relief to make some moves in the offseason.
They were players for upgrades a few weeks back. Now they are clearly out of it. The team needs to retool and move as much salary as possible to clear the path for next year.
Juan Rivera has a decent contract and would be attractive to a team like the Red Sox who need outfield depth.
Ellsbury is beginning his AAA rehab on Friday and it is expected to be short. That will give them back the starting season OF back of Ells/Cameron and Drew for the 1st time since a short 2 game series in early June and 10th game all season and they have some decent 4th OF types in Hermida, McDonald and the rookie Nava they already demoted. The desperate situation for Sox needing and OF has sailed.
Victor Martinez has finally returned, Beckett, Hermida, Lowrie and expecting Pedroia by the 2nd week of August. Only thing Boston will be looking for now is backup catching for this year that could start next year and BP middle relievers that i can see, unless asking prices take a all of a sudden tumble and Epstein finds a steal on a power bat under team control beyond this season.
About Abreu mentioned above as a trade chip.. I can’t see it, even if almost given away. He is due remaining portion of 9M this year, 9M next year and has that 9M option for 2012 that is not all that difficult to achieve. He’s pretty much a DH for most teams, or below average RF now anyway that would limit him to DH. With both Vlad and Ortiz sure to hit the market and doubt either will even get 9M as DH’s in the off season, both having far better season’s, just how are they going to peddle Abreu and his salary off on anyone?
Can see someone maybe taking a dive on Fuentes with so many teams needing relievers and LH most of all, even picking up the remaining 3M or so of the 9M he is owed this year. The NYY come to mind right off with him.
Also with the poster above on moving one of the catchers, whether it be Napoli, or Mathis. One of these days (probably soon) the teams that have ML talent will have developed their own and the window will be shut for teams like Colorado and Anaheim that have been sitting on 2 talented ones for so long.
Agree with all your points, save one. I think Rivera is a better 4th than Hermida and less of an injury risk than Drew. I don’t know enough about McDonald to comment (I’m an Angel fan). He’s a right handed hitter that pulls everything so he would do well against the monster at Fenway.
Off topic, but for players over 150 PA in a single season, did Brandon Wood have the lowest OPS ever? Im sure he’s gotta be in the top 10 at least. I havent seen anything that bad in recent memory.
Natalie Wood had a higher OPS and she’s been dead for 30years
To be fair, they performed exactly the same on a sink or swim test in California.
Id love to see Matsui back in the Yankee pinstripes. They need a DH and im sure cerelli will stay catch on occasion. It would be ironic if Matsui returns to the Yanks..Id love to see it. He helped the Yanks win last year with some big time clutch hitting..
Man, it hurt reading this article but it is what it is. The combination of injuries and a bunch of our guys not playing to their potential along TX tearing it up, it’s just been disappointing all around. At least Reagins tried so you can’t knock him for that. Out of the names on the list, I’d hate to see Iztures go. Rivera should really be on it though. They need to get something for him now and go all out for Crawford in the offseason. Go Halos! (next season, that is)
I hear yah man. As a fellow Angels fan it really sucks to see how poorly the team is doing but like you said, it is what it is.
I would be pretty bummed if they traded Izturis too. When he’s healthy he’s clutch – it’s just that he always finds a way to get injured 🙁
Depending on whatever trades Kenny is looking at right now, I wouldn’t mind the White Sox acquiring Matsui. He has incredible experience in the post season and is the same type of personality as most of the sox clubhouse.
Izturis would be a great pickup for the Padres. With him having a down year what would the Angels want for him?
Izzy is signed to a 3-year deal at a reasonable return. Apparently the Pirates asked for Izturis in return for Garrett Jones, and the Angels said “no way”. Scioscia loves Izturis; I think it would take at least one big prospect for the Angels to move him.
Izzy for Logan Forsythe or Edinson Rincon?
As much as I love the guy it’s highly doubtful Godzilla would be better than the Miranda/Thames platoon. Matsui has been better than Miranda (tiny sample size) but significantly worse than Thames.
I got a deal that would work out for both teams….
Angels get:
-Jeremy Hermida (young talented kid with potential)
-Manny Delcarmen
-B(ish) level prospectAnthony Rizzo, Josh Reddick, Derrik Gibson
Red Sox get:
-Bobby Abreu
-Fernando Rodney
-6 million bucks
The Angels get an OF who can play now and is under team control for this year and next for less than it will cost them for Abreu. They also get rid of Rodney’s 8 ish million that he’s getting paid for being seriously overrated. They get Delcarmen who’s under control for a couple more years (not sure exactly but i think he’s a free agent after 2012 or 13) and they get a prospect who will be ready to contribute beginning next year at a position where they are weaker in their own system.
The Red Sox get Abreu who can play left until Ellsbury returns and even when that happens all three of their OFer’s have some sort of health concerns. They have him for this year and next and at a pretty hefty tag; but at least they have a backup plan if any one of their OFers go down. It also gives them SOME flexibility to trade Ellsbury at the end of the year (if in fact they want to.. like some reporters want you to think) *I hope they keep him personally, and i don’t see them getting what they see as equal value for him.* They get Rodney for this year and next and hopefully John Ferrell can work some majic with him. At the least he will be a valuable middle reliever who can keep close games relatively close and keep big leads relatively big (i view this as an expensive upgrade to Delcarment) The cash will offset some of the pain that would be incurred financially with the contracts for next year.
It’s kind of a long shot; but hey, im bored…
loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool
No.
yes we like Izturis for my padres.
Give up Kyle Blanks plus another decent prospect.
no thanks.maybe we talk in another time.
that might be a little bit of a stretch, Izturis is a good player bt Blanks and then some is a little ridiculousl.. i just can’t stand him as a sox fan seems like he’s always in the right place at the right time.
how about Izturis for
Pedroia
Bard
and 10 million
Blanks will miss the rest of this year and most of next with TJ surgery. This would be a good trade for the Padres if they are wanting to win now.
What the Angels should’ve done before this injury was call up Bourjos and traded Rivera for a bag of peanuts. Whatever, how the mighty have fallen eh? At one point last season, the Angels put out a line up on the field where every batter was hitting .300. As of now, the highest is Aybar with……*drum roll*….279! We need to fire Hatcher NOW!
You realize Hatcher was the hitting coach when they were all batting .300 too though, right? 🙂
agreed…Guess it’s a “what have you done for me lately” world.
haha; yes the man who was the coach of the offense when they were all hitting .300 is at fault when none of them are….
Or it could be that they let go of Figgins, Morales is injured, a couple players were in a career year batting avg wise and a few others have seen their younger days so to speak.
Fire Hatcher… he’s such a bad coach.. what a bum..
Exactly 🙂
Just seems like a lot of negative things have happened to this team this year. There’s no excuse for it of course and there’s always next year 🙂
Texas has won ONE playoff game in their entire existence so the least we can do is let them rent out the western title this year 😉
In all honesty though they have a lot of really good players and if they make it to the playoffs I hope they beat the crap outta the Yankee’s and/or Red Sox if they play them (and I hope Vladdy and Bengie are the one doing all the damage too!)
agreed…Guess it’s a “what have you done for me lately” world.
haha; yes the man who was the coach of the offense when they were all hitting .300 is at fault when none of them are….
Or it could be that they let go of Figgins, Morales is injured, a couple players were in a career year batting avg wise and a few others have seen their younger days so to speak.
Fire Hatcher… he’s such a bad coach.. what a bum..
I think Howie Kendrick has a higher chance of being let go than Izturis. Scioscia loves Izturis. They just signed his new contract this past offseason. With Callapso, the Angels definitely have too many middle infielders. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Frandsen, Wood or Kendrick go. Also, need to get rid of a catcher, especially if they think they are going to call up Conger next year.
They are not dealing Kendrick, if Wood had any value sure, Frandsen is a possibility.
it’s unfortunate to concede, but this season is a wash. Between the moves we made and the restructuring that is sure to take place this offseason i’d say next year will bold much better. This is the one chance for Texas, they can’t afford club options or even arbitrations as per Nolan Ryan, they certainly won’t match the spree the Angels go on this offseason. Clear the books of what we can, keep the essentials and move on.
Deal Rivera, get ready for Crawford..
Untouchable Angels: Morales, Weaver, Santana, Haren, Jepsen, Willits (He’s really good at bunting, late inning defensive/running substitute)
I wouldn’t mind anyone else getting traded, as long as it helps the team.
dedcent list but some are kind of ehh… i think the first 4 on your list are good, and if we are talkng prospects too then Trout is definately untouchable.. But if you are telling me that if some team wanted Jepsen Willits and some other guys for a superstar that Reagins would say that they are untouchable? idk haha.. i see what you are saying though
I feel like Jepsen can become a key part of the Angels bulllpen in the future. Maybe I went a bit too fat claiming Willits untouchable, but I certainly think the Angels need to keep Jepsen to hold down the bullpen.
And yeah, Trout definitely is untouchable.
i understand that the angels are falling out of it a bit. but i will not buy that joel freakin pineiro will b the reason to become sellers from buyers.
His injury isn’t the exact reason but when injuries start to pile up, you have to think about the next season. It is the Angels but still, at this point, our rotation will be Haren-Weaver-Santana-Bell-???..Palmer. 2011 here we come! Plus our outfield is horrid.
i hear ya. that is a great potential starting 5. thats how i read it tho that he was the make or break point. looks like the rangers keep getting better and keep winning. just got to think where the angles would b with morales still in the lineup.
Angels have a few things that need to be addressed in 2011. All moves should point to them …
1. Improve outfield defense. Primarily range. Our fly ball pitchers have been killed by our outfield. Same basic problem with the rest of the lineup. Miss having athletes. Too many guys are slow with bad range.
2. Do something about the bullpen. This is actually the hardest to accomplish. As we have seen with our big bullpen commitments (Shields, Fuentes, Rodney, Speier) simply spending money isn’t good enough. Angels have to find the right arms. The bullpen is my #1 reason for why the Angels suck this year.
3. The Angels don’t have much money to spend. Losing Shields and Fuentes will save about $15m. Speier is another $5m. However, we have big raises coming to Weaver. More modest arbitration raises to Morales, Kendrick, Aybar, Napoli, Mathis, and Callapso. Other contract escalators to Haren, Kazmir, etc, etc. Net result is that the Angels have ZERO dollars to spend if they keep the budget the same. The only real solution is move guys like Abreu (my top priority if I’m Reagins). Need to clear off money to bring in a more athletic outfielder.
Yah don’t forget the 11 mil going to Matthews as well.
Here’s the thing, we do have quite a bit of money left over from guys like Tex, Vlad, Figgins and Lackey. Earning 12.5, 15, 5.7 and 10 mil respectively. Morales probably won’t get a massive raise because of his injury this year but the rest will with Napoli getting the biggest because of him showing his ability to play multiple positions. Rodney needs to be our closer, its the oddest thing that he doesn’t pitch well but when put as a closer gets it done. Fuentes can go and probably will because his option wont likely vest. Shedding some dollars right now will help our free agent targets should be Crawford and Werth both are great bats and great defenders. If we are stuck with Bobby we should put his lazy behind at DH. He got paid, got comfortable and got lazy.
At the beginning of the season I would have agreed with the Rodney thing…but Im about ready so say “see ya” with that guy too. Shields, Fuentes, they have to go…there terrible…
Take Wood with ya too for the troubles…frandsen has proven himself leaps and bounds over wood..
I dont know How much that would clear on the books, but at least they would be gone…
At the beginning of the season I would have agreed with the Rodney thing…but Im about ready so say “see ya” with that guy too. Shields, Fuentes, they have to go…there terrible…
Take Wood with ya too for the troubles…frandsen has proven himself leaps and bounds over wood..
I dont know How much that would clear on the books, but at least they would be gone…
Yup, exactly – I’ve seen way too many fly balls hit to Rivera and Abreu that should have been caught. They either don’t get a good jump, take the wrong path or just plain old aren’t running fast enough to get them. It’s been very frustrating watching them this season. I hate to say it, but even Torii seems to be slipping a bit.
A very good example of how a good defense is paramount in winning a ball game is to watch the last series with Texas. Cruz and Hamilton were tracking down everything! Guess you gotta tip your cap…
As an Angels fan I wouldn’t be disappointed to see any of them go. I read a few days ago that the Pirates wanted Maicer for Garrett Jones. Maybe that would be a good idea. Rivera or Abreu wouldn’t be missed especially with Reggie hitting well and Bourjos tearing up the minors. Not to mention Mike Trout, who could see an early appearance given the age and lack of defense from our outfield (excl. Hunter). Its time to give the younger more athletic guys a chance. Guys like Terry Evans, Mark Trumbo, Nate Sutton and Peter Bourjos.
We Have Lost Our Way Of Pitching, Speed and Defense……we are now down to pitching……starting pitching…..injured starting pitching.
As an Angels fan I wouldn’t be disappointed to see any of them go. I read a few days ago that the Pirates wanted Maicer for Garrett Jones. Maybe that would be a good idea. Rivera or Abreu wouldn’t be missed especially with Reggie hitting well and Bourjos tearing up the minors. Not to mention Mike Trout, who could see an early appearance given the age and lack of defense from our outfield (excl. Hunter). Its time to give the younger more athletic guys a chance. Guys like Terry Evans, Mark Trumbo, Nate Sutton and Peter Bourjos.
We Have Lost Our Way Of Pitching, Speed and Defense……we are now down to pitching……starting pitching…..injured starting pitching.
Why would they trade Izturis? They have him for the following two seasons, and they’re going to be competitive…they shouldn’t trade a good player who will help them.
It really sucks to give up on the season halfway through it, especially since the Angels had been dominating the past 3 or 4 years. I believe the team was doomed since the beginning thanks to horrible decisions made by management, yes, that’s you Reagins. A lot of us called it when they didn’t re-sign key players both on and off the field like Figgins, Oliver, and Vlad, and by stupid signings like Matsui’s or the ridiculous extension given to Abreu. I’ll give Reagins kudos for Dan Haren, but he needs to make this ‘selling mode’ work and get rid of all the players we don’t really need, just as many people have been commenting. I wouldn’t like to see the Angels going over this again next year.
It’s time for Reagins to prove his worth. The Rangers will only get better from now on, I expect Arte and Reagins to form a WS team if they want to keep the 40,000 fans who go to the big A every game to support their team. Get it done, son.