MLBTR readers won't be surprised if the Angels emerge as one of the league's top teams in 2012. More than a quarter of some 19,000 voters said yesterday that the Angels are the likeliest AL team to turn things around in 2012 (2011 playoff teams excluded). Here are today's Angels-related links via Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com…
- Angels GM Jerry Dipoto said he “absolutely” expects Bobby Abreu to open the season with the Angels. Some baseball people believe there’s a real chance the Angels will work hard to trade the outfielder/DH before Opening Day.
- Torii Hunter said he hopes to re-sign with the Angels after the season, when his contract expires. But if a new deal doesn’t make sense, the outfielder will look to sign with a championship caliber team. "Right now, I'm focused on winning," Hunter said. "Money? I've made money. I want a ring.”
- The Angels appear to be seeking a left-handed reliever, just one year after signing Scott Downs and Hisanori Takahashi.
The lowest he will go would be like 7mil for a championship caliber team or 20 mil for the O’s ..
Where does 4th place team come in?
It’s not even about how much he is willing to take, it’s about the Angels not having room for him. Bourjos, Wells and Trout should be patrolling the outfield this time next year. A LOT can happen between now and then though, I know Bourjos has mentioned getting offseason surgery to clean up his hip… Trout may fizzle this season and Vernon may retire… Haha
Good form, Mr. Aguirre! I concur!
Good form, Mr. Aguirre! I concur!
Wells should never be patrolling any outfield
I think Bobby still holds a lot of value for this team, especially until Kendrys gets his timing back. As for Torii? It’s just going to be too crowded an outfield I’m afraid. Trout will be a fixture by next year and I doubt that Bourjos is going anywhere. (We all KNOW Wells isn’t).
Thanks for the memories, Torii…but I think this is it.
The guy has been one of the most consistent performers for the Angels for four years now and you people are talking about him like he is trash that needs to be taken out. I don’t get it
I haven’t seen anyone say he was trash.
You’re getting a little ahead of yourself there. No one thinks he’s trash; he’s 37. I mean, let’s be honest, I predict he won’t play more than 130 games in 2012. I love the guy, but he’s 37. One year contract is probably all he’ll get, and it will likely be from the Angels in a part time role.
Not trash, he just doesn’t fit anywhere. Can’t DH with Trumbo/Pujols/Morales for first/third/dh, can’t outfield because you’ve seen it.
At 37 years old, it’s unlikely he gets more than a 1 year contract, and with anyone other than the Angels. He’s 37.
I would love to keep Hunter.. The only problem is WELLS! I highly doubt Angels will re-sign him. With Trout coming up and Trumbo/Morales covering DH and WELLS in LF..Really no where Hunter can play next season..He will be in Abreu’s position if he re-signs.
Wells is in LF though. I don’t think Torii can play LF. If Trumbo can make a good transition to 3B, that will open up more options. I think Wells will have a much better year now that the pressure is off and Pujols is hitting 3rd.
But at the same time, Wells will be another year older in 2013, and with that his playing time could decrease just from losing a step and possibly spending a sint or 2 on the DL because of his age, which is what I am predicting from Hunter in 2012.
So you could say there might still be room because Trout can switch between RF and LF, and Hunter could be in RF part time.
Then, there’s Morales and whether or not he will be able to play 150 games a year anymore. That could open up a spot for Hunter as well.
Since 2013 is Hunter’s age 38 season, I highly doubt he’ll be able to play 150 games ever again. Mix that with his team first approach and he could very likely accept a one year deal as a part time player.
I think it’s possible.
It’s pretty interesting how quickly Torii signed with the Angels back in the ’07-’08 offseason and how unremarkable his tenure has been with the Angels. They haven’t done anything memorable in his four years on the team and while his performance has remained consistent, it hasn’t been nearly worth the $90 million they’ve paid him.
Won 100 games 08, ALCS 09. That’s not bad. His first three years in Anaheim he had three of his best seasons, offensively. Even last year he had his 5th best OPS + (with his best two years the previous two) and he was the best defensive right fielder. Other than that, no..nothing remarkable.
Torii Hunter is one of the main reasons the Angels won 100 games in 2008, and made the playoffs that year and 2009.
He’s had key hits and HR’s, and saved a ton of runs in the OF for them during every regular season and playoff series he’s played with the Angels.
The Angels haven’t done anything more memorable than that, but Torii Hunter is far from being the one to blame for that.
Vladdy’s inconsistency in the playoffs, mixed with a bottom half of the lineup that was never selective enough late in the count is why the Angels couldn’t break through and get back to the World Series.
Players like Torii Hunter don’t just get paid big bucks just to hit the baseball, they also get paid to catch the baseball, run, throw, and be a marketable presence.
Torii Hunter has done just about everything asked of him. He was well worth the $90 million.
Hunter is actually one of the few signings that has been worth his contract. He’s had some amazing seasons over the past five years. To say he has been “unremarkable” is fairly ignorant given his stat lines since he’s signed. He just doesn’t get any hype because he’s not an elite player (and he wasn’t getting paid like one) and because he’s not on the Yankees or Red Sox.
Okay you’re right I wasn’t considering fielding. His fielding and bat combined were definitely worth the contract. Major oversight on my part.
It’s a shame Tony Reagins made the acquisition of Wells. Not only because he’s taking up $25M+ annually on the payroll, and Mike Napoli is lighting it up in Texas, but because now we can’t re-sign Torii, which I really wanted. I two-year, $18M deal would have sufficed for both sides I would assume and Trout would already be playing. I wish there was room for Torii next season because he’s a good player and a great leader for this team.
Stupid Reagins.
im going to be laughing when wells bounces back this season and we go to the world series.
It’s a shame Tony Reagins made the acquisition of Wells. Not only because he’s taking up $25M+ annually on the payroll, and Mike Napoli is lighting it up in Texas, but because now we can’t re-sign Torii, which I really wanted. I two-year, $18M deal would have sufficed for both sides I would assume and Trout would already be playing. I wish there was room for Torii next season because he’s a good player and a great leader for this team.
Stupid Reagins.