Angels Trade Rumors
July 2
Orange County Register
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John Lackey said he has never met his boyhood hero. But he might get that chance this winter. With Lackey headed toward free agency, he could find the Texas Rangers- and their club president, Nolan Ryan - knocking on his door as one of his suitors. In that situation, would Lackey have the guts to tell the pitching icon, "No?" "I'm not sure who does," Lackey said with a laugh. "It'd be cool, no doubt (to meet Ryan under those circumstances). But I'm not even thinking that far ahead." Lackey said that "the Rangers were my team growing up" about 150 miles west of Dallas in Abilene, Texas. But he there are "a lot of factors" that will come into play beyond the chance to pitch close to home. ..."
July 1
Orange County Register
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The Angels' shopping list in the weeks before the trade deadline couldn't be more obvious if they posted it on Craigslist. Relief pitching tops that list. But Angels closer Brian Fuentes doesn't see the need as being that urgent. "I feel we can win with what we have," Fuentes said. "But I know that's the front office's job. They're always looking for ways to improve the club. I'm sure they'd like to add (Tim) Lincecum, (Jake) Peavy) and (CC) Sabathia too if they could. But we have some good starting pitchers already. "I understand you're always looking to improve your club in any area that you can. But I'm real comfortable with what we have here." The Angels do have an improved bullpen ..."
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Baseball is doing better than most businesses. But you know something's amiss when even the Yankees are claiming they can't add salary or expand their payroll. Ultimately, the $200 million team just might find a few mil in the seat cushions. But for now anyway, they're saying they are tapped out. The same may be true for the Cubs, yet another storied big-market club that may not spend this summer. The Cubs' situation could be compromised by the glacial pace of the team's sale. At present, their player dealings appear to be in the same sort of limbo as the sale, meaning their big in-season acquisition may be limited to recovering star Aramis Ramirez. The Rangers also are believed to have ..."
June 22
Los Angeles Times
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The Angels have "no interest" in pitcher Pedro Martinez, General Manager Tony Reagins said Sunday. Reagins said the Angels chose not to pursue Martinez for baseball reasons and not financial ones. The Angels scouted Martinez at his workout last week in the Dominican Republic. The Dodgers did not scout the workout, and Manager Joe Torre said that the team has not discussed Martinez since spring training. Reagins did not elaborate on his comments, but a baseball source familiar with reports from the workout said Martinez's fastball was clocked most often in the 85-mph range. The source, who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to publicly discuss scouting reports, said ..."
June 21
Los Angeles Times
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Orange County: Nice for Holliday? Matt Holliday grew up in Oklahoma and has a home in Colorado. So where did he rent a home last winter? Laguna Beach. Loved it. So did his wife. So maybe, just maybe, the Hollidays could move to Orange County for good next year. If Jason Bay stays with the Boston Red Sox, Holliday would be the best outfielder available in free agency, the one acquisition that would allow the Angels to bid farewell to Vladimir Guerrero without too much of a fuss. "I obviously enjoy Southern California," Holliday said. "They're a winning franchise. It's a great place to live. "Every guy would be interested in playing for an organization like that." Beyond that, who knows? ..."
June 20
Los Angeles Times
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Last Monday, Manager Mike Scioscia said he would be "very surprised" if Kelvim Escobar wasn't in the Angels' bullpen this Monday, the day the right-hander is eligible to be activated from the disabled list. But Scioscia did not seem very surprised Friday when he announced that Escobar's return had been pushed back to "next weekend, at the earliest." Escobar, whose surgically repaired shoulder did not respond well enough after his June 6 start for him to remain in the rotation, has not even begun playing catch. But he said he has not suffered any kind of setback. "I feel good," Escobar said. "They just don't want me to push through it. They want me to be very careful." With setup man Scot ..."
June 19
Newark Star-Ledger
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Yankees scouts will be on hand Friday in the Dominican Republic to watch free agent Pedro Martinez throw. However, according to reports, the Yankees are not interested in signing the former 37-year-old former Mets and Red Sox ace. The Yankees -- who are going to be joined at the session by representatives from the Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Angels and Chicago Cubs -- are going to be present "as a courtesy to Martinez's agent," according to the Daily News. Fern Cuza, Martinez's agent, also represents Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. The Daily News report also cited a scout who saw Martinez pitch last week and said the three-time Cy Young winner had a "pretty good shot" of catching on with a ..."
June 19
Orange County Register
columnist Mark Saxon
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As this Angels' season moves steadily along, decisions that could change the team's direction for years to come loom larger and larger. Is Vladimir Guerrero's decline so steep that he's playing his final season in Anaheim? Should the team bet on John Lackey continuing to be its ace and open the vault to lock him up for a handful of years? What about Kelvim Escobar and Bobby Abreu? They're all weighty questions, but the Angels' biggest free agency conundrum might surround one of their smallest players, leadoff man Chone Figgins. Figgins is playing so well and his versatility is so rare that teams could line up to bid for his services this November and Figgins can't wait. Can you blame him? ..."
June 19
New York Daily News
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"Come to daddy." Well, maybe not. Pedro Martinez, who once famously called the Yankees his "daddy" after a tough loss to them, will throw for Yankee scouts in the Dominican Republic today. But the Yanks aren't really interesting in signing him, according to someone familiar with the team's thinking. The Yankees - along with the Rays, Angels and Cubs - will watch Martinez work out, the person said, but it's believed the Yanks are only doing it as a courtesy to Martinez's agent, Fern Cuza, who also represents stars such as Mariano Rivera and Vladimir Guerrero. The news of the Yankees and other teams watching Martinez was first reported by Ken Rosenthal on foxsports.com. Martinez, a ..."
June 16
ESPN.com
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A year ago Tuesday, the Yankees assumed they would offer arbitration to Bobby Abreu, who was on his way toward a season of 20 homers, 100 RBIs, a .296 batting average and a .371 on-base percentage. They assumed that Abreu would sign elsewhere, and then the Yankees would get two picks in compensation. But early in the offseason, Yankees executives -- alarmed by the signs of financial cutbacks throughout the league -- suddenly changed course and declined to offer Abreu arbitration, out of fear that the right fielder would wind up accepting it and getting an award for something in the range of $17-18 million. In the end, Abreu wound up signing a one-year deal for about $5 million. So you can ..."
June 15
SI.com
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The Red Sox now "aren't in a hurry" to trade Brad Penny, who hit the mid-90s in his last start vs. the Yankees, even with John Smoltz seemingly ready to go. While it appears they have too much pitching, they also know there's no such thing. The market also hasn't been great so far for Penny, thanks to his $5 million salary. Perhaps with the pitching market dying, though, he'll begin to look better to someone. • Rockies closer Huston Street is being heavily scouted. Among the teams that need a reliever are the Yankees, Rangers and Angels. The Rays, Cubs and Twins might also consider bullpen help. • The Cardinals continue to scour the market for a bat. • Giants lefty Jonathan Sanchez is on ..."
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With the Angels in search of a reliable reliever, today's draft could give them the opportunity to acquire one without making a trade. It is unusual -- but not unprecedented -- for a team to draft a dominant college reliever and call him up to the majors in the same year, after a few weeks in the minor leagues. The Angels, with five picks before the second round and nine picks in the first five rounds, could take a chance on one. However, scouting director Eddie Bane said he does not envision any reliever who could help the Angels this season. "I don't see anybody out there like that," Bane said. Stanford's Drew Storen is considered the most polished reliever available, and the Angels have ..."
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If the terse answers were any sign, the Angels could be losing their patience with second baseman Howie Kendrick. Manager Mike Scioscia said before Tuesday's game that the Angels would consider sending Kendrick to the minor leagues but not yet. "If a guy's showing progress and moving forward, we'll give him a longer leash," Scioscia said. "That's what we're looking for." After a 6-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, in which Kendrick made a critical baserunning error by apparently losing track of the number of outs and getting doubled off first base, Scioscia said little about the play. "I think it was obvious," Scioscia said. "It's disappointing." Did the manager speak to Kendrick about the ..."
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Kelvim Escobar, in what is expected to be his final minor league rehabilitation start before rejoining the Angels, gave up five runs -- four earned -- and eight hits in five innings for triple-A Salt Lake against Reno on Monday night. The right-hander, who had shoulder surgery and sat out the 2008 season, threw 87 pitches, 46 for strikes. His fastball was clocked from 91 to 94 mph, but he had trouble commanding his off-speed pitches. He walked two and struck out one. Escobar is penciled in to start Saturday in Detroit. It would be his first big league game since he pitched against Boston in the 2007 American League division series. Escobar, who was shut down for most of April because of an ..."
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Kelvim Escobar made his second rehab start for the Angels' Class-A affiliate in Rancho Cucamonga a strong one Wednesday, throwing six shutout innings in which he gave up only an infield single, striking out eight and retiring the final 12 men he faced. If there are no setbacks, Escobar, who threw 76 pitches, hitting 95 mph on the stadium radar gun, is likely to make one more rehab start, for triple-A Salt Lake, before rejoining the Angels next week. And that means lean times for the minor leaguers he will leave behind. Escobar is the third major leaguer to play a rehab game for Rancho Cucamonga this season and tradition says the big leaguers have to spring for the postgame clubhouse ..."
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The Angels welcome back their big bopper, Vladimir Guerrero, for a homestand that brings the White Sox and Mariners to Angel Stadium for three games apiece. Guerrero, sidelined since April 15 with a pectoral muscle tear, will be in the designated-hitter role until he's ready to reclaim right field. There is no timetable for his return to full-service duty, but he has made no secret over the years of his preference for playing the total game. "Vlad's ready to swing the bat," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said on Sunday at Dodger Stadium. "We've got him in a bubble-wrap today." The Angels are hoping Guerrero will bust out of his wrap with familiar gusto. He appeared in only eight games, ..."
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The evening was rather warm, and a bit breezy. The fans were languid at times, and understandably so. The kids ran up, down and around the grass slope beyond the box seats. And then one guy stepped to bat, and everyone snapped to attention. He wore an unfamiliar blue shirt, with a random number -- 43 -- on the back. The scoreboard did not display his name. But one look at his gait, his swing, his hair, his smile, and everyone knew. This was Vladimir Guerrero, perhaps the best hitter ever to play for the Angels, in what might well be the final months of his glorious tenure with the Angels. They came, they saw, they cheered wildly. They took pictures with their cellphones and digital ..."
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Bobby Abreu's toe injury could keep him out of action through the weekend, but the outfielder said he should be ready to return to the Angels' lineup Monday at home against the White Sox if everything goes well. Abreu said he suffered a strain of the area between the big toe and the second toe on his left foot at some point near first base while running out a groundout in the first inning of Wednesday night's 1-0 loss to the Mariners. He said he's never had an injury in that area before. "I'm not sure if it happened before I stepped on the base or after," Abreu said. "I felt pinching, but it's not really bad." Abreu said right now it's "hard to go 100 percent," which makes it likely that ..."
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Vladimir Guerrero will begin a three-game minor league rehabilitation assignment with Class A Rancho Cucamonga tonight, and the Angels slugger is expected to be activated for Monday night's game against the Chicago White Sox in Anaheim. How Guerrero bounces back from the torn right chest muscle that has sidelined him since April 16 will go a long way toward determining the Angels' fortunes this season If Guerrero is anything close to the feared masher who hit at least .300 with 25 home runs or more for 11 consecutive seasons -- Lou Gehrig is the only other player to accomplish that feat -- the Angels could have enough firepower to contend for the pennant. If Guerrero suffers a physical ..."
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The Angels aren't planning on seeing right-handed pitcher Dustin Moseley in a game any time soon. He has stopped throwing and returned to Southern California for a series of medical tests designed to see where the pain in his neck and right arm is coming from. The 27-year-old Moseley began the season in the starting rotation and pitched three times before tightness in his right forearm forced him onto the disabled list April 18. He'd been throwing at the club's extended spring training camp in Tempe, Ariz., but that came to a halt last week. "He threw a bullpen session, and he felt OK when he was throwing," manager Mike Scioscia said. "But he didn't bounce back like we'd hoped. He's ..."
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Ticket sales at Class-A Lake Elsinore could receive a nice boost this weekend. Angels slugger Vladimir Guerrero, out since April 16 because of a torn right pectoral muscle, is expected to begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment Friday for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, which begins a four-game series at Lake Elsinore that night. Guerrero, who will probably be activated next Monday, will probably have a big league carpool buddy on Friday. Kelvim Escobar, who joined the Angels in Seattle on Monday after a brief stint at the team's extended spring training camp in Arizona, will resume his rehab assignment for Rancho Cucamonga on Friday. Guerrero began taking batting practice Friday in Texas ..."
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The Angels had a surprise guest in the clubhouse Monday afternoon. Starter Kelvim Escobar joined the club before the series with Seattle at Safeco Field, and he'll throw for manager Mike Scioscia and pitching coach Mike Butcher either today or Wednesday. Assuming all goes well, Escobar will go out on an injury rehabilitation assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga late in the week and would be shooting for an early June return to the Angels rotation. "We want to take a look at him and evaluate how he's doing," Scioscia said. "You can see reports, but you need to see him to make the right evaluation." Escobar, who missed all of last season with a labrum tear in his shoulder, has been ..."
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Help could be on the way for the Angels' beleaguered bullpen, and not only in the form of veteran left-hander Darren Oliver, who is expected to be activated off the disabled list Monday. When Kelvim Escobar returns from shoulder surgery that sidelined him for the 2008 season -- he is expected back in early June -- the Angels maythe right-hander into the bullpen. "There's a possibility he'll come back as a reliever," Manager Mike Scioscia said Saturday. "We want to stretch him out as a starter, evaluate what he's able to do and determine what role is best for him. We're not ruling anything out." Escobar's role will hinge on how the team's relievers are throwing at the time of his return and ..."
April 29
Orange County Register
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Former Mariner/White Sox/Tigers right-hander Freddy Garcia is the latest veteran starting pitcher available - and the Angels have no more interest in him than they have in Pedro Martinez, Mark Mulder, et al. Angels GM Tony Reagins wasn't even aware of Garcia's release by the New York Mets (after going 0-2 with an 8.18 ERA in two starts for Triple-A Buffalo) before the Angels' game Tuesday night. But he clearly indicated the Angels' stance regarding their injury-ravaged pitching staff has not changed. "We're not aggressively pursuing any pitching," Reagins said. "We just feel the options we have in-house are better than what's available out there." The in-house options have resulted in a ..."
April 22
Los Angeles Times
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Angels General Manager Tony Reagins acknowledged today that he is looking outside the organization for pitching help and has contacted the representatives for free-agent starters such as Pedro Martinez, Paul Byrd and Mark Mulder. But the signing of any of the available veterans to bolster an injury-ravaged rotation does not appear imminent. Meanwhile, another Angels pitcher was added to the disabled list today. This time it's right-handed reliever Kevin Jepsen, who was put on the 15-day DL with a strained lower back. Infielder Brandon Wood has been called up to take that roster spot after hitting .318 with five runs, four homers and six RBI in six games with Salt Lake. "We're looking at ..."
April 18
Los Angeles Times
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An offense that was already struggling to score runs received a major body blow Friday when Vladimir Guerrero was diagnosed with a torn pectoral muscle, an injury that sent the Angels slugger to the disabled list and will sideline him for at least a month and probably longer. "Obviously, short of Vlad needing surgery, this is a big blow," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "We'll see how he progresses. Some of the windows we've been given [for how long he'll be out] are optimistic; some are longer. But we're going to be conservative. He'll be reevaluated in a month, and we'll see where he is." Guerrero, who suffered the injury while throwing from right field to third base in an April 2 exhibition ..."
April 13
Orange County Register
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As spring training wound down, Angels GM Tony Reagins said he wasn't actively shopping for starting pitching even though injuries to John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Kelvim Escobar had thinned out the team's inventory. The team would "weather the storm" with what they had on hand, Reagins said at the time. One week into the season, the injury-depleted rotation took another hit with the tragic death of Nick Adenhart just hours after his first start of the season. The team has shuffled its rotation to postpone the decision on how to replace Adenhart in the rotation until Saturday in Minnesota. But Reagins said the team is still in 'weather-the-storm' mode and is not looking to add a starting ..."
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When an All-Star third baseman needed help recovering from a shoulder injury, he knew from one of his agents whom to call: a doctor who mailed him steroids and syringes without ever seeing him. A journeyman catcher, fearing he would not be able to support his wife and children if he lost his spot in the major leagues, reached out to the same doctor. A pitcher who was feeling worn down followed the same path, but another pitcher who was plagued by fatigue found an alternative: he said a team doctor injected him with steroids. The players' accounts, from previously undisclosed evidence related to a federal investigation of a California doctor, shed new light on how pervasive steroids were in ..."
March 30
Orange County Register
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The Angels apparently gave Gary Matthews Jr. their response to his "play-me-or-trade-me" stance. Neither. Matthews emerged from a lengthy meeting with Angels general manager Tony Reagins and manager Mike Scioscia Sunday morning, changed out of his uniform and left camp for the day. Matthews shook his head and said, "No" when reporters asked if he had been traded, but declined to answer any more questions before leaving. "Give me a day - OK, guys?" Matthews said. The Angels decided to do just that after seeing Matthews' reaction to the news that he would open the season as the fifth outfielder behind four who are expected to play every day. Scioscia said Matthews was given permission to ..."
March 21
Orange County Register
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With just over two weeks left before his self-imposed deadline of Opening Day, right-hander John Lackey does not sound optimistic about reaching agreement on a contract extension with the Angels. "They're not trying very hard," Lackey said today of the state of negotiations. Angels GM Tony Reagins opened discussions with Lackey's agent, Steve Hilliard, earlier this month. A proposal and counter-proposal have been exchanged, as Lackey describes it, and he expected to hear back from the team this week. "I was supposed to hear and haven't heard all week," he said. Asked if that surprised him, Lackey said. "I've been surprised by the whole thing." Lackey reiterated that he does not want ..."
March 21
Los Angeles Times
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Negotiations between the Angels and John Lackey on a contract extension are moving at a glacial pace that has left the ace right-hander wondering how strongly the team wants to retain him. "They're not trying very hard," Lackey said, when asked about the pace of negotiations. "It's kind of on them at this point. I love playing here and I'd like to stay, but I've put myself into a category that they need to get to." Lackey has a 91-63 career record and 3.81 earned-run average in six-plus seasons. Lackey, who could be the top pitcher on the market if he reaches free agency next winter, wouldn't specify the price range of the "category" he was referring to. But he is believed to be looking ..."
March 20
Los Angeles Times
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Negotiations between the Angels and John Lackey on a contract extension are moving at a glacial pace that has left the ace right-hander wondering how strongly the team wants to retain him. "They're not trying very hard," Lackey said, when asked about the pace of negotiations. "It's kind of on them at this point. I love playing here and I'd like to stay, but I've put myself into a category that they need to get to." Lackey has a 91-63 career record and 3.81 earned-run average in six-plus seasons. Lackey, who could be the top pitcher on the market if he reaches free agency next winter, wouldn't specify the price range of the "category" he was referring to. But he is believed to be looking ..."
March 8
Los Angeles Times
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John Lackey may warrant Cy Young Award consideration with another big year, but the Angels' ace is going to have a heck of a time winning a Silver Slugger with his current offensive approach. With orders from Manager Mike Scioscia to keep the bat on his shoulder for his second straight Cactus League start, Lackey looked at three strikes in his only at-bat in Saturday's 9-5 exhibition victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The same thing happened Monday against the Colorado Rockies in Tucson. Three pitches, three called strikes. "I need to swing it," Lackey joked. "I'm a free agent coming up." Indeed, Lackey, who has a 91-63 record and 3.81 earned-run average in six-plus big league seasons, ..."
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Angels general manager Tony Reagins met with Steve Hilliard, agent for right-hander John Lackey, on Friday, a sign the team hopes to forestall Lackey's potential free agency next winter by offering him a contract extension. But the discussion was "very, very preliminary," Reagins said, and he did not include any substantive discussion of parameters for a contract extension. When asked how far the talks had progressed, he said only, "Not very far." The Angels opted to exercise the option year in Lackey's contract last fall and will pay him $10 million this season. Lackey, 30, has 91 career victories and the third-lowest ERA in the American League over the past four seasons (3.42), and he ..."
March 3
Los Angeles Times
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Last year, Seattle was the trendy pick to dethrone the Angels atop the American League West, with Erik Bedard and Carlos Silva projected to lead the Mariners to October. This year, Oakland is the trendy pick to dethrone the Angels. The Athletics signed former Angels shortstop Orlando Cabrera on Monday, and they already had acquired Matt Holliday and Jason Giambi to fortify a lineup that scored the fewest runs in the league last year. "They've definitely gotten better," Angels ace John Lackey said. "They've made some good moves to improve their club." So, are the Angels still the team to beat in the AL West? "You guys are always trying to find somebody to say that," Lackey said with a ..."
February 18
Orange County Register
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John Lackey has watched the long, harsh winter endured by many free agents this year and has seen enough CNN updates to realize the country is in troubled economic times. But he isn't worried. "Go have a look at the list of guys who can be free agents next year," the Angels right-hander said, perhaps tipping his hand about where he is headed. "I think I'll be alright." It is an unimpressive list that thins out quickly after A's outfielder Matt Holliday (and Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero). On that list, only three starting pitchers - Boston's Josh Beckett, Cleveland's Cliff Lee and Arizona's Brandon Webb - can be considered in Lackey's class and all three have options for 2010 ..."
February 11
Los Angeles Times
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The Angels have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with veteran outfielder Bobby Abreu, pending the free agent's passing of a physical today. The team is expected to make an official announcement on Thursday. Abreu's contract will include a base salary of about $5 million and plate-appearance incentives that could push the deal above $6 million, far below the three-year, $48-million deal Abreu was reportedly seeking after filing for free agency last November. The addition of Abreu, who will join an outfield/designated hitter rotation that includes Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter and Juan Rivera, eliminates any chance of veteran outfielder Garret Anderson returning to the Angels. It also ..."
February 11
Orange County Register
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So the Angels got themselves a left-handed hitter in Bobby Abreu, and GM Tony Reagins played the market perfectly to get a nice price: He let it come to him. 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."
February 11
Orange County Register
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The Angels are deep in negotiations and could be nearing a deal to land free-agent outfielder Bobby Abreu in time for the opening of spring training camps on Saturday. Abreu, 34, is one of only five players to score 100 and drive in 100 runs in each of the past two seasons. He has driven in at least 100 runs in each of the past six seasons and has a career average of .300 with a .403 on-base percentage and .498 slugging percentage over 13 seasons with the Astros, Phillies and Yankees. Perhaps more importantly to the Angels, Abreu appears ready to accept a low-priced, one-year contract with the Angels in response to the winter chill that continues to grip the free-agent market. That makes ..."
February 11
L.A. Daily News
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The Angels are deep in negotiations and could be nearing a deal to land free-agent outfielder Bobby Abreu in time for the opening of spring training Saturday. Abreu, 34, is one of only five players to score 100 and drive in 100 runs in each of the past two seasons. He has driven in at least 100 runs in each of the past six seasons and has a career average of .300 with a .403 on-base percentage and .498 slugging percentage over 13 seasons with the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees. Perhaps more important to the Angels, Abreu appears ready to accept a low-priced, one-year contract with the Angels in response to the winter chill that continues to grip the free-agent ..."
February 11
Los Angeles Times
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The Angels, in dire need of a power boost from the left side, have expressed serious interest in Bobby Abreu and are expected to sign the free-agent outfielder to a one-year deal by the start of spring training Saturday. Abreu, who turns 35 on March 11, is scheduled to undergo a physical in Southern California today, according to a source who is familiar with negotiations but not authorized to discuss them publicly. Foxsports.com reported on Tuesday that the Angels have asked outright waivers on minor league pitcher Nick Green to clear a spot on their 40-man roster, presumably for Abreu. "The Angels have expressed interest, and we've been talking to them -- they're definitely one of the ..."
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Earlier this week, Angels general manager Tony Reagins emphatically denied interest in Manny Ramirez, telling ESPN.com, "I can make this very brief and very clear. We are not in on Manny — and will not be." Reagins was far more open-minded Friday when I asked him about the Angels' possible interest in two other free-agent outfielders, Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu, on one-year deals. "I would say we'll continue to look at different ways to improve the club," Reagins said. "If something makes sense for us, we'd look at it. We'd have to see what the parameters are, how that player fits." Hallelujah, the Angels have a heartbeat! People around baseball were beginning to wonder, considering that ..."
January 29
Orange County Register
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Barely two weeks remain before pitchers and catchers report for spring training and the baseball unemployment line is long. An unprecedented glut of free agents remain unsigned as February approaches. The list is long on overpriced veterans unwilling (so far) to accept the austerity program that is apparently making its way through major-league front offices. Just ask Jon Garland. The right-hander made $12 million with the Angels last season, won 14 games and headed to free agency. The Angels made little or no attempt to sign him but did offer him arbitration. By accepting, Garland would have guaranteed himself a one-year deal for at least $9.6 million (salaries can be cut no more than 20 ..."
January 29
Los Angeles Times
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The Angels and infielder Maicer Izturis split their differences, the club announcing Wednesday it had signed last season's opening-day shortstop to a one-year contract worth $1.6 million. Izturis, 28, who batted .269 in 79 games before missing the last six weeks after surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb, was seeking $1.89 million. The Angels' arbitration offer was $1.4 million. Izturis, who made $1.2 million in 2008, may have helped his cause with an abbreviated winter season in which he batted .340 in 18 games for Margarita of the Venezuela league. The club also included incentives that will pay Izturis an additional $100,000 if he has 550 plate appearances."
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The D-backs and free-agent pitcher Jon Garland are closing in on a deal, according to an industry source. Garland, 29, turned down a contract offer from the club two weeks ago, but it's not clear whether negotiations ended and were restarted or if there was continuing dialogue between the two sides. Following Garland's rejection, the D-backs offered a contract to free-agent lefty Randy Wolf and did not come to an agreement. Arizona general manager Josh Byrnes on Tuesday declined to say whether the club had any current offers out to any players, and the D-backs have not announced a deal. Garland, who has been looking for a multiyear deal in discussions with several teams, made $12 million ..."
January 25
New York Daily News
columnist Bill Madden
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Yo, Manny Ramirez, Bobby Abreu, Orlando Hudson, Jon Garland! It's Jan. 25! Hey, Adam Dunn, Orlando Cabrera, Garret Anderson, Jason Varitek, there are only 19 more days till pitchers and catchers report to spring training! Do any of you guys know what team you're playing for? Obviously not. The hardest, coldest, longest baseball winter goes on with a gaggle of former All-Stars still out there on the free-agent market looking for jobs. Manny, of course, leads the pack, but he was also reaching the highest, for $100-plus million, and at his age and with his baggage, there was considerable doubt he'd find any willing buyers for such a hefty, long-term commitment. And that was before the ..."
January 16
Arizona Republic
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Looking for stability in their rotation, the Diamondbacks made a run at innings-eater Jon Garland this week, but their offer to the right-hander was rejected Thursday. The value of the offer, which had a short shelf-life that expired Thursday, is not known, but Diamondbacks General Manager Josh Byrnes said it could have been a multiyear deal. "Depending on certain things, it could have been a one- or a two- or a three-year deal," Byrnes said. The second and third years were variations of player and club options that included buyouts. That the club was pursuing Garland likely is an indication that it feels the need for more certainty at the back of its rotation. Brandon Webb, Dan Haren and ..."
January 13
Chicago Sun-Times
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Life “under, under the radar," is the way White Sox general manager Ken Williams is now choosing to conduct business this off-season. That means rumors are mere whispers from dark corners, while actual news that is uncovered is met with a standard “no comment’’ from the offices on 35th and Shields. But the one name that has been popping up time and time again over the last few seasons is once again being heard the last two weeks. That means you Chone Figgins. According to a major-league scout, the Angels are the latest team to express interest in acquiring Jermaine Dye now that the Mark Teixeira ship has set sail to New York. Unlike the talks with the Reds that stalled during the Winter ..."
January 7
Orange County Register
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Tim Salmon ended his Angels career with 299 home runs.Salmon said he hadn't seen the late Bernie Mac's baseball comeback film "Mr. 3,000," but the retired right fielder, headed into his third year of retirement, confessed he has had thoughts about being "Mr. 300." "Oh yeah, sure," Salmon said. "I still have the dream, about once a month, about putting the uniform back on. "Then I stop and think, how am I going to do this? Injuries were the big part of why I stopped." The knee woes that stopped Salmon at age 38 after the 2006 season quickly erase any such thought of a comeback. The man known as Mr. Angel or Kingfish to his many fans says it's more important for his quality of life later on ..."
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The Angels have ushered in the new year with a new deal for their manager, having reached agreement with Mike Scioscia on a contract extension carrying through the 2012 season. "It's something we've worked on for some time, and basically we got it done," Angels general manager Tony Reagins said on Monday afternoon. "It's an agreement in principle, and we're not going to release the terms. We never release the terms of contracts. I'll just say we're looking forward to having him here for a while." Scioscia, 50, is signed through 2009 with a club option for 2010 at an estimated $2 million. Owner Arte Moreno and Reagins carved out the terms of the extension with Scioscia. "It shows our level ..."
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