Frosty the No-Man: STEVE FINLEY has been traded

by Rev Halofan on Dec 21, 2005 6:43 PM PST in Angels News

It is official and every fan of the team can cheer on this move.

Arrogant Piece of Trash- I mean Centerfielder Steve "Frosty" Finley has been traded to the San Francisco Giants for infielder Edgardo Alfonzo. Alfonzo is making $6 million in 2006, and is owed a $1 million installment of his initial signing bonus on January 31.

Finley will make $7 million in 2006, but if he makes 600 Plate Appearances in 2006, his $1 million buyout turns into another year at $7 million.

Thanks for pushing the eject button, Bill Stoneman. You might've saved Arte $7 million 2007 dollars.

The worst case scenario is that Robb Quinlan gets squeezed when management feels they oughtta play the salary-sapping Alfonzo more often.

The best case scenario is that if Alfonzo has any bounceback at all, he is platooning with McPherson by May.

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YES!

I was on the phone with my dad, with the college hoops game on ESPN on in the background. As soon as I saw this I yelled "Yes", which caused my dad to say "What the hell are you so happy about?". Oh, Dad, you have no idea.....

by Jim @ Halos Heaven on Dec 21, 2005 7:06 PM PST reply actions

Hitters as of now

Starting Lineup (depth):

CF Figgins (Erstad) (Figgins)
1B Kotchman (Erstad) (Figgins) (Figgins)
RF Vlad (Figgins) (Figgins) (Figgins)
DH Anderson (Salmon) (Figgins)
LF Rivera (Anderson) (Figgins) (Figgins)
3B McPherson (Alfonzo) (Fig (Figgins)gins)
C Molina (Mathis) (Figgins) (Figgins)
SS Cabrera (Alfonzo) (Figgins)
2B Kennedy (Alfonzo) (Figgins)

Bench:
Erstad
Alfonzo
Mathis
Salmon*

Unless Salmon is dropped for a 3rd catcher or DH option (Piazza?)

Eat My Angel Dust.

by Angels95 on Dec 21, 2005 7:21 PM PST reply actions

You forgot Chone

by Rev Halofan on Dec 21, 2005 7:31 PM PST up reply actions

Salmon minor league deal

Salmon isn't even on the 40 man roster right, just a minor league deal at this point? I was looking at the 40 man roster because that Jake Woods dropping still bothers me, and I'm wondering why they did cut a guy like Yan instead of a young left like Woods (at least I'm assuming he's young). I'm the biggest Stoneman supporter there is, but his fetish for dropping good young arms has to stop.

Who would you rather have the Angels face in a big situation, Yan or Woods? I don't think it's even close.

I love Tim Salmon as much as the next guy as well, but if they end up finding a spot for him on the roster and drop another good, young prospect, I'm not sure I'll be able to take it.

Lastly, Alfonso was a good move. He could be solid and is only 31 or 32. I just hope he's the 3rd base fallback plan if McPherson isn't healthy and nothing more than that.

by thewebb on Dec 22, 2005 9:16 AM PST up reply actions

On Salmon....

.....he is signed to a minor league deal at this point, and if he does well enough in the Spring tomake the club, they won't add him to the roster until the end of Spring Training. That's the beauty of these non-roster invitee deals.

by beercub @ Halos Heaven on Dec 22, 2005 10:59 AM PST up reply actions

trade

lame or cool:

lame...

Awesome we have another infielder...

Halo Country

by cupie on Dec 21, 2005 8:24 PM PST reply actions

COOL

This protects Scioscia from himself - ha cannot pencil in Finley because rex sez HE IS JUST SO CLOSE, HE IS DUE HERE...

by Rev Halofan on Dec 21, 2005 8:37 PM PST up reply actions

This is the huge point

And why Stoneman needs some cred from you naysayers. Scioscia is loyal to a fault to his wet-eyed veterans. The big question in the offseason, besides the whole RH masher bit, was whether Stoneman would take away his Scioscia's toys. Now Bengie and Finley are gone, even though Mike said he'd love to have them both, Wash is gone, too (though he seemed to be more of a doghouse situation), and we didn't pull the trigger on any stupid Konerko situation.

Now the question -- do you trade Cabrera (and whoever else) for Manny, and if so, who plays SS next year, Figgy or Izturis (or a platoon)?

by mattwelch on Dec 22, 2005 2:04 AM PST up reply actions

Thanks for reminding me . . .

Of one of the biggest benefits of the trade: We won't have to listen to Rex promoting Frosty's cause day-in and day-out, one of the most annoying aspects of the 2005 season.

by Ox Wiebe on Dec 21, 2005 9:02 PM PST reply actions

Outfield Defense

Another benefit of the trade is that our outfield defense is likely to be improved. I mean, it's difficult to imagine Erstad or Figgins kicking a ball into the rightfield corner of Shea Stadium, thereby turning a double into an inside-the-park homerun.

by Ox Wiebe on Dec 21, 2005 10:05 PM PST reply actions

Erstad no

Figgy had his share of juggles, though...

by Rev Halofan on Dec 21, 2005 10:22 PM PST up reply actions

Fig

"[Alfonzo] will come in and take a shot at playing a lot of infield. Whether it would be at second or third will probably be determined in spring training,'' Stoneman said. "By trading Steve Finley, it makes it more likely that Chone Figgins is going to be playing more out in center than he did in the past.''

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2268054

Eat My Angel Dust.

by Angels95 on Dec 21, 2005 10:25 PM PST up reply actions

2B

This does not bode well for fans of Adam Kennedy hoping he is an Angel in 2006

by Rev Halofan on Dec 21, 2005 10:44 PM PST up reply actions

AK

Really hope AK doesn't go, one of my favourite Angels, great 2nd baseman and the best number 9 hitter in baseball last year (although I wouldn't have batted him there).

by Matt UK on Dec 21, 2005 11:47 PM PST up reply actions

Why doesn't AK get more love?

His platoon splits against lefties aren't nearly as gruesome as Erstad's, and they take away 100 ABs a year by hitting him 9th ... meanwhile he plays Gold Glove D. I just don't get it.

by mattwelch on Dec 22, 2005 2:06 AM PST up reply actions

Figgins

Ugh. I still remember that awful game in Chicago in which he played right field. Circled under a ball for a few seconds, then wasn't in the same zip code when the ball landed and bounced over the fence. He seems to do better in center, though.

by LA Seitz on Dec 22, 2005 1:11 PM PST up reply actions

Rejoice!

As soon as I saw the news, I had a vision of all the Angels bloggers holding hands around a Christmas tree and singing like the Whos at the end of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

by Sean @ Halos Heaven on Dec 22, 2005 8:13 AM PST reply actions

Not bad!

I was shocked we got Alfonzo for finley...he's not bad! Not a big difference maker, but a solid player, and its obvious Finley just needs to be elsewhere.

by Angels101 on Dec 22, 2005 11:50 PM PST reply actions