Just Inspired
First Angel free agent signing of the offseason is JUSTIN SPEIER.
He signs for 4 years at $4.5 million per year.
Along with Hector Carrasco, what is happening is that Stoneman is overpaying for bullpen help with the knowledge that what was once an expensive infield (Bengie, Erstad, Kennedy, Cabrera) is now a bargain (Napoli, Kotchman-Morales, Kendrick, 3B Black Hole). So Bill underpays on the clay and overpays in the pen. Good balancing of the household budget there, Bill.
This could be the precursor to a trade of Scot Shields and Adenhardt for Andruw Jones - apparently Scott Boras will take the Braves up on the waiving of Andruw's 10/5 rights in exchange for a contract extension negotiating window with the Angels - with the reported Soriano @ 8 years to the Cubs signing, why risk an injury for the Braves' All-Star Centerfielder during 2007 when the market is overheated now?
Halos wind up with either...
1. A servicable (if expensive) replacement for Shields if the Jones deal goes thru
OR
2. A near-impervious bullpen if AJ stays in Atlanta.
Not the big bat we were promised, but an inspired, just inspired signing...
UPDATE: Excellent analysis of Speier from our colleagues at Bluebird Banter.
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Does anyone realize
I'm not saying we need to sit back and do nothing, but the A's just lost Frank and the Mariners and Rangers are not a threat. As of now, we are looking good to win our division and maybe a few complimentary moves at 3rd, 1st or CF might be more prudent to compete over the long term. Who knows, this year could be Wood's year to ascend to 3rd in the majors, Chone could bounce back in CF and Kotchman/McPherson/Quinlain could platoon across 3rd and 1st to at least get us league average stats. That coupled with an awesome rotation and once again a deep pen seems awful good to me.
I agree
by theclip24 on Nov 19, 2006 2:27 PM PST reply actions
just say no
Since bullpen depth has been a problem
Shields
Has flat out said he'd test the market and aim to be a closer somewhere.
Turns 32 in July.
Has been at the center of every trade the Angels turned down over the past threee seasons...
I say better a year too early than a year too late,,,,,
That's pretty persuasive
If free agent signings...
Shields, Cabrera, Mathis and Bootcheck for Wells and Speier.
I think they'll want an outfielder
And I'd rather not trade Mathis, on account of good young catchers being just about the hardest things to find. If Wells was as dependably great as A-Rod or something, then maybe, but he's had a few mediocre years there.
If they move wells
by SoCalSoxFan @ Halos Heaven on Nov 19, 2006 3:19 PM PST up reply actions
True But...
by Rex DaKine Budler on Nov 19, 2006 3:12 PM PST up reply actions
Amen
Wells or Jones
by akathelorax @ Halos Heaven on Nov 20, 2006 9:14 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, yeah...
I love Scot with one "t". I really think he's got a couple of years left in him as probably the best setup man in baseball, but we're making the right moves to give us the options. He's not 20-something anymore, and he had more "What the hell just happened to Scot!?" games last season than any before that I can remember.
Further, the biggest problems we had in that terrible start this year were still run support and errors. Say what you will, but Jones/Wells could be upgrades and long-term solutions to these issues, and provide us a bit more cover in case, say Bartolo can't win more than 10 games anymore, or Chone's big '05 was a fluke.
Scot's great, and a fan favorite, but these are the choices you gotta consider sometimes...
What Should the Angels Do??
It almost appears that every off season as well as near the trade deadline, other teams want to clean out our pitching staff as well as our farm system, which leaves the Halos with the "tough decision" to risk loosing the our pitching which has either kept us in the division race or won it for us (due to our lack of hitting). What the really tells me is that the Angels do NOT have enough faith in their up and coming starters to trade a proven pitcher. Otherwise we could have made trades years ago! Is the Oakland/Freemont A's minor league pitchers that much better than ours, because it seems like they always plug a hole with a young pitcher they bring up.
I sincerely hope that we do NOT trade Santana unless I hear the words A.Rod attached to the trade.
Waiting for that "Big Splash This Off-Season" Artie.
by Rex DaKine Budler on Nov 19, 2006 3:21 PM PST reply actions
Waiting too, but...
Waiting sucks but Aramis signed where he wanted to play befor he could get big money offers, and Soriano at $17 mil until he is 38?!? Kinda glad we didn't win that derby.
A trade for Wells or Jones would make the offseason for me as long as we can get a mulit year deal done...
If you think either one of these guys
Damn that Boras guy.....
yeah
Soriano is not worth it, Jones and Wells are worth it. Wells perhaps moreso due to age.
I would do 6 years 17/year for either and be happy. No, I would be ecstatic.
by halomatt on Nov 19, 2006 8:15 PM PST up reply actions
Today
A Good Deal
Relievers often age well and pitch effectively into their late-30s, so the fact that this is a four-year deal isn't too scary. It costs the Angels nothing but money.
He's got a good chance of being better than Gregg, and at least as good as Donnelly over the next couple of seasons.
The thought of trading Scot Shields is frightening, but I can understand the reasoning. Still, unless it's for a MAJOR, long-term bat, I'd like their chances the next year or two more with Shields than without.
year - not two
by Rev Halofan on Nov 19, 2006 11:37 PM PST up reply actions
At a certain point
The Angels system
by Caseys Kiss of Death on Nov 20, 2006 12:12 AM PST up reply actions
Which isn't to say I object to
by Caseys Kiss of Death on Nov 20, 2006 12:13 AM PST up reply actions

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