between now and the end of the seaosn … the Angels could have a better offense and have less save opportunities for Frankie to convert. Or vice versa, we could tailspin and be behind so often that there is not enough opportunities for him to save games.

But I do like his chances. I would only hope that it is not a distraction if there is a tight pennant race in September.

not giving him a bigger contract during the offseason

If he does break the record, do you then resign him?

go!

with a team option for a 4th year (@17) that becomes automatic with simple performance goals.

shows you what you get when you settle for less than the very best.

It’s a pure cash consideration. If the Angels offer him the most he’ll stay, if they don’t he’ll leave. The question to debate here, therefore, is what he’ll be offered elsewhere (and by whom) that would entice him to leave, and consequently what do the Angels have to match or better?

Who needs an upgrade at closer (no regular guy or patchy performance by incumbent)?
Cleveland
Atlanta
Houston ?
San Diego
St Louis
Texas
Dodgers?
San Francisco?
Colorado
Detroit

Who’ll need one in the off-season (walk year for closer)?
Cubs
Arizona
Detroit
St Louis
San Diego
Colorado
Cleveland
Angels

To my eye, the big risks there are Detroit & Chicago (who both can afford him and are in win now mode), Houston (who with Wade in charge are dumb enough to do anything) and maybe Arizona. The Yankees keep getting mentioned, but will Frankie set up for Rivera? The Giants aren’t afraid to spend, they just keep screwing it up. I don’t think the other teams there are going to spend Frankie-money to get him.

Any comments, additions? What do we have to bid to beat this lot? I see Detroit as the major threat, their bullpen is a disaster.

i think its gonna run closer to 4 yrs. @ 20 mil to keep him if he keeps this season up

who cares? Just win the games.

I do not think that the Angels will have as many save opps in the second half. That’s assuming the offense finally wakes up. It has been an unreal number of opportunities due to the offensive woes.

Regardless of their representation in this thread, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:

The comparison is not between what Frankie is and what we’d like Frankie to be, or what we think Frankie could be, or what Frankie did for three innings in the ALDS in 2002. The difference is between what Frankie is and what would replace him and/or what’s on the market. Shields has a history of poor second halves. Jose has no history. Speier currently sucks. That’s the reality.

I remember going to Rams games in Anaheim when Kevin Green was a hold out and seeing signs that said “Georgia, sign the checks!”. Well, I’ll say it. Arte, sign the checks. Bring Frankie back. He’s been among the most dominant closers in the game the past few years AND he’s developed a change-up. My gut tells me he’s not done learning. Five year deal. 400 saves as an Angel before we need to re-up. He could, conceivable, get to 600 saves as Angel before his career is over if it breaks our way.

Here. Then tell me again how anyone can even begin to consider Frankie replaceable.

Yeah, some people have been predicting catastrophic injury for six years now. What’s especially weird is that many of those same people thought the Dodgers signing J.D. Drew to a 5-year contract was a good deal. Weird! And ultimately irrelevant. In baseball, cream-of-the-crop talent is almost always underpaid, no matter what the high price. Sign more Frankies, sign less GMJs, and continue developing good young (cheap) talent, and we’ll continue winning the division year after year, and will add another ring over the next half-decade.

Hopefully with the Angels, but we can’t overpay and expect to keep Kendrick (down the road) and Lackey (who will be extremely expensive and should be).

Here are the K-Rod Possibilities:

1. Back with the Halos – this is the most likely choice in my eyes. Arrredondo is nowhere near ready. Shields is not good enough to close and Speier is starting to circle the drain.
2. Dodgers – Saito is old and injury prone. They do have Broxton, but would jump at the chance of stealing K-Rod.
3. Indians – major need, but would they spend to get him?
4. Bluejays – Ryan has been prone to injury.
5. Rays