High OBP and big power talent going for nothing

I agree with the Rivera and KMo parts. I am more uncertain regarding the DH slot.

Who do we plug in there?

I see the OF as Rivera, Hunter, Vlad. GMJ will fill in starting in May, which may (or may not) help some. Willits is the presumed back up there. How much does Figgy play in the OF next year?? That is also a big question for me, but I don’t see him as a DH.

The rest of our squad is presumable IF, with a huge number of potential infielders, KMo, Howie, SRod, Aybar, Izzy, Figgy and Wood. I don’t see any of them as a potential DH. They are fine in their IF role, but not someone you want hitting just to hit, imo.

We do have the possibility of Naps DHing some, when he isn’t behind the plate. I would rather see him back there more than less though.

So, who is the DH? Are we just filling in until GMJ is back? I still think there is a need for another bat. Where am I going wrong here?

All due respect, you are missing the point.

I don’t think either Kendry Morales or Juan Rivera are holes, per se. But…

If a large-market team has an opportunity to improve the offense at nominal cost and for nominal years it is foolish not to do so.

Pat Burrell has posted an OPS+ over 120 for each of the last four seasons. He is a mortal lock to hit 25-32 HR’s and draw 90-110 walks. He will post an OBP north of .360 and a SLG right around .500. He just signed for 2 years at $8 million per year. That is a reasonable contract.

Adam Dunn has hit 40 HR’s for each of the last 4 seasons. He will post an OBP north of .375 and a SLG right around .500 as well. He is yet unsigned.

These two guys are not getting big, long-term deals. They are settling for pretty low offers for minimal years. And, signing one of these guys does nothing to displace either player. Why not spend a little to guarantee that production from LF or 1B for a short-term contract?

If the Halos went after Burrell here is what you do:

Kendry plays 1st, Rivera plays LF, Vlad plays RF and Burrell DH’s; when Vlad needs a breather, Burrell goes to LF, Rivera to RF and Vlad to DH.

The same rotation holds true with Dunn. Put Dunn at DH, and love him to 1st or LF (with Kendry going to the other position) when Vlad needs to DH.

If the Halos wanted to really make a statement – they would have signed both Burell and Dunn (if, of course they were interested). Replace the Rivera signing with a Burrell signing and shuttle Dunn between DH, and 1st base with Kendry Morales . If this happened the Halos would sport a lineup with four guys who could post OBP’s between .360-.400 and SLG’s around .480-.510 (Vlad, Burrell, Dunn and Napoli). When was the last time the Halos had four mashers like that?

2002.

Garret Anderson, Tim Salmon, Brad Fullmer and Troy Glaus. Hitting the ball far and drawing walks wins games. Period.

I think Rivera was a great signing – but if I am honest with myself and I compare that signing to a signing of a clearly superior player to a short-term, reasonable contract (Burrell) I am not sure that the Halos targeted the right guy. To that end, if I am Tony Reagins, I am calling up the representation of Adam Dunn right now and offering 2 years, $18 million and feeling him out. If he blinks, go to $10 million per and don’t even think about it.

This brings me to my last point. The Halos have depth. No question. But, that depth is useless if it is used to get another slap-hitting middle-infielder into the DH spot. There is depth, but if Mice Tits, Figgy, Aybar, Mathis or anyone similar gets AB’s at DH this team deserves to watch the post-season from home. Not to channel 2002 too much, but when was the last time the Halos had a legitimate DH?

Right, 2002. Hitting the ball far and drawing walks wins games. Period.

DH isn’t a position to sneak in your backup middle infielder to keep him fresh – it is the place you hide a crappy fielding, all-stick masher like Adam Dunn.

I am not unhappy with the move that have been made to this point, but with the new evidence at our disposal regarding the deflated market I hope Reagins is at least inquiring about picking up a DH that can hit the ball a long way and is willing to draw a walk. For the GM of the big-market L.A. Angels not do that would be negligence.

Vlad is 32 turning 33 in February… and yer not funny with the added year thing either…

As other have pointed out -

Dunn is 29. Burrell is 33. If they signed two-year contracts they wouldn’t even be 36 when their deals expired.

Also, these signings are not either/or propositions. Signing one player (I really want Dunn) does nothing to impede the progress of prospects. Wood at SS, Figgy at 3B, Kendry at 1st, Vlad and Dunn split time between DH and the OF with Rivera rotating between RF and LF as needed.

And for that you get a guy likely to hit 35+ HR’s and draw 110 walks with an OPS of .900. Yeah, I’d hate to give the division away with a bum like that.

As for extending Lackey – he wants more offense before he re-ups. Dunn would provide that and show that the team is trying to win with this young, but soon-to-be-expensive core of players.