Is Roy Halladay in the Angels' future?
by George Kaplan on Nov 9, 2009 9:00 AM PST
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PrintYeah, I know...I'm sick of the speculation myself. But it was interesting to read in the National Post of Toronto that the new GM of the Jays is planning on moving Halladay, after conversations with the pitcher which reveal his desire to play for a team planning on winning in 2010 instead of rebuilding.
Even more interesting is that Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos admits the best return for Halladay would have been at the trading deadline last July, when then-GM JP Ricciardi didn't (or couldn't) pull the trigger on a deal. That signals two key points (A) the Jays are seeking to trade Halladay as a courtesy to him, and (B) the new GM has realistic ideas of what the revised price of just one season of Halladay at $15.75M will be.
I have been back and forth with myself over this, and as always, the devil is in the details--what would the cost be in return players to make this happen? Where I begin to lean towards advocating a deal is in that Halladay has had much experience pitching very successfully against the Red Sox and Yankees, who figure to be in our path once again next October. Our pitching against the Sox and Yanks was generally very good--it was offense and defense which were the weak points--but the ability to schedule a genuine ace for Game 1 of the ALDS and ALCS, as well as the World Series, is a tremendous strength. The 2-2-1 schedule of the ALDS and 2-3-2 of the ALCS and World Series makes winning at least one of the first two games essential.
Hallday would assume the ace role for 2010, with Weaver, Santana, Kazmir and Saunders rounding out the rotation, as deep as any in the game. I am assuming that Lackey's payroll expectations will not mesh with the Angels' plans for 2010 and beyond, so these five would be the guys who step out every game. This also allows Weaver one more year to grow without added pressure and develop further into a front-line pitcher.
Then Halladay's deal is up at the end of 2010. If he pitches like Cy Young (literally and figuratively) then the team could consider negotiating an extension and attempting to get him to stay; otherwise, they FedEx him his WS ring and 2011 sees a matured Weaver at #1, with a kid (Bell, O'Sullivan, Ortega, Reckling, Walden) stepping into the #5 slot. This gives the team the flexibility to allow the younger pitchers to mature on their own schedule, instead of out of necessity.
Finally, two more assumptions: (1) the team will sign Saunders to a deal much as it did for Santana, locking him up through 2013, and (2) Weaver is good as gone when his free agency arrives for the 2013 season, as Boras will be shopping him like the second coming of (fill in the name of the last savior pitcher Boras hawked). Kazmir and Santana have 2012 team options, so either or both may be gone that season, depending upon performance. By the end of the 2012 season, the Angels might well have 2 or 3 kids in the rotation, gaining experience.
That's the expensive way to go (spending $16M on Halladay for 2010). The less expensive route would be to get a journeyman or reclamation project (like Sheets, Harden or Bedard) to fill in the back end of the rotation, with Weaver assuming the #1 role immediately.
I expect we'll know by early December which route the team plans to take, by viewing its pursuit of either Halladay or a lesser starter to replace Lackey.
This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.
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And yet the big unanswered question remains...
…“How much would it cost us?”
Clearly their new fella is a little more pragmatic / realistic than Ricciardi, but a year of Halladay, big salary and all, should still bag them a couple of semi-decent players.
The Toronto Star reckons they’re looking for the following:
The ideal package for Halladay would include a young mid-rotation starter with an upside, a top pitching prospect, a possible major-league shortstop and an outfield prospect.
By that reckoning, we’re looking at something like Saunders, Reckling/Walden, Izturis and Petit / Bourjos. Does that get it done?
I think if we trade Izturis, we have to bring back Figgins (or some other FA) because we don’t have much other infield depth with S-Rod gone and Wood playing 3B (or am I missing someone), which means we’re adding $20-25m+ in payroll and it’s starting to look pricey on two counts.
Assume perhaps that “The ideal package” is optimistic bearing in mind it’s only one year and a $16m salary, perhaps we can sub in Bell for Reckling / Walden, perhaps look at Coon instead of Petit / Bourjos. I’m not sure we wouldn’t be outbid by one of the other contenders.
Personally, I’d rather see us either bring back Lackey or look for us to go with a young guy at #5 and shore up the offensive side with a FA. Perhaps spend some money on the pen.
I see red people
Unless we go with Reckling/Walden and Petit Bourjos I think he winds up in Texas
He may wind up there anyway. Their prospects are awfully tempting. Just depends how close they thought they were to taking us last year and whether this puts them over the top.
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.
He won't go to Texas
He said as much at the trade deadline last season. He wants to go to a team with a chance to win it all, since he isn’t on the upside of his career right now. Even with Halladay, the Rangers are too green to make it past the ALDS.
"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon
by George Kaplan on Nov 9, 2009 10:15 AM PST up reply actions
This is the "ideal package"
Most likely the Jays will have to make do with much less.
Izturis is a free agent at the end of 2010, and thus brings little in trade value to such a package.
I think the Jays will ultimately take two young pitchers and a position player, all AAA but ready to make the jump within one season, plus a veteran of some stripe, in exchange for salary relief. Doubtful they’re going to move Vernon Wells anywhere, the way they did Rios.
"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon
by George Kaplan on Nov 9, 2009 10:22 AM PST up reply actions
that's exactly the package i was thinking
but is it enough? is it too much?
Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34
by howiestheman on Nov 9, 2009 11:26 AM PST up reply actions
missing Matt Brown?
No matter what happens from here on, it has been a great season.
by Rally Manatee on Nov 9, 2009 8:37 PM PST up reply actions
Matt Brown isnt going to be included...
the guy needs to prove he rake in AAA before making to the big leagues…
Do it for Nick '09
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Nov 10, 2009 11:11 AM PST up reply actions
He did in 2008
He hit .320/.373/.580 with 21 HR and 33 doubles among 128 hits that season. Even taking into account the inflated power numbers the PCL can generate, the fact remains he wasn’t missing many pitches.
Then in Tempe last Spring, he was on fire, looking every bit like a kid who’s going to make the team. But he didn’t, and when he was sent back to SLC the wheels simply came off for him. I don’t know if his spirit was broken, or if he was injured or what the story was, but he had a miserable season for most of 2009 (picking up at the end, though).
At this point, he would figure to open one more year in SLC at age 27, which would place him over the median age for the PCL. He may well wind up replacing Quinlan, as someone noted, but he’s going to first have to restore confidence that he can hit major league pitching. Otherwise, I could easily see the team giving him his outright release and awarding his spot on the 40-man to another, younger player.
"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon
by George Kaplan on Nov 10, 2009 11:24 AM PST up reply actions
Everything I've read about him
points to a AAAA type player, specifically his slow bat. The few times I’ve seen him, my lyin’ eyes told me the same. Maybe he can be useful in a Quinlan-type role, but I think Sandoval might end up being the better choice for that.
I think you're right
Thus, my suspicion that he’ll be released, unless he has one epic Spring Training.
"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon
by George Kaplan on Nov 10, 2009 1:35 PM PST up reply actions
When I saw him this spring, I was sure he was going to take Q's spot
good thing I was wrong and FO/Soth were right or we would have missed Q’s offensive production and his defensive contribution
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.
by Moondoggy on Nov 10, 2009 3:17 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Yes, but for the grace of God...
"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon
by George Kaplan on Nov 10, 2009 6:34 PM PST up reply actions
I've always been a Q fan... and now
He’s “Power Q!”
Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch
So, to the NL he goes!
No matter what happens from here on, it has been a great season.
by Rally Manatee on Nov 10, 2009 8:51 PM PST up reply actions
If its for Halladay
Would you be willing to make it Aybar instead of Izturis?
RIP Nick Adenhart 4/9/09
I blog about the Angels at The Diamond Aces
No, and Hell No.
"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon
by George Kaplan on Nov 9, 2009 10:15 AM PST up reply actions
I agree with your response and that of GK.
However, I must chuckle to myself, remembering how SO MANY people posted here at HH in the past, effusing total disrespect and lack of regard for Aybar.
I still don't LOVE Aybar....
but I am growing to tolerate him…
It is most likely my own bias toward him, but I need to see another productive offensive season out of him before I believe that he is really a plus player with the bat in his hands.
RIP Nick...
Jim Scully
Jim Scully Home
True
But lets not forget how sucky he was at one time.
Up until about July this year, he was awful. He wasn’t hitting well, blowing offensive and defensive plays all the time.
Now hes grown into a very solid player. Though, I do understand why many people and myself didn’t like him at one time.
sucky? awful? Rather strong words..
He actually batted .303 in May before slipping into the .250’s in June before kicking ass the rest of the year. That being said, he first half/second half splits are pretty balanced with the second-half just slightly better in BA, OBP and OPS.
You also have to take into consideration that this is the first year that Aybar played a full-season. Even looking at the breakdown offensively in 2008, Aybar was solid for every month except for a dismal May and a mediocre August.
Do it for Nick '09
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Nov 10, 2009 11:19 AM PST up reply actions
it will take SAUNDERS or WEAVER get it?
Get it? get it? get it? get it? get it? get it? get it?
A bunch of unproven prospects will NOT yield Roy Halladay.
Something like this:
Weaver, Napoli, Reckling.
or maybe:
Saunders, Napoli, O’Sullivan
All yout trade proposals that don’t include TWO guys who are under club control for three years who have been good to great with the Angels (plus a top prospect) are LUDICROUS … the Angels farm system is NOT THAT GOOD that we can send all prospects and platoon players to Toronto.
by Rev Halofan on Nov 9, 2009 11:59 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Or you break into the rookie league piggy bank
With their current pitching depth, and their lack of real hope for contending next year, some combination of Trout/Martinez-Mesa/Richards/Grichuk might substitute for 3 arbitration years of a middle-of-the-rotation pitcher.
I’m not advocating this, but I do think it would get their attention.
Shades of the 90s FO strategy, no?
RIP Nick Adenhart.
"When the Babe tries to call his shot, I hope Nick puts one in his ear."
--RallyMonkey5
Understood
Quoting from Joel Sherman, the execs at the GM meetings have said the Jays will be lucky to get “60 cents on the dollar” compared to the deals turned down last July. Whenever this deal is done, we may know how badly Ricciardi screwed the team’s future with his inability to make the deal at the deadline. It seems he was so afraid of being taken that he didn’t do anything, which cost him his job, anyway.
Part of it comes from the direction Anthopoulos intends to take. If he is going to rebuild the Jays over the next three seasons, then a player like Saunders, Weaver or Napoli—all of whom will hit their free agencies after three seasons have gone by—may not have the value the Jays will require. Given that he is stepping into a new position, he might want to take two steps back before taking two forward, especially if he thinks the Yankees might be vulnerable in 2013 with expensive deals not yielding the same results as in 2009.
The Angels trading for Halladay would be the equivalent of putting it all on black, and that isn’t the way Moreno typically operates. However, after getting rebuffed by the Yankees in the ALCS, he might be amenable to a “go for broke” idea, while Hunter is still reasonably spry and Abreu still has his chops.
Obviously, nobody is advocating draining the minors. I just don’t think the Jays have much leverage. If we subtract all the teams which don’t have a reasonable shot at the Series, and then those teams which can’t afford adding a $16M salary to existing payroll (above and beyond normal expenses), the resulting number of teams is going to be small. Does Halladay want to pick up a bat and hit? If not, then strike the Mets and Dodgers (for example) from the list—Halladay has a full no-trade clause, and if he doesn’t want to go to a team, the deal ain’t happening. Likewise, it is less likely the Jays would trade Halladay within the AL East to the Yankees, Rays or Red Sox.
The Jays can keep him, knowing the team has zero chance of signing him past 2010, or it can make a trade and reap what it can. If someone can think of a team beside the Angels which has an acknowledged shot at coming out on top, let’s review it. If he wants to play in the NL, then the Mets, Phillies and Braves have a chance, but if he wishes to stay in the AL and use his knowledge of the hitters gleaned over the past several years, then who else besides the Angels would have a shot? The White Sox—that team took on Alex Rios’ salary already. The Tigers?
I don’t see a lot of teams which meet all the requirements for making a trade, and thus I don’t think the price will be as onerous as you’re making it out to be.
"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon
by George Kaplan on Nov 9, 2009 12:56 PM PST up reply actions
Alternatives
If the Jays hold on to Halladay, then they will get two draft picks when he leaves as a FA. So, there’s no reason for them to trade him for less than that; however, that also puts something of a ceiling on his value going forward as well. A team will have to give up the equivalent of the draft picks (which it will recoup if Halladay becomes a FA), plus a couple of other players (the premium needed to get him NOW). Does one everyday player get it done? One and a pitcher? I’m not really sure. So, my guess is that it will take a total of four players (two for today, two for tomorrow).
Draft picks
While it is true that the Jays have every right to hold onto Halladay for the entire season, it has been said by Anthopoulos that the team is working to trade Halladay to a team with which he has a chance to play in the post-season in 2010. It appears to be a gentleman’s agreement, much in the same way Kenny Williams traded Jim Thome to the Dodgers to honor his word that he’d help Thome have a shot at the World Series of the White Sox were out of it.
If so, the highest value to Toronto is going to be realized by trading Halladay before the season opens. There is no upside to waiting until the deadline.
"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon
by George Kaplan on Nov 9, 2009 5:32 PM PST up reply actions
I Agree
If they’re going to trade him, it will be before the season starts. But they’re not going to give him away. I suspect that they’ll need an offer that is sufficiently better than the 2 draft picks to make it worthwhile not having him in their rotation. You may be right about the gentlemen’s agreement thing, though.
you can't trade draft picks
remember what happened with stephen strasburg. the nats got screwed over and had to pick him
Where
did I say anything about trading draft picks? I wrote that any package for Halladay will have to be better than the two draft picks they’d get as FA compensation. Figure out what kind of player is available at the end of the first round of the draft; the trade package will have to be better than two of those players.
I enjoy reading your posts
Your well written optimism is appreciated. I hope you are right, I’d really like to see Hallady
RIP Nick Adenhart 4/9/09
I blog about the Angels at The Diamond Aces
And then....
…..after giving up all those players, Arte will have to pay him as much or more than what the Yankees gave Sabathia. If not, then all those players will have only rented Halladay for one season.
That's my thought on it, too
Yeah, having Halladay would be great, but in discussing any kind of trade of good solid young Angel players, one has to keep in mind the very real possibility that he may end up as just another short term rental like Tex. So when weighing the options one has to consider “Would losing a player like Saunders or Wood or Napoli or Weaver et al be worth ONE season of Halladay?” Because regardless if the Angels offer him a good contract at the end of 2010, there is no guarantee he’ll take it. (Again, see Tex).
by Hoppity Hooper on Nov 9, 2009 10:09 PM PST up reply actions
I like Kaplan's sentiment of going all in.
If we trade for Halladay and win a World Series, then it would be entirely worth it. Even if it was for one season rental of Halladay.
RIP Nick Adenhart 4/9/09
I blog about the Angels at The Diamond Aces
Trading anyone in the current rotation not named Kazmir is insane...
Saunders and Weaver are not great but they are very good. They are also cheap. They are also with the team beyond 2010. Unlike Halladay.
Trading either of these 2 is only a slight rotation upgrade for only 1 year. It just doesn’t make any sense.
So I see what you’re implying here. It’s not going to happen.
+ Napoli/Wood + Reckling. the rooks alone wouldn’t do it.
by rghan on Nov 9, 2009 12:16 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Including some combo of Trout/Martinez-Mesa/Richards/Segura talked discussed above
Really? You’d do that in a heartbeat?
Is this a hint that Lackey will re-sign with the Angels?
I saw this in a Darren Oliver article on the Angels website by Lyle Spencer:
In an interview on Thursday night with SIRIUS XM’s MLB Home Plate channel, Angels GM Tony Reagins expressed optimism that Lackey will remain in an Angels uniform. The 31-year-old right-hander is widely considered the best available starter in the free-agent market.
“Well, I think there’s a likeliness that John will return,” Reagins said. "We have genuine interest in bringing him back. We’ll see how the market plays out for John.
“We know there is going to be interest in him and he’s earned the right to explore that. So, at the end of the day, we have to make the best decision for our ballclub and John is going to make the best decision for himself and hopefully the two sides meet.”
The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com
Could the Ninja acquire Halladay...
and hang on to Lackey?
Take the scenario we pay Burnett money for Big John. And we trade a combination of Saunders, Napoli, O’Sullivan, with perhaps another prospect. Could the Angels afford that? Would Toronto be interested in that?
The Angel Rotation becomes:
Halladay
Lackey
Weaver
Santana
Kazmir
Hotdamn
RIP Nick Adenhart 4/9/09
I blog about the Angels at The Diamond Aces
That way we wouldnt need to sign a Bay or Holliday.
and stick with Vladdy :)
They want power. We want respect...
by SenorChuckles on Nov 9, 2009 4:01 PM PST up reply actions
Needless to say, I don't like this Napoli trade talk...
nope not one bit.
The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com
No Napoli trade talk?
who else is as expendable and as valuable?
They want power. We want respect...
by SenorChuckles on Nov 9, 2009 4:21 PM PST up reply actions
Check out his username...
RIP Nick Adenhart.
"When the Babe tries to call his shot, I hope Nick puts one in his ear."
--RallyMonkey5
Dont worry Vladdy will play DH :)
They want power. We want respect...
by SenorChuckles on Nov 9, 2009 8:42 PM PST up reply actions
good thing
we wouldn’t want to lower our GIDP numbers…
Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34
by howiestheman on Nov 9, 2009 10:07 PM PST up reply actions
you get what you pay for ;)
They want power. We want respect...
by SenorChuckles on Nov 9, 2009 10:48 PM PST up reply actions
good thing we probably won't be paying for it then
Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34
by howiestheman on Nov 9, 2009 10:52 PM PST up reply actions
nothing what you had
just says we have hopes, but that is all. would lackey take a home team discount to the angels, who knows.
Your "shift" key is very lonely over there.
The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com
oR
wRITING lIKE A 14 yEAR oLD gIRL.
"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon
by George Kaplan on Nov 10, 2009 1:39 PM PST up reply actions
It's unreasonable to assume
that if we got Halladay, our rotation would consist of Halladay, Weaver, Saunders, Santana, and Kazmir. AT LEAST one of Weaver, Saunders, and Santana would be dealt to Toronto in such a scenario.
"F it, let's pitch." - Ervin Santana
Halladay
First of all, I believe we can send Kazmir instead of Saunders. Kaz is signed for 3 more years. He has knowledge and success against other AL East teams.
Also if we agree to eat 8 mill of HGH salary and accept Vernon Wells we could probably work out a trade which would help both teams.
You want to pay part of HGH's salary
And pay Wells $23 mil a year to be a marginal 3rd/4th outfielder?
Put the crackpipe down
And step slowly away…
Also if we agree to eat 8 mill of HGH salary and accept Vernon Wells we could probably work out a trade which would help both teams.
Yes, kids, it is time once again for Fun With Math!
Vernon Wells is guaranteed $98.5M for the years on his deal between 2010 and 2014. PLUS taking $8M of GMJ’s salary in the deal, and the sunk cost of Wells becomes over $106M, or over $21M per season for a player only marginally more talented than GMJ in the first place, and under a bad contract for three years past the time GMJ is once again a free agent.
Why would you wish such a horrible fate upon the Angels?
"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon
by George Kaplan on Nov 9, 2009 5:42 PM PST up reply actions
Indeed
I once highly touted getting Wells, but the intervening years have…intervened…and shown me the error. If there’s good potential for Wells to come back to pre-fat-contract-form, go for it, but otherwise—NO.
RIP Nick Adenhart.
"When the Babe tries to call his shot, I hope Nick puts one in his ear."
--RallyMonkey5
Wells is absolutely untouchable...
…with that contract. It makes HGH’s contract look smart. ;)
OK, I'm finally over losing Tex. Thanks Kendry.
well...
i don’t want a one-and-done player esp if halos need more help to win it all-like some bats. if the angels are allowed to talk to halladay before hand to sign a long term deal (even if it means letting another player go) i will be for it. during the season i was totally against it, but f it, why not. (obviously depending on the deal).
and wasn’t kazmir supposed to “solve” the yankees and red sox. granted he was a monster during the regular season for the angels (just no run support), however not in the post season.
Tim Brown handicaps the suitors for Halladay
Here in Yahoo Sports.
He knows perhaps 1% more than anyone else, but his analysis of the various clubs with a perceived interest in Halladay seems spot on.
Or maybe I’m biased because it seems to favor the Angels…
"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon
Pitching
Halladay looks like he will swing the balance of power more than Mark T. last year. Think of the Red Sox with him! If we have the talent to make that trade, Halladay, I would do it. Maybe a package of Napoli, Saunders or Reckling, and Wood or Kendrick?
Maybe we shouldn’t reject the Beltre idea totally. He is one of the few free agent on the market I can see who would give us a clear defensive upgrade over last year. We could have the best defense in the AL with Mathis, Aybar, Izturis, Torii, Beltre and maybe GM Jr in right with Abreu as DH. What a left side!
Am I the only one who is a little scared about entering next year’s playoffs without Guerrero? He got some huge hits off of the best pitchers in the world in this year’s postseason.
It will be interesting to see the moves which the Angels brain trust makes. They made great progress this year in beating the dreaded Sox.
Go Angels!!!
by Steve from Irvine on Nov 11, 2009 10:22 AM PST reply actions
Clear defensive upgrade?
I’m not going to argue that he isn’t superior to Figgins with the glove, but if he is it can’t be by much. Looking at what each guy does offensively, there is no way Beltre’s glovework alone makes him an upgrade over Figgy.
Added advantage for Figgins:
He wears a cup.
"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon
by George Kaplan on Nov 11, 2009 1:05 PM PST up reply actions
Hallyday and Lackey
Hummm a pipe dream? – Yet that would do it, we’d be in the WS. I guess it’d be ok to give up Saunders, Napoli and Izturis to get that- plus mucho bucs!
Xavier Calvera
Let Lackey walk,
The money doesnt make sense to me. And a trade for Halladay would be nice but can we really get him? Sign Vlad or sign Bay/Holliday, and Grabow.
They want power. We want respect...
How about,
1) Halladay for Saundo/Napoli(or Conger)/Walden/Trumbo
then…
2) Lowe for GMJ/Smith/Rivera, (to replace Saundo in the rotation).
3) Sign Grabow, Vlad, and Bay/Holliday.
This is going to take some mean cash, and hopefully either Bay or Holliday want to play in Anaheim…
They want power. We want respect...
While we're at it...
Fort Knox just hooked me up with the keys and codes.
Nick would be proud.
by halofan4life on Nov 13, 2009 10:50 AM PST up reply actions
i dont think we have a chance at halladay. the yanks would probably move heaven and earth to get him in their rotation.
the angels have shown theyre willing to make the deal, but a titanic acquisition of halladay just doesnt seem to likely, sorry very jaded over this past world series win by the yanks. The fact that they are still trying to improve their already monsterous team is disheartening. I dont wanna even imagine what its like to be a jays or orioles fan
In Kobe we trust!
Yankees
I don’t think the Yankees are set for too long. Once Rivera goes, the whole deal goes. Even with Mark T, A Rod and the great Jeter, they are getting old without young pitching really coming into the picture after the free agents. And AJ and CC won’t work out to be Koufax and Drysdale, believe me.
Where are their gems comparable to Weaver, Saunders, Mathis, Santana, Morales or Aybar coming up from AAA??
As Scoscia often says, this is a big process. With the Red Sox victory this year I think the process is advancing.
The bullpen was our weak link this year, but I think Mike has enough to work with with Shields and Arredondo hopefully coming back. I haven’t writen off Fuentes, and I like Jepsen a lot with some more seasoning.
Defense at the outfield corners is a big issue also. That is why I don’t reject the Granderson talk out of hand.
Go Halos!
by Steve from Irvine on Nov 13, 2009 6:20 PM PST reply actions
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