Garrett Atkins, the new Robb Quinlan?

With Colorado having non-tendered Garrett Atkins, anyone think it's likely that the Angels buy low on the local boy?

Atkins had a simply awful 2009, but before that he had seasonal averages of 20+ HRs and 100 RBIs, with decent average and on-base skills. He's always had problems outside of Coors Field, however, and his terrible year last year is largely traceable to a decreasing line drive rate and a loss of power.

OTOH, he plays the corner infield positions, and is a homeboy from Orange, graduating from Irvine High School and UCLA. The only in-house options for a reserve at the corners are Freddy Sandoval and Matt Brown at the moment -- perhaps serviceable but with limited upside. Think Atkins will be in the mix?

about 2 years ago Turks Teeth 21 comments 0 recs |

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Depends upon the cost

The Angels aren’t going to pay him a few million to ride the bench and backup at 3B and 1B. They could have Matt Brown do that for MLB minimum, and Brown would probably hit just as well with the occasional AB a role like that would offer.

If, on the other hand, the team has plans to trade Aybar or Wood as part of a deal, then they could sign Atkins for the going rate and have him play 3B, with Aybar/Wood at SS.

I don’t see the latter being the way events will play out, though, insofar as Halladay is concerned. The story about Aybar being included came from a Toronto newspaper and wasn’t a quote from anyone who would have first-hand knowledge of negotiations, but was merely speculation. And, as someone here pointed out, the need for Aybar would have diminished greatly when the Jays signed Alex Gonzalez to a one-plus-option deal a few weeks ago.

"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon

by George Kaplan on Dec 12, 2009 9:56 AM PST reply actions

But I think it's unlikely the off-season finishes...

…without one of Izturis, Wood or Aybar being traded. The free agent class is otherwise not that sexy, and the team will have to make some trades.

I don’t imagine the front office is as confident in Brown as you are — I think they would probably give Sandoval the nod first, as an in-house option. But Atkins has been considered before, and given his local ties, I would not be surprised to see him signed on a $2-3M deal.

by Turks Teeth on Dec 12, 2009 10:05 AM PST up reply actions

I'm not sold on Brown

I am puzzled how he could have been on fire in Tempe and then completely unraveled in SLC when he was sent to play in AAA. I think the team might well release him if he doesn’t come around in Spring Training this March, because he’s out of options and he has been far from indispensable. He’s been bouncing around the Angels’ farm system as long as established players like Aybar, Kendrick, Saunders and (now on the KC Royals) Callaspo, but while they’ve made the jump, Brown simply hasn’t shown the ability to make that leap.

It was simply an acknowledgement that if the team was seeking a bench role player to backup at 3B and 1B (a la Quinlan), the team isn’t going to pay Atkins millions and he’ll get much better offers than the slight deal the Angels would offer for a role player. Another team will pay him more (either in guaranteed money or in incentives) to start at 3B, and gamble on his upside. The Angels already have Brown and can pay him MLB minimum to take that role. Neither man will see a lot of action in that role unless there is a catastrophic injury to a starter.

If the team signs him, it will be because they’re seeking a starting 3B (and Izturis is not that) and in that case either Wood or Aybar will be already gone.

"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon

by George Kaplan on Dec 12, 2009 11:39 AM PST up reply actions

Brown probably just had a bad year

his 2008 was awesome. i’d take a flier on him as the new Q

Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34

by howiestheman on Dec 12, 2009 2:24 PM PST up reply actions

I would hope so

The impression I had was almost that he pouted and gave up when he didn’t make the squad out of camp. Maybe he had a physiological or psychological problem, but it did appear that he went to SLC and simply gave up.

What you want to see is a guy who deals with disappointment and busts his butt harder, ready for when an injury happens and the team needs to call someone up. That wasn’t the way Brown responded.

On the other hand, the best possible scenario for the Angels is that he finally puts it together and, at 27 when Opening Day rolls around, he would be under team control for the peak years of his career. But that would be a longshot at this point.

"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon

by George Kaplan on Dec 12, 2009 3:57 PM PST up reply actions

Brown was "hot" last Spring training

when he had the benefit of unpredictable 25mph Arizona wind gusts screwing with the trajectory of anything he made contact with. Even from what little I’ve seen of him, I’m not sold.

"Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

by Quad Fin Rider on Dec 12, 2009 9:25 PM PST up reply actions

Brown is no more.

by ryanfea on Dec 12, 2009 10:19 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, there goes my theory

Unless the Angels sign him to a minor league deal, but I don’t think the team will be the only suitor and most likely he’ll find something with a team which can use him more quickly. On the Angels, he’s blocked by Wood and Morales, and I think Sandoval if higher on the team depth chart for the left side of the infield.

"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon

by George Kaplan on Dec 13, 2009 6:08 AM PST up reply actions

Funny, I just mentioned this about Atkins replacing Q as the utility man

yesterday in another thread. Damn I am brilliant and full of good ideas!
http://www.halosheaven.com/2009/12/11/1196611/non-tendered-free-agent

The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com

by 44FAN on Dec 12, 2009 11:16 AM PST reply actions

I really like Sandoval for the job

As presently constructed, the Angels don’t gain a lot of value in having another right-handed bat on hand, just for the sake of having a right-handed bat. Rivera, Napoli, and Kendrick are all significantly better against left-handed pitching, and odds are Wood will be too (even if his minor league splits are pretty even).

Seems to me the real challenge will be slipping in another left-handed threat here and there, and I think our bench should be constructed to do just that.

by rghan on Dec 12, 2009 12:10 PM PST reply actions

As such, are you a Nick Johnson fan?

by Turks Teeth on Dec 12, 2009 1:40 PM PST up reply actions

I think Nick will be too expensive.

He’s just a bat, with no defensive value to us. A cheaper, more versatile option might be Kelly Johnson, but there isn’t a whole lot of difference between him and Sandoval.

by rghan on Dec 13, 2009 9:34 AM PST up reply actions

Could be a possibility

If Aybar gets shipped off.

by TheAntiSox on Dec 12, 2009 2:18 PM PST reply actions

I know I’m going to catch a lot of grief here for stating this...

…but wouldn’t another cheap replacement for Quin be our very own Troy Glaus? Very few teams are expected to bid on his services this winter due to his long history of spending way too much time on the DL. But if we can get Troy for under $2 million a year (and we most likely would) to be our utility guy (along with an option to reclaim 3B if Brandon should fail), wouldn’t that be a pretty good gamble for both parties? Okay I’ve donned my asbestos suit — please feel free to flame away…

"Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

by Quad Fin Rider on Dec 12, 2009 9:03 PM PST reply actions

Too fragile

You have a utility guy to replace starters who have fallen to injury or who need a day off.

If Glaus was the utility man, we’d need a utility man to cover our utility man. He simply has too many issues with his back and shoulder, and I think a guy with a swing like his needs daily AB to stay sharp. Occasional use would probably rob him of his offense as well.

"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon

by George Kaplan on Dec 13, 2009 6:10 AM PST up reply actions

Health is obviously the biggest issue

IF HEALTHY, he’s not a bad idea. He can play 1B and 3B, DH some, and provide some legitimate power. In fact, NOT playing everyday might ensure that he stays somewhat healthy.

I wouldn’t rule him out, but I would look at other options first.

"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you." - Woody Hayes

by johnnyangel101 on Dec 13, 2009 2:35 PM PST up reply actions

Dude

Just make sure we sign Hinske. I want to go to the WS.

by elricsi on Dec 12, 2009 10:32 PM PST reply actions

Sarcasm at it's finest

by mustard_man on Dec 13, 2009 7:17 AM PST up reply actions

Hinske's been on the last three AL Champs

Boston, Tampa Bay, and the Yankees

"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you." - Woody Hayes

by johnnyangel101 on Dec 13, 2009 2:27 PM PST up reply actions

I wouldn't be against this

It could end up working out pretty well as long as he comes for the right price.

"Well make more fuckin' money. This is America. You don't make money, then you're a fuckin' douchebag." - Mr French "The Departed"

"You gotta have nuts." - Torii Hunter

by Commander_Nate on Dec 13, 2009 1:37 PM PST reply actions

Garrett Atkins is an excellent idea, except...

I think he’s looking for a legitimate, full-time gig. If he can’t find any suitors, though, I would be willing to sign him to something reasonable. Remember, Quinlan made $1MM for doing nothing last year. Atkins would probably contribute more and be worth $3MM or so. I’m curious to see if he could be signed for that low of a price (he made $7MM last year).

As a full time player, he’s probably not adequate, but he would be a nifty fall back solution in case Wood completely struggles. Otherwise, Atkins could spell Kendry, Brandon, and DH against LHP, grabbing 200 AB’s or so. His lifetime OPS+ vs. LHP is 115. He really struggles vs. righthanders (.199 last year), though.

Definitely an adequate Plan B. At the right price.

"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you." - Woody Hayes

by johnnyangel101 on Dec 13, 2009 2:25 PM PST reply actions