That’s if he got the absolute ceiling in arbitration, and that doesn’t happen all the time. More likely, the Halos would’ve paid $4M on a one-year contract. Completely reasonable given Oliver’s durability and performance history for the Angels.

The relative value of a #22 pick plus a supplemental pick is equivalent or better to $4M.

He won’t turn 40 until the postseason.

then he still wasn’t that good.

Frankie, by the way, was an “A” compensation pick.

I just don’t see the Oliver lightning striking three seasons in a row.

EXCEPT…
Lackey going to Boston. Anywhere else I would have believed.

And for the record regarding your litany… Vlad and Oliver have not YET signed with the Rangers.

the lack of hitting in the postseason

I would not have cackled nor derided you. I would have simply thought you were crazy. The team knows better than me, so I am deferring to their expertise. I hope it works out.

We’re spending our off-season money SO many other ways. It’d be ridiculous to pay our most consistent reliever in 2009 $4-5 million.

C’mon man….get with your team.

  I was happy to hear the deal fell through.

What’s wrong with Michael Young?

Yay for fiscal responsibility! Isn’t not spending FUN?

I’ll bet you even found something to be pissed about when we swept the Red Sox.

I love the work DO has done for the Angels, but if the front office feels that the salary that he’d receive in the arbitration process wouldn’t be appropriate for what he would provide in 2010, so be it.

Rec’d.

He led all our relievers in ERA, inning pitched, and FIP last season. He was our best reliever by any reasonable standard. Don’t mock other posters if you aren’t even familiar with our players’ records.

And there’s little supporting evidence that Oliver would have received $5M+. The average arbitration increase in 2008 was 120%, which would’ve put DO at $4.4M. And given that the market has seriously depreciated, that’s very unlikely. John Lackey was looking for better than AJ money, but even he, as the best free agent on the market, couldn’t beat last season’s benchmark. Oliver is getting $3.5M from Texas this season. Those are market prices, and a discount on his 2009 salary. Oliver wasn’t going to almost double last year’s salary in arb this year.

  Please back that up.

He was the best guy out of the pen April – Oct. That isnt even a question! The guy has reinvented himself since he was put in the pen a few yrs ago with the NYM. His time has not been an accident. Guys don’t do well for years because they are lucky its because they are good and the evaluators don’t want to admit they missed.

Classy Move Arte-Tony and Co.!!!!!!

please no Chan Ho Park. That guy is a waste. I remember listening to some world series game at work with some some co-workers. At one point, the Phillies brought in Chan Ho Park and I look at my co-workers and say, “This game is done.” Sure enough, Chan Ho lights a gas can and blows the place up.

..are Rich Thompson, Robert Mosebach, Rafael Rodriguez or Fernando Rodriguez. Two problems;
 - None of the 4 left me impressed or hopeful for 2010.
 - They are all right handed. This would leave one lefty in the pen (Fuentes).

It’s still my hope that the front office is looking for a decent SP and a reliable left-handed RP.

…Said on XM. Apparently Oliver was on last week talking about playing in Texas as if it was a done deal. He probably already told the Halos it was Texas or retirement.

Good for him.

Peace . Love and Happiness

Please someone take away the punch bowl.

I would have preferred Vlad for Matsui, but not the biggest heartbreak ever.

Why the fuck should we re-sign or free agents, JUST TO SIGN THEM so the fans are not bored in the offseason, what are we, Oakland in danger of losing our home attendance crowd and we have to keep them entertained in December?

Of course, I think Texas has no state taxes or something, plus he’s a lot closer to his home.

He’s been “old” for the duration of his contracts here, yet has remained durable, has good mechanics and a delivery that’s likely to keep him going through the season. There are plenty of vets of Oliver’s age that do just fine in the pen.

On a one year contract, the age thing seems like a cheap excuse. A lot of the same folks that are confident that Oliver is going to breakdown this year are equally certain that Shields is fully healthy and will rebound this season as well. Seems like a lot of hopin’ and wishin’ to me.

Well, at least we have these voices on the record that one of the weakest BPs in the MLB last season, minus its best reliever, will be just fine with no adjustments. It’ll make for some naughty in-flight entertainment midseason in the Gameday threads to see what wins the day — the skeptical realists or the Obamaesque hopesters. Until Tinkerbell crawls out of dead Roy Disney’s nostril and comes flying to the rescue, count Teeth among the former.

Just saw the other thread. My point still stands.

in suck