Angels Look to Reds for Gary Matthews Trade
by Rev Halofan on Mar 31, 2009 1:00 AM PDT
in News
89 comments
The national media is buzzing about the possible trade of Gary Matthews, Jr. after his Sunday sojourn when informed of the near certainty that he will be riding the Los Angeles of Anaheim bench for most of the upcoming season.
General Manager Tony Reagins already announced that Matthews has not waived his No-Trade clause, but the Angels' $33 Million 5th outfielder is probably not long for the team. He left a meeting Sunday in a bad mood after having his upcoming pine-role clearly explained to him by Reagins and manager Mike Scioscia.
While the Cincinnati Reds lack the pitching depth to trade Aaron Harang or Bronson Arroyo to the Angels straight up for Matthews, the near-match in salary between either one of those pitchers and the Angels' outfielder creates its own logic.
The Angels, though, will have to sweeten the pot. Even with matching dollar signs, an arm is more valuable than a league average bat/above average glove and speed. The ante could be upped by adding Dustin Moseley to the deal. Moseley is a dead ringer for an American League fifth starter which would make him a National League #4 man by default. He still has a smidgen of developmental upside and will just be hitting arbitration year #1 after 2010.
The Reds could hold out for minor leaguer Sean O'Sullivan (ranked the Angels' #10 prospect by Halos Heaven minor league analyst Ryan Gahan) and if they do, the Angels should move on this deal. Either Harang or Arroyo as a fifth starter would be ten times better for the Angels than Matthews collecting a paycheck for doing little more than neatly stacking the Gatorade towels in the dugout between innings. Arroyo has had a flare up of carpal tunnel syndrome this past week and the site of Harang facing Oakland - who traded him to Cincinnatti for Jose Guillen at the 2003 trde deadline - would be sweet.
There is not a perfect solution to the Matthews situation, but once the season begins to play out, it will only take a few weeks of him sitting and another team sweating to cause the Angel to revisit the chance to sweeten up what KEN ROSENTHAL reveals was their opening offer.
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The Reds don't appear to be all that enthusiastic...
I see red people
by The Limey on Mar 31, 2009 5:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
They expect to be a contender this year
Based largely on depth in pitching. A reasonably priced Matthews would be an upgrade for them in centerfield, but losing Harang or Arroyo could unhinge their rotation. They still have their reservations about Bailey and Owings. I don’t see it.
by rghan on Mar 31, 2009 5:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
By trading Mathews, the Angels will be committed to Willits...
as their 5th OF. If the Angels are going to be paying GMJ’s contract, I’d rather see him in Anaheim instead of Reggie…unless a decent pitcher come the Angels way in a deal.
I was uncool before uncool was cool.
by WiHaloFan on Mar 31, 2009 5:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
As 5th outfielders go, guys with speed and a career .380 OBP aren't the worst ways you can go.
We’ve also got Quinlan for corner depth and if neither of them seem up to the task, Chris Pettit is only a phone call away at AAA.
I agree though that Matthews is currently our best option and that as long as we’ve got him we might as well use him.
~Till the Halo burns out...
by Zu Long on Mar 31, 2009 6:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I realize my feelings toward Willits are irrational
and I don’t know why.
I was uncool before uncool was cool.
by WiHaloFan on Mar 31, 2009 7:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
perhaps a spunky little white guy beat you up in kindergarten?
Netherlands-2 Dominican Republic-0
by HaloDutch on Mar 31, 2009 7:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
More than once I'm afraid
And sometimes girls too, but that wasn’t too bad.
I was uncool before uncool was cool.
by WiHaloFan on Mar 31, 2009 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was talking to my friend who works at a Champs in Orange County.
Believe it or not the only 2 jerseys they carry are Vladimir Guerrero and Reggie Willits.
by Jay Cal on Mar 31, 2009 7:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I notice the same stuff going on around my neck of the woods with the Twins.
Nick Punto is a leader in jersey/t-shirt sales for some reason. I don’t know what it is, but people like their less-talented, utility, role-players.
by NoDakHalo on Mar 31, 2009 8:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
My theory is always been that its either A) People identify with the less-talented utility guy because they secretly believe they coulda been him with a couple of breaks or B) they think the other, more naturally gifted ballplayers have it easy with inherent abilities and sympathize with the utilityman’s struggle to keep up on pure effort, beacuse it proves they “love the game more. Hell, he wants to play.”
Netherlands-2 Dominican Republic-0
by HaloDutch on Mar 31, 2009 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Irrational? No. Realistic.
Willits lovers hump the shit out of that 2007 campaign.
Play Wood already. Willits sucks.
by hauldog on Mar 31, 2009 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's realistic to hate the fact that we have a decent situational hitter/count-worker/base-stealer
as the backup of our backup outfielder? No, I’m pretty sure that’s irrational.
~Till the Halo burns out...
by Zu Long on Mar 31, 2009 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Decent and hitter should never be used to describe Reggie Willits
Play Wood already. Willits sucks.
by hauldog on Mar 31, 2009 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
His career .380 OBP suggests otherwise.
~Till the Halo burns out...
by Zu Long on Mar 31, 2009 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
could be a sample size issue
Netherlands-2 Dominican Republic-0
by HaloDutch on Mar 31, 2009 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
His .397 OBP in the minors over 1900+ PA
again, suggests otherwise.
~Till the Halo burns out...
by Zu Long on Mar 31, 2009 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
WE shall see
Hopefully we are both around for an I told you so.
Play Wood already. Willits sucks.
by hauldog on Mar 31, 2009 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Uh...
why wouldn’t we both be around for an I told you so? It’s not like this if one us is wrong the Earth blows up… is it? >_>
~Till the Halo burns out...
by Zu Long on Mar 31, 2009 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just hoping you are around after Willits stinks up the entire 09 campaign
Play Wood already. Willits sucks.
by hauldog on Mar 31, 2009 4:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
What like I'm just going to randomly disappear for months
after the seasons ove—Wait… >_>
~Till the Halo burns out...
by Zu Long on Mar 31, 2009 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
in addition
according to the Mike Digiovanni interview, Willits will start 09 in Triple A and stay there throughout most of the season.
So maybe none of us will see. And you can be around for you very, own personal “I told you so” to absolutely no-one.
Unless, you got a bet going with how well he does in SLC.
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Mar 31, 2009 6:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No bet there yet.
Why, would you like to make one?
Also as far as this:
So maybe none of us will see. And you can be around for you very, own personal "I told you so" to absolutely no-one.
It’s nice, but hauldog is the one hung up on “I told you so” and “we will see.” You’ll have to take it up with him.
~Till the Halo burns out...
by Zu Long on Mar 31, 2009 6:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
because minors always translates to big-leagues...
or not…
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Mar 31, 2009 6:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And yet in this case
it seems to have done so, with a slight drop off as one might expect.
~Till the Halo burns out...
by Zu Long on Mar 31, 2009 6:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
irrational?
The dude can’t keep his BA above the mendoza line and has no-arm in the outfield.
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Mar 31, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wrong
On both counts, actually.
~Till the Halo burns out...
by Zu Long on Mar 31, 2009 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
.194 with a 108 AB's in 2008
Haven’t we all talked about this on HH? Pitchers figured out his hitting after 2007. Probably because he blabbed on about how many pitches he takes.
Willits = arm-cannon?
Really?
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Mar 31, 2009 6:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If 2008 were the only year that mattered
then Reggie Willits is just as good (or bad) a hitter as Brandon Wood. Yet that hasn’t stopped you from concluding that Wood needs to play ASAP. So to is there a larger universe for Willits.
~Till the Halo burns out...
by Zu Long on Mar 31, 2009 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Carrer 380 OBP...
such a long and illustrious career too.
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Mar 31, 2009 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Longer than some
and more illustrious than many.
~Till the Halo burns out...
by Zu Long on Mar 31, 2009 7:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Zu, I appreciate your dilligence.
I guess you fancy yourself a Willits fan, eh?
Well, I hope the best for him but I think Willits was a flash in the pan.
Guess we’ll see…or not at all if he hangs out in Triple A.
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Mar 31, 2009 8:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not so much a Willits fan
as a guy who doesn’t understand the Willits HATE. Honestly, he’s fine as a backup outfielder.
Although I will admit us Sooner State natives have to stick together. There’s only like 5 of us after all. :-P
~Till the Halo burns out...
by Zu Long on Mar 31, 2009 9:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Carpal Tunnel?
How about Crap-al Player?
Witty .sig goes here.
by scareduck on Mar 31, 2009 7:30 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Can anybody
Think of any other teams that can use a GMJ type player, and if they have anything that could be useful to us.
Phys: Well, Coon doesn't have a lot of power but he's a good bunter
Coon: F$%# That!
Thanks Zu
by halofan4life on Mar 31, 2009 7:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
A GMJ-type player...
many takers. But, a GMJ-like $10+M per annum contract … no takers.
Blogging is FUN!
by Downing Rules on Mar 31, 2009 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
How much of GMJr's contract would we eat,
plus players, for Peavy and A. Gonzales?
Just curious……….
by wumbug on Mar 31, 2009 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
All of it and all our prospects
Or something similar. Gonzalez isn’t going anywhere.
http://inplaynoouts.blogspot.com/ - A blog about teams I like, written by me.
by Carl Johnson on Mar 31, 2009 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would `
love to give him up for Harang not Arroyo and I would not mind giving up o sullivan or moseley. The only other team would be the white sox but they wont give up anything for him.
Give the young guns a chance...if they suck wellll...
by angelskid2210 on Mar 31, 2009 7:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I have a feeling
GMJ is going to play pretty well this season. I hope we don’t screw ourselves by trading him for a choke artist.
The time is out of joint; oh cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right.
by chairmanofthebar on Mar 31, 2009 8:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
i agree....hes been tearing it up in ST
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Mar 31, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would hardly call...
a .286BA tearing it up. Aybar, Brown, Figgins, Hunter, Mathis, Morales, and Wood are tearing it up. All 7 of them in my opinion should make the 25 man roster. Drop Quinlan to the minors or trade him for a player to be named later. Astros still the being the best alternative. Matt Brown is more than capable of taking Quinlans role, plus he’s younger.
I think you can hold onto GMJ for a few months because as the season wears on, teams will begin to see their deficiencies, and may offer a younger player for him. Hey injuries occur too, maybe we’ll need him, ya never know.
But please, please, please, trade Quinlan.
by matt92130 on Apr 1, 2009 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
lets
be careful that we dont just give him up for the sake of giving him up.
I think we all agree he sucks and isnt worth the money, However, as someone stated above…
If we are going to have to pay him better its for us and not someone else.
Lets only trade him if we get something that we actually need in return. Maybe we kick in Moseley which I am fine with and that helps the Reds (or any other team). But even a high AAA pitcher and a AA player might just have to be all we can get for just GMJ alone
Terrorist plot to blow up Fenway? I'm okay with that
by Sinatrasratpack on Mar 31, 2009 8:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
ya but the point is that hes not accepting the bench role
and is quickly turning into a distraction and potentially an awkward, moody cry baby
by ihearhowie2.0 on Mar 31, 2009 8:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A distraction here,
but I don’t think Coach will let him be a distraction come game time.
since 1961
by Chompo on Mar 31, 2009 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
gmj for comeback player of the year award...
ok, i’ll put my crack pipe down now.
by thejd on Mar 31, 2009 8:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
as if things couldn't get worse for gmj, the la times...
is reporting this morning that we could move mark trumbo to left field if it looks as if kendry is going to be entrenched at 1b. trumbo hit 30+ hr’s for rancho/arkansas last year so he is still probably a year away but none the less still bad news for gmj. hey, if gmj wants to play full-time in anaheim maybe he can play for the oc flyers, fullerton is almost anaheim.
by thejd on Mar 31, 2009 8:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
the more interesting part of the rosenthal article
is that we tried to trade for jeff niemann last spring but arent this year.
why not! he’d be excellent insurance against a bad loux/setback escobar or santana and nice depth if lackey were to depart.
by ihearhowie2.0 on Mar 31, 2009 8:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
One injury, Gary, and you are right back in this thing...
sit tight, collect your 10-mill and wait for your opportunity. Be prepared. You are blessed to have such a contract and the team is fortunate to have so many talented OF’ers.
Blogging is FUN!
by Downing Rules on Mar 31, 2009 9:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
GMJ to the Mariners
…for Washburn, Silva or Batista?
No, and hell no. I have no problem keeping GMJ on the roster if the alternative is the trade for one of those losers.
The Reds have Micah Owings pitching today, and maybe a good outing from him today or next time might persuade the Reds that Harang or Arroyo would be a good price for a starting OF who can hit from the right side (a smidge more power from the right for him). If Moseley has to return to the Reds, or O’Sullivan needs to be included, I think I would OK with that, and make it a straight contract swap.
Harang has the fatter contract of the two and had the worse season last year, losing 17, after winning 16 games in 2006 and 2007. He suffered a forearm injury in mid-season and didn’t have much run support early in the season. He is said to have dropped 35 lbs in the offseason—he’s 6’7", so it is a significant, but not drastic, loss of weight—and has been working hard to right his ship for 2009. If he’s healthy, he could slot in at #3, and he has looked decent this Spring.
Arroyo has been more consistent for the Reds prior to 2009, but isn’t going to rise higher than #4 in the Lackey-Santana-Saunders top of the rotation, maybe settling behind Li’l Weave for #5—for that, the Angels would simply shift the $30M+ owed to GMJ to the bottom of the rotation. It would be difficult to tell Lackey he isn’t worth $15M to $20M a season when the bottom of the rotation is making over $10M a season. He hasn’t looked very sharp this Spring.
Would this be a smart move? Still trying to figure that out.
by George Kaplan on Mar 31, 2009 9:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I enjoy your posts.
Very well thought out.
I think at this point, GM Jr. doesn’t get traded unless it is a “Can’t Pass” opportunity up. I followed Harang in 2007, for Fantasy purposes. I liked what he could do for our team. But in 2009, can he “hang & bang” with our Summer’s Rotation.
And like previously said… if Torii takes another ball to the face or Vlad’s surgically repaired knees don’t hold up, I’d rather put Matthews out there than say Willits.
by Jay Cal on Mar 31, 2009 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't want to see Willits
as an everyday player either – but the key is that GMJ is the “5th” outfielder. So if lets say GMJ gets traded and then say Johnny Rivers gets hurt the day after – We can still have Abraeu, Hunter, and Vlad in OF – then we give the DH role to a player like Wood or a non catching day Naps.
I think the 4th OF is more importnat come injury time because he will be the everyday player in the field while we can still use Q as a rest day fill in.
Outfielders For Sale! This weeks special...GMJ - see Tony for details!
by gorams77 on Mar 31, 2009 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
5th outfielder
if it ain’t Figgy, how the hell is Wood going to get any at-bats?
by Rev Halofan on Mar 31, 2009 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
AAA?
Netherlands-2 Dominican Republic-0
by HaloDutch on Mar 31, 2009 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
By DHing in place of 4th outfielder Rivera?
~Till the Halo burns out...
by Zu Long on Mar 31, 2009 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
My point was that GMJ being gone doesn't equal Willits as everyday player..
should someone get injured.
If we tarded away our 5th OF (GMJ) we would still have 4 (Vlady, Bobby, Torii, and Johnny). Riveria being the 4th full time outfielders (plus Q). If any one of the 4 were to get hurt – we still have the necessary 3 to play in the outfield over the course of the season. Halos just in a unique situation where there is no perm DH – it just rotates amongst the 4. If the scenario of Abreu, Vlad or Rivers going down were to happen then you just shuffle them around and call Wood up to take the DH spot. If Hunter goes down, then you can move Figgins to center and put Wood at 3b.
Outfielders For Sale! This weeks special...GMJ - see Tony for details!
by gorams77 on Mar 31, 2009 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Teabag?
Is that a teabag reference in regard to Torii? That’s not right!
by LazorkoRules on Mar 31, 2009 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'm a big fan of this trade and both pitchers are pretty good in my eyes
arroyo or harang are too good to pass up considering our back end of the rotation.
If I hear the word "red sox"...POW!!! RIGHT IN THE KISSER!!!
by Halofanatic on Mar 31, 2009 11:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
No thank you on Arroyo.
Plus his commercials are terrible and I do not want to see them on a regular basis
Play Wood already. Willits sucks.
by hauldog on Mar 31, 2009 11:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Can’t be worse than those fake call-in show ads for Howard’s on 840
Netherlands-2 Dominican Republic-0
by HaloDutch on Mar 31, 2009 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
My memory isn't great
But didn’t we used to light him up when he played in Boston?
by Jay Cal on Mar 31, 2009 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I seem to recall the same thing...
without spending 10 minutes on BB-reference.com
Blogging is FUN!
by Downing Rules on Mar 31, 2009 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
C'mon the dude's name is Bronson.
How can you not love him?
Well after looking at THIS, maybe he can be hated.
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Mar 31, 2009 3:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
True Story
Arte Moreno came into where I worked today and caught me not paying attention while I was reading this thread on my mobile phone. To make matters worse I completely messed up what I was supposed to do for him because I was so caught off guard. It was pretty embarrassing.
by turs12 on Mar 31, 2009 7:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
aren’t you gonna at least give us a hint?
by Rev Halofan on Apr 1, 2009 12:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
So which Mrs. Fields cookie is Arte's fave?
by Higz on Apr 1, 2009 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wetzel's Pretzels or Hot Dog on a Stick
Blogging is FUN!
by Downing Rules on Apr 1, 2009 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have always found it to be an amazing coincidence that a guy named Wetzel would start a pretzel company. I mean, that’s like too weird!
by Higz on Apr 1, 2009 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
For crying out loud...be more specific!
It’s like saying he lives in California.
Can’t you at least give the type of store? Pets? Furniture? Clothing?
by sothball on Apr 1, 2009 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Arte is from Tucson, IIRC.
Blogging is FUN!
by Downing Rules on Apr 1, 2009 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can't
because it wasn’t a store. Wrap your brains around that. This is fun.
by turs12 on Apr 1, 2009 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
My three guesses
Restaurant, brothel, car mechanic/detailing
by Rev Halofan on Apr 1, 2009 10:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually had to look up what brothel meant
but you’re very close with the third one. Right with the car, wrong with the specific.
by turs12 on Apr 2, 2009 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
MY GUESS: Gas Station...
Arte’s got a sweet black Mercedes… I had a friend riding alongside him for a while in Tempe a few weeks ago, got some funny pics of Arte driving.
Blogging is FUN!
by Downing Rules on Apr 2, 2009 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It was at a mall...
…how many malls have gas stations?
by sothball on Apr 2, 2009 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK I'll give in
and the winner is…valet parking
by turs12 on Apr 3, 2009 2:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oops.
My next guess … valet parking!!! ;) Boy, am I genius or what?
Blogging is FUN!
by Downing Rules on Apr 3, 2009 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Scrooge McDuck™ Money Bins, Inc?
Netherlands-2 Dominican Republic-0
by HaloDutch on Apr 1, 2009 7:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did you at least tell him you were reading about his team?
I was uncool before uncool was cool.
by WiHaloFan on Apr 1, 2009 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought long and hard about it
and it was while I was debating this in my head that I messed up what I was supposed to be doing.
by turs12 on Apr 1, 2009 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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