Cano? Not worth the money. McCann? Big health question. Hudson? Definitely worth the gamble.
This was the general consensus from our first "Additions in Anaheim" segment. Cano would be a decent producer in Anaheim, but certainly not worth Prince Fielder money. McCann's numbers appeared fit for a decent contract, but with catcher being his only true destination, the contract would be completely dependent on the health of McCann's legs. Hudson's role seemed tailor-made for Anaheim, and his stats would be good enough to where he'd be worth his money.
Our next three figure to raise some eyebrows at each turn. One is a trade target, while the other two are free agents. We'll take a look at the biggest name first.
DAVID PRICE (SP, TBR 2008-13)
So far the only player to be featured who is still under contract. Any trade for Price would net us two years at the minimum of his services, which is what we'll assume he'll have here (I'd rather not try and foresee two offseasons ahead). Any trade for Price would also cost us big; Trumbo would almost be a guarantee in a Price deal, plus whatever pieces in our farm system that still carry value, which would likely be any three of C.J. Cron, Taylor Lindsey, Kaleb Cowart, Zach Borenstein, Randal Grichuk or Alex Yarbrough. Another note: Garrett Richards, painfully so, is probably not untouchable in Price trade talks. In any case, before we start conjecturing to no good end what package we send to Tampa Bay, let's focus on the return piece and how he'd do as an Angel.
2014 SEASON WITH ANGELS
G | IP | W | L | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | HR | ER | K/9 | BB/9 | H/9 | HR/9 | K/BB |
33 | 212.1 | 15 | 9 | 3.26 | 1.201 | 194 | 60 | 195 | 13 | 77 | 8.2 | 2.5 | 8.3 | 0.6 | 3.23 |
Well that's certainly lovely. Price would probably be number-two between Jered Weaver and fellow southpaw C.J. Wilson, slotting ahead any two of Jason Vargas, Garrett Richards, Jerome Williams or Joe Blanton...or any other free agent that should enter our crosshairs. These stats would CERTAINLY be desired from any pitcher with the Angels--his projected ERA is right on line with the career average of Weaver--and we would be able to truly wield dual aces, or perhaps triple aces if Wilson puts up 2011 numbers again. But let's see what a second season would hold for Price, and what it would give him as an Angel heading into his projected walk year.
TWO YEAR CONTRACT WITH ANGELS
G | IP | W | L | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | HR | ER | K/9 | BB/9 | H/9 | HR/9 | K/BB |
67 | 431 | 31 | 18 | 3.03 | 1.111 | 412 | 113 | 366 | 24 | 145 | 8.6 | 2.4 | 7.6 | 0.5 | 3.65 |
For those who are statistically savvy and already trying to isolate his 2015 season from these stats, it makes for a monstrous walk year. 218.2 innings pitched, going 16-9 with a 2.80 ERA, 1.024 WHIP, 217 K and a 4.09 strikeout-to-walk ratio. We're talking enough to bag him a second Cy Young Award for his walk year. The guy would rake in an Angels uniform, and there's no doubt about it. You only have to ask one question: is what we'd be giving up worth that sort of return? And would we lock that sort of talent up right away?
SHIN-SOO CHOO (OF, SEA 2005-06; CLE 2007-12; CIN 2013)
The last thing the Angels need is another outfielder...which inevitably means it's the first thing Arte Moreno is going to look at. But if Arte's going to make another irrelevant and unnecessary Big Splash, the one that will cause the least "ugh" factor is Choo. He'll be pricy and there's no doubt about it (Scott Boras reportedly seeks $100+ million for him across at least six years). Many teams look at his age of 31 and are wary of six guaranteed years. Let's assume Arte breaks the bank AGAIN, and goes 6 years at $120 million for Choo. Let's see how 2014 looks with him as an Angel...
2014 SEASON WITH ANGELS
G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | HBP | GIDP | SF | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
152 | 685 | 578 | 79 | 171 | 36 | 2 | 13 | 89 | 30 | 10 | 69 | 117 | 11 | 11 | 9 | .296 | .376 | .433 | .809 |
Looks nice to me. Choo has always been a decent performer in Anaheim while on the road, and with his overall career stats backing up his track record, it's not unreasonable to assume the trend carries over. He'd be a pretty nice signing, especially if both Mark Trumbo AND Peter Bourjos get dealt (which would push Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols or Kole Calhoun to DH duty), but the price tag is what gets me. We just denied a $14 million offer to Jason Vargas because of luxury tax concerns. Even if we backload a 6/120 contract with Choo, the average annual value (AAV) is what counts against the team for luxury tax purposes. His contract would be more offensive to the payroll than a qualifying offer to Vargas would've been...but, the Arte wants what the Arte wants, and last year's shunning of Torii Hunter for Hamilton is proof. Don't put it past him. If it DOES happen, we have this to look forward to over six years:
SIX YEAR CONTRACT WITH ANGELS
G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | HBP | GIDP | SF | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
894 | 3973 | 3352 | 461 | 980 | 209 | 11 | 72 | 512 | 146 | 49 | 406 | 679 | 65 | 72 | 53 | .292 | .374 | .426 | .800 |
Money not considered, the output is worth good money. The question to ask is whether it's worth $20 million per year. Will his age play a more significant factor than what I projected? Will his legs hold up? A lot of ifs, ands and buts to the possibility of signing Choo, and the consequences that could be reaped from it. It's another McCann-type situation for me. Independent of the health risks, I'd jump on the opportunity. But taking his age into account is what makes a six-year deal for him difficult to accept.
BRIAN WILSON (RP, SFG 2006-12; LAD 2013)
It's like last offseason all over again. There were some at this time last year that felt the risk of signing Wilson after his second Tommy John was worth the potential return. Jerry Dipoto, however, decided that if anyone was going to give us a good return from Tommy John, it would be Ryan Madson. That was just a keen business move, wasn't it? Madson got paid $3.25 million to pitch twice at Single-A and then sit at home because his rehab tanked. Wilson, meanwhile, shipped up the 5 and played a key second-half cog to the Dodgers' bullpen, posting a 0.66 ERA and a 0.878 WHIP across 13 games. Could Wilson find a landing spot in Anaheim? Will his beard fit? Would he dye it red? Wilson is a likely buy on a one-year contract, but if he's offered multiple years, I doubt he'd be scoffing at it. A two-year deal, rational or not, seems like the contract we'd be inclined to give him (or at least one with a vesting option, akin to the contract projected for Tim Hudson).
2014 SEASON WITH ANGELS
G | GF | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | HR | ER | K/9 | BB/9 | H/9 | HR/9 | K/BB |
65 | 23 | 64.1 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 3.08 | 1.228 | 68 | 22 | 57 | 3 | 22 | 9.5 | 3.1 | 8.0 | 0.4 | 3.09 |
Not every day that you can encounter a pitcher whose K/BB ratio is higher than their ERA. It's a nice thing to have. Wilson's days as a closer would likely be over if he came to Anaheim--but his presence in a setup role for the Dodgers didn't seem to suggest any difficulties with that. His presence in the bullpen, coupled with this projected performance from him, would be stellar to go along with a healthy Sean Burnett, plus Dane De La Rosa and Ernesto Frieri. But does the post-TJ magic hold up come 2015?
TWO YEAR CONTRACT WITH ANGELS
G | GF | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | H | HR | ER | K/9 | BB/9 | H/9 | HR/9 | K/BB |
122 | 43 | 120.2 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 3.21 | 1.260 | 128 | 42 | 110 | 6 | 43 | 9.5 | 3.1 | 8.2 | 0.4 | 3.05 |
So 2015 winds up a little shakier. So what? He'd hardly be a negative effect on our bullpen with those stats. His overall tenure across two years is something I think the Angels could definitely use. We wouldn't be doing another Madson-type gamble, since Wilson has already proven he can pitch after having the surgery (a second time, mind you, when it's not as easy to come back). If he can be had at one year with an option--or maybe even just two guaranteed years--for similar money to what we gave Burnett, I think everyone could go home happy.
In the next edition, we'll be looking at a pitcher who has taken ace quality almost everywhere he's gone, a catcher whose splendor is in more than just his name, and a bullpen piece definitely worth yelling for.