Paul Byrd was a great gamble on the part of GM Bill Stoneman last offseason. He was an affordable 5th starter and did better than most people predicted he would in his one season as an Angel.
In addition to freeing up some money for other additions, not signing Byrd had a little drama to it. The team unilaterally withdrew its offer to the free agnet pitcher. This is a good show of strength by the organization, reminiscent of Robert Duvall explaining Don Corleone in the first Godfather film
He never asks a second favor once he's refused the first, understood?
The Angels are showing baseball agents that this is a take-it-or-leave-it organization. When they call, you eithr get the deal done or you swim with the fishes in Cleveland.
Actually, I think Cleveland's pick-up of Byrd will have a big impact on their taking that division. We may even rue it come next October...
But it was the right thing to do to focus the finances on a power hitter and make everyone aware that we are not the team with whom to dicker.