At this moment, I believe that the Angels are the favorites to win the World Series. The addition of Mark Texiera is a game-changer, because LA can bat Vlad-Texiera-Torri Hunter 3-4-5. And, the power arms in the bullpen - Kevin Jepsen-to-Jose Arredondo-to-Scot Shields-to Frankie is the very best in the game. Yesterday, Hall of Famer Peter Gammons joined us on the Mason & Ireland show, and he has an excellent appraisal of the Halos along with some good news for Dodger fans. (It is funny that Peter dwells on the Dodgers a little more, and is sucked in by the Joe Torre managing Manny Ramirez storyline over the Angels, who have the best record in the American League.)
What is it about Gammons? When I hear his voice, whether it's on Baseball Tonight or ESPN Radio, I perk up. I just believe that he knows more about baseball than any analyst out there. We've got a lot of great ones at ESPN with Tim Kirkjen, Steve Phillips, Rob Neyer, Jason Stark, Buster Olney and on and on, but, "In Pete, I Trust."
Also Tuesday, K-Rod's agent Paul Kinzer told us that he expects Frankie Rodriguez to get the biggest contract in history for a closer. If I'm the Angels, I let him leave. The saves record is pretty spectacular, but with Shields, Arredondo and Jepsen in the pen, he can be replaced. What if Frankie leaves, and the Angels cannot re-sign Texiera? (Don't expect them to keep both because owner Arte Moreno said this week that his unofficial salary cap for 2009.)
Here's who they are locked into for 2009.
Vlad Guerrero - $15M option to pick up
Garry Matthews Jr. - $10M (and 2 more years after that)
Torii Hunter - $17.5M
Garrett Anderson - $14M or $3M buyout
Kelvim Escobar - $9.5M
John Lackey - $9M option to pick up
Scot Shields - $5M
Justin Speier - $4.75M
Here are the Angels free agents.
Chone Figgins (best case $6-$7M)
Jon Garland (best case $10M)
Juan Rivera (best case $3M)
Darren Oliver ($2M or $250,000 buyout)
Frankie Rodriguez
Mark Texiera (5 years $100M)
If the Angels buyout Garrett Anderson, which I think is a very good idea, is that would but the Halos at $74M, and let's call it $82M is you throw in all the young guys. Using Arte's $120M budget, that's $38M left to build a roster.
I say, let KRod and Garland go. Try to sign Texiera, but he'll probably wind up with the Yankees. Re-sign Rivera and Figgins. Chase Adam Dunn for first base and CC Sabathia to join the rotation. That would give the Angels Matthews, Hunter and Vlad in the OF and Rivera at DH with Dunn at 1B. Their rotation would go Sabathia, Lackey, Saunders, Weaver, Santana and maybe Kelvim Escobar comes back and you've got an arm to trade.
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