Finley to sign with Angels

According to ESPN, Steve Finley's going to be signing with the Anaheim
Angels for 2 years in the $15-$20 million range.

So much for Gonzo convincing his old pal to come back to Phoenix.

--Paul
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"Paul Wylie" <paul.TakeThisOut@teamwylie.removemunged.org> wrote in message
news:cpd6to$h0a$1@reader1.panix.com...
> According to ESPN, Steve Finley's going to be signing with the Anaheim
> Angels for 2 years in the $15-$20 million range.
>
> So much for Gonzo convincing his old pal to come back to Phoenix.

That option for a third year and a few easily-met-if-healthy incentive
clauses apparently made the difference. The Tigers and DBacks reportedly
both offered more guaranteed money, but without the escalators or the
option; San Francisco wanted to sign him before arbitration day (to get rid
of their top draft pick? or did they lose that in the Benitez deal?) but
seemed to break off negotiations pending the Winter Meetings (brilliant).

Pure Speculation Mode: Might also have been important to Finley that, while
AZ's ownership is, at best, clumsy and aloof, Arte Moreno possesses many of
the personal and professional qualities that made playing under Jerry
Colangelo such a joy for a guy like himself. Finley talked to the Angels'
closest equivalent player to himself, Tim Salmon, about the people within
the organization and received glowing reports; I doubt he'd have had the
same experience where DBacks' management were considered.