Free Agency and Trades...

I would like to see the Angels pursue a guy like Adam Dunn of the Reds.
The Angels really need another bat in the lineup.
Try to pawn Steve Finley off to another team even if it means paying a
portion of his salary.
Use Josh Paul, Jeff DaVanon, and Robb Quinlan as trade bait.
Try to re-sign Jarrod Washburn, Paul Byrd, and Bengie Molina.
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Bill Z Bubb wrote:
> If we get a couple of good bats (or promote them), I'd be content with the
> loss of Bengie.

I like that you said a couple. Even so, I think he's got 1 more really
good year in him. I don't know if his legs will hold out after that.
Then he'd make a good coach.

> I'd like to see Figgins given the most time in center field because he
> needs to be better there.

But he's a third baseman. Okay, He's turned into a decent fielder, but
he is a third baseman. I guess I'd kind of like to see him able to
play it more.

Now, Finley(cuz some one is bound to bring him up)... I'd like to see
if he can break out of his slump over the winter. He's a great
fielder. But if he can't get his hitting back, I'm sorry, he will
probably need to go.
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Wheeitsme.RemoveThis@yahoo.com wrote:
> Any ideas or opinions?

Angels will lose Molina, sign Piazza (as the DH) and another starter.
Washburn is gone but as long as you've Vlad and GA in the middle of the
line up you're one up on most teams.
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Richard M. wrote:

> Use Josh Paul, Jeff DaVanon, and Robb Quinlan as trade bait.


I always find it amusing when people think it is possible to package
the last-rung guys on the roster for anything but last-rung players in
return.

Exactly what do you expect to get in return for Paul, DaVanon, and
Quinlan? There is a reason the Angels do not play these guys more
regularly. THEY ARE NOT VERY GOOD. They are bench material. I have to
believe that word has gotten around both leagues.
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Bill Z Bubb wrote:
> Wheeitsme.DeleteThis@yahoo.com wrote:
> > Any ideas or opinions?
>
> I'm of the opinion that if we could get a good trade for Erstad, I'd be
> quite content with it.
>
I don't see how you could get much value for him. His value is as a top
defensive center fielder, but if the perception is that he doesn't play
there because he can't handle the position anymore, then why would
anyone trade for him? And if he CAN handle the position, there is no
excuse for him not to be playing there for the Angels. I have to think
the Angels really boxed themselves in on this guy by making him the
worst hitting first baseman in MLB, outside of the converted catcher
manning the position in Oakland.

> If we get a couple of good bats (or promote them), I'd be content with the
> loss of Bengie.

I'd be content with that loss no matter what, because a catcher who has
his career year with the bat at age 31 is not someone you should give a
3 or 4-year deal to.

>
> I think a Byrd re-signing would be good insurance against a Colon or
> Escobar injury.

I'm with you on this one. He was a pleasant surprise. That change-up he
developed early in the season seems to be working for him.
>
> I'd like to see Quinlan given a lot of time in the infield as a backup for
> first and third base.

I think he was given precisely as much time as he deserved, when he was
on the active roster.

>
> I'd like to see Figgins given the most time in center field because he
> needs to be better there.

That makes no sense to me. You seem to be saying he is not very good
there (which I would agree with), so let's play him there more. No,
let's play Darin Erstad there, to open up first base for Kotchman.


>
> I hope they can find a place for Rivera so he can bat regularly.

I like Rivera's power, but his OBP this year was .316, and in his
career it is only a bit better (.331). So, his presence in the lineup
magnifies one of the team's worst problems: Low on base. I think Rivera
has "trade bait" written all over him. He is one of the few players on
the roster that the team would not miss all that much, but that some
other organization might find valuable enough to give up someone of
value in return.
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I just said to use Quinlan, DaVanon, and Paul as trade bait. They could
always package them together with cash or the always interesting player
to be named later. Some teams wouldn't bother going after Maicer and
Rivera, but the Angels still did.
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Matthew Shugart wrote:
> Richard M. wrote:
>
> > Use Josh Paul, Jeff DaVanon, and Robb Quinlan as trade bait.
>
>
> I always find it amusing when people think it is possible to package
> the last-rung guys on the roster for anything but last-rung players in
> return.
>
> Exactly what do you expect to get in return for Paul, DaVanon, and
> Quinlan? There is a reason the Angels do not play these guys more
> regularly. THEY ARE NOT VERY GOOD. They are bench material. I have to
> believe that word has gotten around both leagues.

I've seen this all my life. Many baseball fans are clueless. They can't
understand why the Angels don't trade Josh Paul for Arod. Why is
Albert Pujols still on the Cards when the Cards could have Jose Molina
for him? Why don't the Angels trade Josh Paul, Jeff DaVanon, and Robb
Quinlan together for Derek Jeter? Surely the Yankees would know that
three bodies for the price of one is a great deal.

Then again, these are some of the same nimrods who don't want to accept
the angels choked in the ALCS and are offended by the word.
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Folks like the idea of getting something for nothing.
I heard say if you buy a diamond ring for a nickel you end up with a
diamond ring that isn't worth a dime.

That said, staffing a baseball team is a bit of a gamble. Some teams
think that the player would play better if. If WE hire him, we'll get
him hitting/catching/etc. Sometimes it works, lots of times it
doesn't. Kind of like Vegas.
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