Angels’ Off-season Progress: Nil by Wesley Cummings January 10, 2007

The Angels’ main goal off-season is to find a big bat and try to keep the pitching staff together. The Angels are supposed to be willing to include young prodigies such as Ervin Santana, Chone Figgins, and Casey Kotchman among others in possible trades. This hope of adding a big bat is looking slimmer and grimmer as we approach the launch of the New Year. The reality is that the Angel’s general manager, Bill Stoneman, is very hesitant on departing with future all-stars such as Santana and Shields. Stoneman feels that there is plenty of time to sign or trade for a bat, but the evidence proves otherwise.
The Angels missed out on opportunities to trade for homerun hitters Alex Rodriguez (NYY 3B) and also missed signing Aramis Ramirez (CHC 3B). Ramirez re-signed with the Cubs and Rodriguez refuses to be traded. With the failure of those two opportunities, Stoneman and the Angels look to possibly sign Shea Hillenbrand (SF 1B/3B; who batted .277 with 21 HR in ‘06). The Angels are held back from this possible contract with Hillenbrand because he was essentially kicked out of Toronto, as a result of a heated argument he had with Toronto Blue Jays manager. That little fact is halting the Angels’ possibility of signing him, for now.
Recently at the Winter Meetings the Angles struck up the possibility of trading for Adam LaRoche (Atl 1B; who hit 32 HR and had 90 RBIs in ’06), but in return the Braves are asking for Chone Figgins, Casey Kotchman (the Angels are willing pardon with both) and/or either Scott Shields or Ervin Santana. However, as usual, Stoneman is hesitant to do this because Shields and Santana were both key contributors to the success of last year and years prior. The Angels also had a conversation with the Chicago White Sox about another possible trade, Chone Figgins and Ervin Santana for Joe Crede (CHW 3B; who hit 30 HR and drove in 94 RBIs) and Feddy Garcia (CHW SP). Again, Stoneman is still hesitant to go through with this.
However, the Angels have made a few great acquisitions. Stoneman was able to bring in four important people that could lead the Angels’ success in the 2007 season. The Angels signed Gold Glove Winner Gary Matthew Jr. (formally on the Texas Rangers) for five years and $50 million. How this is going to unfold will be seen in the next few years. The Angels also signed right-handed reliever Justin Speier who last year had an ERA of 2.98 and 55 strikeouts. He did and outstanding job of putting guys out and setting up the saves for B.J. Ryan in Toronto. He will be a key pitcher for the Angels this following season, sharing the load with Scott Shields. With the departure of legendary pitching coach and beloved Angel, Bud Black, the Angels needed to find a pitching coach. They found in him in the form of Mike Butcher. This marks his return to the Angels. He too will play a crucial part in the pitching success of the Angels this season. Along with these three, the Angels signed Daren Oliver on Monday, December 11. He is an expert left-handed pitcher, who was formally on the New York Mets. He held lefty opposing batters to a .231 batting average and lefties to .208 average in ’06. The Angels needed a situational left-hander in the bullpen and Oliver should easily fill that void.
So as to not paint the wrong picture, the Angels off-season has not been a failure, but in the eyes of many die-hard Angel fans, it has. Angel fans want to see a big bat signed here soon or this season, many fans will be angry. Stoneman’s idea of not breaking up important pitchers in the pitching staff, just to bring in a bat and possibly allowing a few more runs cross home plate in doing so, is smart. He knows that the Angels need a bat to back up big Vladimir Guerrero, but he is not going to rush into a transaction that could possibly hurt the team without checking all his options. The Angels will keep tabs on LaRoche, Crede, Garcia, Hillenbrand, and others. Something will happen, just maybe not as fast as Angels fans would like. Regardless of a big bat or not, the Angels’ pitching staff, once again, is the favorite to be the strongest in Major League Baseball and will continue to dominate.