Angels, Torii: Trust Us, We're Professionals
The Angels made their second fairly strange, out-of-the-blue -- but very interesting -- roster move in three days, signing free-agent outfielder Torii Hunter for five years at a guestimated $80 million.
Hunter is a power hitter and outstanding center fielder, but the Angels already have a first-rate center fielder in Gary Matthews Jr. -- to whom they gave a five-year, $50 million contract only a year ago.
In a lot of ways, they have the same guy twice. Hunter is 32, Matthews is 33. Hunter is coming off a career year, as was Matthews when the Angels signed him last year. Hunter's career batting average is .271 (Matthews' is .261), Hunter's career on-base percentage is .324 (Matthews' is .334). Neither guy walks much. Hunter has more pop in his bat (192 career homers to Matthews' 92), which I guess explains the extra $30 million he's going to get.
The other weird move was on Monday, when the Angels traded shortstop Orlando Cabrera, their best position player in 2007, to the White Sox for middle-of-the-rotation right-hander Jon Garland.
So, what's going on? It's not entirely clear, but the Angels duo of Tony Reagins (the new, wave-making GM) and manager Mike Scioscia seem to be saying, "trust us, we know what we're doing."
I don't think the Angels are done moving people.
They now have a surplus at two positions: Outfield, where they have six guys for three spots (four, if one of them DHs) -- Vlad Guererro, Garret Anderson, Juan Rivera, Reggie Willits, Matthews and Hunter; and starting pitcher, with John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar, Jared Weaver, Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana and Garland.
Thus, they are in position to trade some of those surplus guys to get better in the infield, where at the moment they have Chone Figgins at third, Erick Aybar or Maicer Izturis or Brandon Wood at shortstop, Howie Kendick at second and Casey Kotchman at first.
Obviously, Miguel Cabrera of the Florida Marlins is The Man at third, in this trading season, and the Angels now can send the Marlins people like Willits and Santana, who are fairly young and seriously inexpensive, and maybe Wood, to Florida, where he could replace Miggy in the lineup -- and not give up any more of the prized kids, such as pitcher Nick Adenhart and Kendrick. Willits, Santana and Wood wouldn't cost the bargain-hunting Marlins much more than $1 million for the three of them, and Miggy figures to get something like $12 million via arbitration.
Another take here is ... the Angels are going to move Matthews. He has an HGH issue hanging over his head, and a suspension for 2008 is possible. Either way, the Angels were far less than pleased when the HGH news came down last spring, starting with owner Arte Moreno. The club basically forced him to make a statement about the reports, which came out kind of namby-pamby. But the Mitchell Report is due in the next few weeks, and if he's going down for a while ...
Matthews, however, may be tough to trade, with four years left on that contract. Certainly, the Marlins won't want him.
Another factor to consider: This is Guerrero's walk year, and Anderson is 36. Willits' career gave no indication of the sort of numbers he put up in midseason, and he faded down the stretch. And Rivera may not be the same player since that badly broken leg limited him to 43 at-bats last year.
So maybe the Angels really DO think they need six first-string outfielders, including two premier center fielders, if not right at this minute, then soon.
Thing is, Hunter doesn't quite fit as The Big Bat behind Guerrero. Almost, but he's not Miggy.
The Angels aren't done. I believe they're still thinking Miggy, and they certainly have the bodies now to make an attractive bid for him.
No matter what, Reagins certainly has our attention. He is making some bold moves, surprising moves, presumably with Scioscia's input and clearly with Arte Moreno's permission -- because the club has a payroll of about $130 million, which represents a jump of about $20 million since the end of the season.
Keep an eye on these guys. They could be spending a lot of money on a club with some glaring imbalances ... or they are getting ready for yet another major move. I'm banking on the latter scenario.