MVN: Most Valuable Network

A few weeks ago, I ranked Kelvim Escobar as the second-best signing in the Arte Moreno era, after Vladimir Guerrero. But now Escobar is looking at shoulder surgery that could end his season. Read the story here.

Here is what I wrote about Escobar at the time, when I rated him as the second-best addition:

Kelvim Escobar - (Signed after the 2003 season) - God bless Kelvim Escobar. Since he signed with the Halos, he has gone 43-35 and has posted ERAs under 4 for every season he has been with the Angels. If he had received better run support, he might be something like 55 - 23. And he’s still signed for two more years with each year under $10 million; if Escobar had been a free agent either now or last year, he would be asking for $12-13 million a year, if not more.

Unfortunately, I forgot to mention that Kelvim Escobar is a major injury risk. He gets hurt more than a Scott Spiezio neighbor!

If the worst comes to pass and Escobar does need to have shoulder surgery that might knock him out for the year, it is a large blow to the Angels. But it does make the deal the Angels made to add Jon Garland in the offseason all the more prescient. Or perhaps the Angels simply knew that they can't count on Escobar to remain healthy.

Escobar apparently will work to rehab and strengthen the shoulder over the next two weeks but since this is a situation where the shoulder is torn, I don't think it's likely that he will come back. It's a torn shoulder, for Pete's sake!

For know, I think Angels fans can assume the worst - but we will know more in two to three weeks. But for now, pencil in Jered Weaver, Jon Garland, Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana and Dustin Moseley as your five Angels starters to begin the year. That's the best rotation in baseball, right?!