A few posts back I mentioned that I think the Angels should consider offering Manny Ramirez a four-year contract for about $100 million, rather than offer Mark Teixeira a 10-year contract for $200 million.
Now I am beginning to wonder if the Angels should even do that.
It was about this time last year that the Angels shocked many in the baseball world when they swooped in and grabbed Torii Hunter for five years at $18 million a year.
And while I was satisfied with the Hunter contract at the time, I am not sure if the Angels need to spend that kind of money and then some to get a free agent like Ramirez, Teixeira or even C.C. Sabathia.
I don’t think that it would necessarily be in the Angels’ best interest to be the first bidder for guys like Ramirez and Teixeira – guys who will command a premium because they happen to employ a guy named Scott Boras.
(Sidenote: Do you think that in the offseason that Boras and his clients dive around and swim in a giant Money Bin? Just a thought.)
The Angels might be better off by waiting to see how the market plays out – and even consider missing out on Ramirez, Sabathia and Teixeira.
There is always the possibility the Angels could find the missing pieces they need through a trade and the team will still be competitive in 2009.
Kendry Morales seems more than competent and ready to start at first base and the Angels will get Kelvim Escobar back as a fifth starter – until he gets injured again.
You might argue that the Angels need Ramirez or Teixeira to be competitive in 2009. But I have breaking news for you – I don’t see any way how the Angels can enter 2009 without looking like a weaker team than the 2008 squad – at least on paper. (And the 2008 squad did not make it to the World Series, like so many believed.)
The Angels are likely going to move into 2009 without their closer, without their all-time leader in hits and RBIs, without one of their five starters, without a decent backup outfielder and potentially without a slugging first baseman.
The bottom line is the Angels have a lot of holes to fill for the 2009 season and saddling the team with $20 million and/or $25 million contracts may weaken the team in the long run.
I would rather the Angels patch up their holes in the lineup with quality players at fewer dollars or through the minor league system. At the same time, maybe the team can control costs and lower or at least keep consistent the cost to attend games, given the state of the economy.
(Angels tickets are pretty cheap but I would not want to run the risk of having to pay more because the Angels signed a premium free agent. Call it the Teix Tax.)
If the Angels miss out on the big free agents so be it. Given the state of the economy, the fact that many people are losing their homes and their jobs, it might be worth it to pull back and measure the health of the economy and re-enter the free agent sweepstakes in 2009 and 2010 – at which time the Angels can sign the biggest free agent of them all – Lebron James.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m really not worried about losing Krod or GA. Both are more than replaceable at far less than the cost they would demand for a new contract. GA is past his prime — we need a LF who hits for power, something GA hasn’t done in a long time.
Totally agree we don’t necessarily need C.C., ManRam or Tex… yet we are going to need to add another power bat at a corner position and a solid #3 pitcher (not sold on Weaver and Saunders being another more than #3 type moving forward).
We have a lot of flexibility as Figgins and Kendry can play multiple corner OF positions. We have 5 spots between RF, LF, 1B, 3B and DH. We have two openings right now (Matthews is a BACKUP OF and NOTHING more).
If not ManRam or Tex then we need to seriously consider Burrell and/or Crede.
1. Teams will pay a premium on Teixeira and Ramirez because they are the best hitters on the market, period. Same for Sabathia, whose agent is not Boras. The very best will get the most money regardless of who represents them.
2. Escobar will not be back until mid-season, if at all. So he is a non-factor with regards to offseason plans.
3. Garret and Frankie are easily replaceable and their 2008 contributions have been considerably overrated. I’ll take Morales and Arredondo, thank you.
One way or another, we will need a starter and a power bat. If its 2 of those 3 or none of them, the Angels cannot afford to stand pat.