Angels' Offseason...

Plaschke recently discussed the resignation of Angels' GM Bill Stoneman and the front office dynamics that will result. The increased influence that manager Mike Scioscia and speculation about the possible resulting moves serve as the basic premise for the column.

Since the Angels' World Series victory in 2002, the work of Stoneman was viewed through two prisms. On one hand, he and his staff did an excellent job of building one of the most highly regarded stables of prospects in MLB. On the other hand, Stoneman valued those same prospects to the point where he could not be persuaded to part with any of them in order to procure the slugger that the Angels' desperately needed to enable them to again reach the Fall Classic. While those prospects have now begun fulfilling some of their promise, taking hold of everyday jobs with at the major league level (1B Casey Kotchman, Cs Jeff Mathis and Mike Napoli, 2B Howie Kendrick, OF Reggie Willits, and Ps Jeff Weaver, Joe Saunders, and Ervin Santana), none have been thus far able to fill the considerable void behind Vladimir Guerrero in the lineup.

Plaschke indicates that some definite changes can be expected with the introduction of new GM Tony Reagins and the increased role that Scioscia is expected to play in player personnel decisions. Plaschke speculates that the aggressive methods that Scioscia displays in game management will be replicated in the Angels' personnel moves, postulating about possible deals for the Twins' Johan Santana and the Orioles' Miguel Tejada. Though it is no secret that the Angels covet both players (the Angels even reached a deal in principle with the Orioles prior to the trading deadline in 2006 for Tejada in exchange for Santana and Erick Aybar, which was scuttled by Orioles owner Peter Angelos), the reality is that Santana will extract an exorbitant price that may leave the cupboard too bare to be able to also acquire Tejada.

With a likely starting pitching staff that will comprise John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar, Jeff Weaver, Joe Saunders, and Ervin Santana, the Angels are beginning from a position of strength. While Santana ranks amongst the top five pitchers in the game, he may be a luxury that the Angels can not afford if they want to upgrade the offense. The Angels would be better off pursuing the Marlins' Miguel Cabrera, as posited in earlier posts. He provides better numbers than Tejada right now, with the principal difference being that Cabrera is about to turn 25 while Tejada is on the verge of the age of 32. Tejada also spent time on the disabled list for the first time in six seasons this past year, while his production has been slowly declining at the plate over the last two years.

Johan Santana's contract with the Twins expires after next season. If a member of the Angels staff struggles during the year, they can attempt to extract Santana from the Twins at that time, when the price will have likely gone down slightly due to Santana's impending status as a free agent. Should the price be too high, the Angels could bide their time, give an opportunity to one of their minor league prospects, and use Arte Moreno's considerable resources to big for Santana's services next offseason. Perhaps the idea of pitching with fellow Venezuelan Kelvim Escobar will serve as an additional enticement for Santana, who, with his pointed criticism of the Twins organization after their midseason trade of 2B Luis Castillo, clearly wants to play for an aggressive and competitive organization?

I hope that this offseason will provide a glimpse of a new aggressive stance on the part of the Angels' leadership, with Scioscia's influence leading that charge. However, with little roster flexibility, their moves must be shrewd in addition to aggressive. A third baseman fits well with the current strengths of the roster. With Guerrero likely to require additional starts at the DH spot, Chone Figgins can rotate between third base and right field to spell Guerrero and any new additions at 3B. Center field, a position of strength in this year's free agent market, is not a likely source of relief for the Angels, as has been postulated in several mediums. Even if the Angels' could entice Andruw Jones, Torii Hunter, or Aaron Roward to the big A, the large and long term contact signed by Gary Matthews is not one the Angels can easily set aside. And, with his struggles at the plate this past year, it is unlikely the Angels would be able to extract much in the way of value from another organization. In spite of his struggles on the offensive side of the ball, Matthews served as a stabilizing force for the up the middle defense, covering a great deal of ground between Guerrero and LF Garrett Anderson, once again making the Angels' defense a source of strength for the team after a difficult and error prone 2006. Therefore, 3B appears to be a likely position for the Angels to address, but, with the Angels' unlikely to dole out the funds A-Rod and Scott Boras will require and the Red Sox likely to re-sign Mike Lowell, they will have to be creative in their dealings with other franchises.