The Mediocre Angels of Anaheim

by ~ December 23rd, 2008 at 12:33 pm

More potentially good news from Ken Rosenthal:

At least for the moment, the Angels are talking about finding offensive solutions from within. That means no Ramirez, no Adam Dunn, no Milton Bradley. Until further notice.

The fact is, the Angels will be devoid of left-handed power if they lose both Teixeira, a switch-hitter, and Garret Anderson. The biggest power threats among their remaining switch-hitters are Kendry Morales, who is unproven, and Gary Matthews Jr., who is recovering from knee surgery and might not be ready for Opening Day.

Dunn might make sense, but the Angels’ outfield is stacked and the team is accustomed to superior defenders such as Casey Kotchman and Teixeira at first base. Morales remains the leading candidate to replace Teixeira.

Jeff from Lookout Landing and Dave from USS Mariner have already commented on how weak the AL West is looking, and it will be even tighter if the Angels decline to chase one of the secondary free agents.

The West is very much up for grabs.  At this point in time, all four teams look like they’re very close to each other.

We’ve still got a couple more months of offseason to go, but it could be interesting.

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  • BoiseM

    Tony Reagins….

    “”Manny Ramirez will not play for the Angels in 2009, or beyond, for that matter.”

    Letting Anderson’s LH bat go will hurt them more than they think. Even a “healthy” GMjr offers no protection for Vlad.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    Losing Anderson wouldn’t hurt anyone. He’s a league average hitter at best but will get paid a few million.

    After all those years of being underrated, he’s now one of the most overrated players on the market.

    I’m not saying they don’t need a lefty bat, but Anderson isn’t that guy anymore.

  • Mr.Benton

    What about Vladimir Guerrero? he is a power threat, no?

  • Mr.Benton

    even if he isn’t a switch hitter

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    That’s about all they’ve got, though. No one to protect him (Hunter will bat in front of him).

  • chris d

    Yes, and thank _____(higher power of choice) that Bavasi is gone or he would have seen the current Anderson as a good purchase. He probably signed him 15 years ago. I am grateful we do not have to worry about Mr JZ doing something so foolish.

  • http://myspace.com/tr1ckz pmbaseball7

    With Teix on the Yanks, the Angels offense looks like the M’s offense going into last season. All the M’s need to do is sign that power bat and make some moves for either a new SS or 2B and we might be in business after all. But don’t get your hopes up because the Angels have their pitching still with Lackey, Santana, Weaver and Saunders. Also their new CL Jose Arredondo looks like a young K-Rod (10-2 1.62 ERA in ’08).

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    @ 6: If Bavasi were still here, I’d guarantee an Anderson signing. He’d be seen as a perfect fit.

    @ 7: Their starting staff is very good, but beyond that their team is a bunch of question marks. Their bullpen is iffy (although I do like Arredondo as well), their lineup is weakened and their defense (infield and outfield) is awful. They are very one dimensional at this point.