Guillen gone 

Posted 2:53 PM by Sean
No Piazza for us! Jose Guillen has been traded to the Washington Whomevers for Juan Rivera and "a prospect."

Rivera is a reasonably promising 26-year-old outfielder who's never played full-time in the majors, coming closest in 2004 with 391 ABs. His splits last year:

vRHP: 235 AB, .328/.390/.468
vLHP: 156 AB, .276/.323/.462

Ehhhhhh...okay. I'm not sure what the Angels are going to do with Rivera; he could be a fourth outfielder, a DH, a pinch-hitter, or trade bait. The Angels already have a fourth outfielder in DaVanon, though of course some combination of Rivera and DaVanon could play the outfield while GA DH'es. I'm a little bit skeptical of the Angels' intentions to play Rivera full-time, though, since they're already committed to putting McPherson at third, and having both of them learning on the job like that may be a little much. Still, Rivera's not eligible for arbitration yet, and should make less than half a million dollars in 2005, so the club has the luxury of seeing how he does in spring training, and can carry him on the bench or trade him elsewhere if they so desire.

More interestingly, the move frees up about three million in payroll for 2005. More and more, it's looking like the Angels could make serious runs at two top-tier free agents. By my calculations, they're committed to about $78 million for 2005 right now, and need a starter, two relievers, and an outfielder or a DH.

Terrifying trade rumor of the day 

Posted 8:59 AM by Sean
Piazza for Guillen? Eeek.

Guillen, 2004: .294/.352/.497, 27 HR
Guillen, 2005: 29 y.o., $3 million

Piazza, 2004: .266/.362/.444, 20 HR
Piazza, 2005: 36 y.o., $15 million

Does Piazza have a year's worth of DHing in him? Almost certainly. I mean, look at the Angels' production from that spot last year:

ANA DH 2004: .240/.323/.401, 21 HR

But the Mets would have to eat a LOT of salary to make this work. As in, $10 million.

Roster moves 

Posted 8:51 AM by Sean
The next wave of Angels prospects progresses: Jeff Mathis, Alberto Callaspo, Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders, and Steven Shell have all been placed on the 40-man roster.

Motor City Squinting Madman 

Posted 3:25 PM by Sean
Troy Percival's a Tiger, having signed a two-year, $12 million contract.

File this under "necessary but painful." Percy was on the mound for the ALDS clincher versus the Yankees, the ALCS clincher versus the Twins, and the World Series clincher versus the Giants, plus the Western Division clincher versus the A's. It's going to be incredibly strange seeing him in a Detroit uniform.

(edit: I inadvertently swiped Chronicles' title earlier, so I changed mine.)

Em Vee Pee 

Posted 2:11 PM by Sean
Vlad's the MVP, and all is right with the world.

Got a Molina, leave a Molina; need a Molina, take a Molina 

Posted 5:01 PM by Sean
The Angels have exercised their option on Bengie Molina for the 2005 season, and have declined their option on Ramon Ortiz. Neither of these is especially surprising. Molina will make $3 million in 2005, and, though his performance in 2004 was cause for concerned, upgrading to a more reliable backstop through free agency would have cost quite a bit more than the Angels were prepared to pay at that position. As it stands, they've got Jose available to replace Bengie if need be - not exactly a terrific offensive force, but excellent behind the plate.

So far, the Angels are making all the right moves if they're trying to situate themselves so as to pick up a top-tier free agent or two.

As I was saying, before I was interrupted... 

Posted 11:51 AM by Sean
Old news:

Both Troy Percival and Troy Glaus are gone for '05. This should not have come as a shock to anyone who was paying attention to the payroll numbers. Considering the fact that the Angels have McPherson and Rodriguez ready to step into those roles at a fraction of the price, these were more or less no-brainers for the club.

Arte Moreno says he wants to change the team's name to the Los Angeles Angels. Apparently some people think this is a big deal, but I couldn't care less. If they change the unis, I'm out $25 for a new hat. Otherwise, unless you're on the Angels' marketing staff or the Anaheim City Counsel, I fail to see why this should spill any beer at all.

Transaction rumors, and my takes thereupon:

Nomah - too pricey. Renteria is better, and possibly cheaper.
Randy Johnson - oh, hell yes. For one year? You'd better believe it.
Pedro - not if Pavano's available for substantially cheaper, or if Johnson can be had for one year.
Beltran - That'd be nice too.
Piazza - No freakin' way, and I hope like hell that's some kind of joke. It has to be, doesn't it?

So, lessee...figure $9 million for Renteria, $16.5 million for Johnson, and $14 million for Beltran, plus, say, a million for a reliever, minus $3 million for Jose Guillen, that comes to an additional $37.5 million over the payroll they're already committed to (give or take a Molina). So this merry band could be brought together for a mere $115 million or so, or $7 million short of what Arte paid to be Western Division champeens in 2004.