Angels Out Of Left field

I don’t really want to write an article right now but I must. The Angels have signed Albert Pujols to a 10 year $250 million deal and CJ Wilson to a 5 year $75 million deal. I think they would now be the favorites from the AL mainly because of their pitching staff. They now have Weaver, Haren,Santana, and Wilson as a pretty strong top 4. Their lineup doesn’t look too bad now either after adding Pujols. I think they have the best pitching in the AL, and I think with the upgrades at 1^st with Pujols and Catcher with Iannetta, the Angels will be able to produce enough runs to win a lot of ballgames. I think the Mike Trout, easily a top 5 prospect in all of baseball, will step up and contribute a lot to the team this year too, so they have a lot of help coming their way to add to last year’s squad which was 10 games back of the division winners the Texas Rangers. They were 3^rd in the wild card race and with 2 teams getting in the wild card it even betters their chances of making the playoffs which I think is where they will shine due to their pitching staff. The Rangers are no doubt still a strong team, but they LOST their ace CJ Wilson to the Angels so that is a big swing in the Angels favor. I think the worst case for this Angels club now is a wild card spot, but I think this puts them ahead of the Rangers as of now. I wasn’t expecting them to land Pujols, Wilson yes, but not Pujols so I am a little shocked still. This has been a crazy offseason already. A few more quick things, K-Rod now expected to sign arbitration deal, and Octavio Dotel close to a 1 year deal with the Tigers. Oh and LaTroy Hawkings signs a 1 year $3 million deal with the Angels so they are on a bit of a shopping spree, and there goes 3 relievers on a pretty deep relieving market.

The MLB Offseason Rolls On, Not Too Many Big Splashes Just Yet Though

To keep you up to date I’m going to quickly run you by some news in the MLB of late. Veteran 36 year old defensive stud Jose Molina signs a 1 year deal worth $1.5 million to play for the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays didn’t bring back Shoppach and traded Jaso, so this fills a need for them, Molina is not a great offensive player but will be a good fit for an always young Rays team who could use leaders like Molina, I think it’s a great fit. It’s been reported that the Phillies reached out to retired closer Billy Wagner to see if he had any interest in coming back and joining their bullpen. He said no, and they moved on signing Jonathan Papelbon. They could still probably use another solid veteran arm in their bullpen, but Madson could come back to them in arbitration, or they could add someone with free agency, there is still a lot of good value arms out there. They say it is not a necessity to bring in another vet to the pen, but I think if they don’t now it will continue to eat away their farm system because they almost certainly would need one or more at the trade deadline. Miami Marlins continue to make people believe they will spend money on some big name free agent this offseason as they had CJ Wilson visit today. Wilson one of the top, if not the top starting pitcher available in this year’s free agency is among good company in sparking the interest of the Marlins. The Marlins have been said to be interested in pretty much everyone on the market from Pujols to Buehrle to Reyes, and now Wilson. A lot of experts are saying they like Miami to land Reyes, which I can’t argue with the fact that it is a strong possibility. This would most likely end with Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez moving to 3B. Finally Johnny Narron was named Brewers hitting coach to replace Dale Sveum who recently became manager of the Chicago Cubs. Narron was a big part of Josh Hamilton’s reemergence to baseball relevancy when he came back with the Cincinnati Reds and when he was traded to the Texas Rangers. Let’s see what he does with what should be a very good Milwaukee lineup next season.

Nathan and Feliz, Rangers Priming for another WS appearance

Neftali Feliz is being moved from the Texas Ranger’s closer role, to the starting rotation. To fill the hole left at closer the Rangers signed Joe Nathan whom turns 37 today. Happy birthday! Nathan signed for 2 years and a contract value of 14.5 million, with an option for a third year. From 2004-2009 Nathan was a premiere closer for the Minnesota Twins, in 2010 though he missed the season due to Tommy John Surgery. He came back in 2011, far less dominant than previous to the surgery, but the Rangers will look for him to improve from last year’s mediocre season. In my mind Nathan should be able to get the job done at closer for the Rangers this year, but even if he doesn’t the Rangers have a strong bullpen with other options. I’d throw Mike Adams or Koji Uehara in at closer any day. Perhaps just as interesting as Nathan’s season will be, Feliz who is now in the starting rotation and will certainly be in critics eyes if he doesn’t perfom well. A lot of people are saying that it’s hard to find high level closers, and that Feliz should stay there, but why have a pitcher with so much talent throw 70 innings or less, when he could be throwing 200+. If Feliz can handle the rotation, that is where he will make a bigger impact, if you don’t already know, I think closers are overrated. I want my best players on the field the most innings possible. For all you who say don’t move him to the rotation, are you still mad that CJ Wilson was moved from closer to the rotation for the Rangers not too long ago? Didn’t think so, that worked out quite well. Good move/moves, by the Rangers. They are getting ready for another AL title and are looking like a favorite already. If they re-sign Wilson then they will be my favorite for sure, if not they are still amongst the elite, and this move is only helping them. Nathan’s deal was of good value for the closers market, and I’m sure Feliz will do fine in the rotation; this is why the Rangers win, moves like this.