The Noise Factor with Matt Martz

Teixeira signs with the Yanks, K Rod goes to the Mets, and Manny Ramirez is out of the contention for Anaheim. This years off-season woes begin with last seasons trade of Casey Kotchman for Mark Teixeira, and now the Angles have neither. Instead the Angels are assigning first base duties to Kendry Morales, the 25-year-old who is a .245 hitter in 377 major league AB’s. Morales will play first base when he’s not DH-ing. This season’s 40-man roster is not shaping up to most Angels fans expectations.

Anaheim fans don’t fret yet. There is still a wide open market in the American League, and Angels’ scouting director Eddie Bane can gaze on a bountiful bounty of draft choices this year. If the Angels hadn’t signed a free agent of their own, Bane would have had five picks in the first two rounds next June. But with the recent signing of free agent CP Brain Fuentes to a two-year, $17.5 million contract, the Angels cut their draft picks to four. Since Fuentes is a Type A free agent and was offered salary arbitration by Colorado, the Rockies will get the Angels’ first-round draft choice in 2009 plus a sandwich pick. The Angles will save $3 million a year in the closing pitching position. The debate will be whether the Halos greatest need was a third great reliever instead of one good cleanup hitter.

Among some of the latest rumors is one that has the Angels eying an over abundance of free agent corner fielders in New York. Players that some feel the Yankees may be willing to deal. Among those speculated are Hideki Matsui, Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady. Personally I don’t see it. However, with the possibility of Garret Anderson departing soon, the Angles may want to pick up another corner fielder. The Angels have already dismissed Adam Dunn and don’t seem excited about Pat Burrell, Bobby Abreu or Milton Bradley. With Vlad Guerrero, the recently re-signed Juan Rivera, a healing Gary Matthews, Reggie Willits and maybe Chone Figgins, should Brandon Wood displace him from third. The Angels seem to be happy with their options to anchor centerfielder Torii Hunter.

Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis continue to raise the debate behind the plate. In early November rumors spread the both Napoli and Mathis had been shopped to the Red Sox as a possible replacement should Boston catcher Jason Varitek demand too much money. But those rumors diminished. Napoli, who has big-time power (a home run every tenth at-bat in 2008), was the Angels’ fourth most valuable hitter in 2008. Mathis, on the other hand, was the Angels least valuable hitter, 40 runs worse than Napoli in just a bit more playing time. So why don’t the Angels trade him? An overabundance of tradable catchers, and Mathis is the best backup the Angels have. The Halos are wise in holding onto Mathis. Unless something of value comes along, the Angels should not give him away for nothing.

The Anaheim bullpen with the exception of the addition of Fuentes will remain the same as 2008. Starting pitchers John Lackey, Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders and Jered Weaver are firm starters for the franchise. There will possibly be a hole in the rotation as free agent Jon Garland is unlikely to return. Unless Kelvim Escobar, who is expected to return by summer, can fill the rotation, Dustin Moseley, Justin Speier and a few Angel’s prospects may be competing for the No. 5 spot.  Scot Shields and Jose Arredondo will be expected to operate in the set up pitching spots, and finally Darren Oliver returns after a brief free-agent foray as a solid left handed reliever.

This off-season signing period has been fast and furious so far. The big names, except for Manny Ramirez, went reasonably quick. The prices on the others seem to be dropping, and teams are playing a waiting game, most likely because of economic concerns. The Halos have options at all positions, although perhaps not the ones many of Anaheim fans desire.