In case you have been under a rock today and didn’t hear the news, the Angels made two big acquisitions today, inking slugging 1b Albert Pujols to a 10-year $254 million contract and LHP CJ Wilson to a 5-year $77.5 million deal. After years of competing for but just coming up short on a number of big free agents, Arte Moreno and new GM Jerry DiPoto made the big splash that their fanbase has been awaiting for many years.
The Angels have been a constant thorn in the side of the Yankees throughout the Mike Scioscia era, and with the two new additions, they are likely to continue to plague the Yankees. The signing of Wilson adds depth and quality to an already strong rotation that includes Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, and Ervin Santana, making the prospect of facing this team in a short series a daunting one. The bullpen, featuring fireballing youngster Jordan Walden and lefty Scott Downs will be solid, and the lineup, previously a weak point, adds the future hall of famer Pujols to Yankee-killer Howie Kendrick, phenom Mike Trout, and speedster Peter Bourjos to make a nice core for years to come.
The signing of Wilson and Pujols has the potential to alter the balance of power in the AL West, where for the last few seasons the Rangers have been the top dog. After losing their top starter to a division rival, however, the Rangers will have serious pitching issues (though their lineup still can bring the thunder). While most observers assumed that the AL East would likely the top pennant contenders for the near future, the addition of two all-stars certainly makes the Angels at minimum a credible competitor with New York and Boston.
The new playoff format, which adds an extra wild card team to the mix, more or less maintains the status quo as far as making the playoffs from the AL East is concerned. While a premium will be placed on winning the division due to the new 1-game playoff between the wild card teams, the extra wild card spot seems to ensure that the Yankees will have a good shot to make the playoffs in every season.
The Angels’ signings may also affect the Yankees’ offseason strategy with regard to Yu Darvish. Texas has had significant reported interest in Darvish, and the loss of Wilson to a division rival may only increase their desperation to acquire the Japanese righty. If the Yankees are in fact very interested in Darvish (though Brian Cashman has downplayed such interest, which would be in the team’s interest), then they might have to consider raising their bid if they want to ensure that they beat out Texas.
The last few days have certainly livened up what has been up to this point a boring offseason, and I imagine the drama and intrigue are far from over. The Yankees are presumably involved in the Darvish sweepstakes and may have interest in Yoenis Cespedes as well. While Prince Fielder seems unlikely to wind up in New York or with a major rival, his progress will be interesting to follow nonetheless.
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11 Responses to A new power rises in the west
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I wonder what effect this has on the A’s? They have to realize at this point they are looking up at the Rangers and Angels for a good while to come. Their farm system is barren, if they are thinking on making a move to trade Gio this could add fuel to that thought.
Before anyone jumps in I don’t think this has any barring on Felix Hernandez. Jack Z said 2 or 3 days ago he wouldn’t trade Felix “for 12 guys”. So I doubt this impacts that thinking at all. They seem more than comfortable going down with the ship holding onto Felix. Plus their system seems to have a lot more prospects than the A’s.
It’s possible that the A’s may be a little more willing to unload a starter, though I think they were not particularly close to contending for the division before the signings.
As for Felix, I think that he’s as close to untouchable as it gets. In a few years as he gets closer to the end of his contract maybe the Mariners would reconsider, but I can’t imagine that his trade value would change enough that it would be worth trading him now. One day out of five Felix gives Mariners fans something to look forward to, and I imagine they would lose tremendous amounts of fan support if they were to deal him.
They certainly weren’t competing anytime soon, but this has to put them in a position where they know they don’t have the ability to even have a one hot year run. They are going to need to rebuild that farm system soon, otherwise they are going to be cellar dwelling for the next 4-6 years. It’d certainly be a good time to try and get a third team in the mix on a Gio deal.
Yeah, Like I said their farm system is much deeper than the A’s so they may think they can win sometime in the future. Depending on how Pineda’s development continues and if their other starters in the minors progress they could have a real Rays like rotation going. With several high upside homegrown starters all around at once. Which would give them a window to compete for a division title in a few years. Unlike the Rays they actually have the financial ability to add pieces via free agency if they get to that point.
I see Felix’ ERA was up a run this year. His trade value is sky high, but was eclipsed this year by Verlander.
I don’t think that’s true. Verlander had a better season, but Felix turns 26 in Aprils and Verlander turns 29 in February. The three years difference in age means Felix probably still has more value.
Moot point though since neither are getting traded.
No moot, I’ve felt rumblings under Felix, but to forestall sending our prospects, all, I want to note the difference. Verlander has just pitched the first sweet angel of, say, three excellent years. Felix pitched three excellent years before last one. Last, he pitched well, very, but does he fade? Is he worth what we have got?
Not only that they traded Jeff Mathis to Toronto so he can irritate us 18 times a year.
This shaping rivalry is a great thing for baseball. The West is not laid back like it has been. The competition has spread from Texas to LA.
The Yankee’s dynasty success spurred the RedSox. I dunno who spurred Tampa Bay, but the Blue Jays want to be best now, and have some hopes.
Although the Angels should have gotten Albert for $30 a year for 5 years, and someday will regret this deal, I love to see the team’s resurgence, and the brouhaha that’s brewing.
And the new Dodgers just may step up the competition more.
Did you hear Price Albert will start the year off in Yankee Stadium?
And why was it that Texas let CJ go? Offered 4 for $60. Just the rate, anyway, but they didn’t seem to care.
While everyone is busy talking about how great the Angels have become, I have a question:
If the rotation didn’t need the $77M investment in what becomes a mid-rotation starter, why not plow that money into the one place the Angels truly need help…the lineup. Besides Pujols, it’s a lineup of light-hitting infielders (Izturis/Aybar/Callaspo), proficient out-makers (Trumbo/Wells) and fading former All-Stars (Abreu/Hunter). Wouldn’t using some of that money to trade for JJ Hardy or take the unhappy out of Hanley’s sourpuss make more sense for a team that has such a soft lineup?
Nah, if I were the Angels, I’d prefer a good fielding shortstop. They are good up the middle, thanks. Mentioned trying Trumbo at third, but don’t belie defense. I’d get the other Ramirez for third, for two years, high bucks.
“The Diamondbacks have acquired pitchers Trevor Cahill and Craig Breslow from the Athletics for minor leaguers Jarrod Parker, Collin Cowgill and Ryan Cook, plus cash considerations”.
Jarrod Parker is a 6’1, 23 year old starter, in double A who was ranked as the 33rd best prospect in baseball.
Cowgill is a 5’9, 25 year old outfielder, in triple A not ranked in the top 100.
Ryan Cook is a 6’3, 24 year old reliever with 7.2 IP in the majors out of the pen, not ranked in the top 100.
Parker looks like the 2nd best prospect in the Diamondbacks system, while minorleagueball.com has Cowgill ranked number 14, and Cook number 24.
From all reports the A’s were seeking similar returns for both Gio and Cahill, this doesn’t look like the “ace return” everyone was adverting as what the A’s were looking for. It might take slightly more to get Gio, but it certainly looks very appealing to the Yankees to take a shot at Gio at a similar price tag.
Maybe even a deal with Betances as the center piece and some better secondary guys than the Dbacks gave up could land Gio and Fuentes.