In what we're considering a really strange move, the Los Angeles Angels of Anahiem signed free agent outfielder Bobby Abreu to a one year deal worth $5 million ($8 million with incentives).
The Angels now have an extremely crowded outfield; Torri Hunter, Gary Mathews Jr, Vlad Guerrero, and Juan Rivera.
Abreu is expected to bat ahead of Vlad in the Angels lineup.
Abreu batted .296, 20 HR, with 100 RBI last season for the New York Yankees.The Washington Nationals and free agent slugger Adam Dunn agreed on a two year contract believed to be worth $20 million.
Dunn figures to add a lot of life to the Nationals lineup, joining pals Ryan Zimmerman and Austin Kearns in a tough National League East Division.
Dunn, 29, hit .236 with 40 home runs and 100 RBIs with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds last season.
Two Outfielders Taken Off the Market
Teams Make Additions to Ring in the New Year
The Angels have found their man whom they hope will replace the single season saves leader Fransisco Rodriguez; and that man just happens to hail from Colorado.
The Angels agreed to a two year deal with 33 year old left handed closer Brian Fuentes (1-5, 30 saves in 34 chances, 2.73 ER).
According to ESPN.com Fuentes will earn $8.5 million for 2009 and $9 million for 2010. The contract includes a $9 million vesting option for 2011, based on games finished, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.
The Chicago Cubs continued to tweak their roster, trading away fan favorite Mark DeRosa to the Cleveland Indians for minor league pitchers Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer and John Gaub.
DeRosa fills the Indian's void over at the hot corner, and allows them to keep their young middle infield intact (GM Mark Shapiro considered moving shortstop Jhonny Peralta to third and Asdrubal Cabrera from second to short.)
The Cubs are also considering a trade for the Rockies Luis Vizcaino in exchange for Jason Marquis. According to ESPN; The 30-year-old Marquis was 11-9 for Chicago last season, with a 4.53 ERA in 167 innings while Vizcaino, 34, struggled in his first season in Colorado, pitching to a 5.28 ERA in 46 innings.
The Baltimore Orioles signed left handed starter Mark Hendrickson to a one year deal. The Orioles only have Jeremy Guthrie slated in their rotation, as Daniel Cabrera signed on with the Washington Nationals.
Rumor Mill:
The Mets may have made an offer to free agent starter Derek Lowe.
Mets and Dodgers talking trade? Andrew Jones could be wearing blue and orange next season.
Dodgers are looking to get their offseason shoping list Dunn.
The Rangers added three arms into the mix for bullpen help.
Aaron Miles is set to replace DeRosa.
Angels Resign Their 23rd Most Important Free Agent
Finally! Some concrete news in the world of baseball.
After running around like chickens with our heads cut off following the Frucal signings (yes, there may have been multiple) or trying to figure out whether the Red Sox are in or out of the Teixeira sweepstakes, we've finally got something solid to report on.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have announced that they've re-signed Juan Rivera to a three year deal.
So, yes, you are reading this correctly. The Angels signed an outfielder. Now if baseball changes its rules to allow for a team to field an additional 5 outfielders during a game, the Angels are all set. They've now invested in mega contracts with Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter, and Gary Matthews Jr. They also have Reggie Willits to throw into the mix.
So, as long as Rivera's agents don't have the last names Kinzer or Tellem, they've got another outfielder, one that'l wind up costing them $12.75 million.
Angels Make Roster Moves
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim announced that they will be picking up John Lackey and Vladimir Guerrero's option, but will choose to buyout Garret Anderson's.
Lackey's option will cost the Halos $9 million (buyout was $500,000) and Vlad's option ran up a $15 million bar tab ($3 million buyout).
Anderson, who has played for the Angels his entire career, received $3 million as part of the buyout package. His option was worth $14 million, if the team chose to pick him up. He will become a free agent at the start of the offseason.
Negative on the No-No?
Angels pitcher Jered Weaver had a hand in the a no hitter yesterday, but also found himself on the losing side of the ball game. Here's an excerpt of the story from ESPN News Services:
LOS ANGELES (ESPN.com news services) -- Jered Weaver and Jose Arredondo combined to no-hit the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night -- and it still wasn't good enough for the Los Angeles Angels.
Why It Wasn't A No-No
According to MLB rules: An official no-hit game occurs when a pitcher (or pitchers) allows no hits during the entire course of a game, which consists of at least nine innings. In a no-hit game, a batter may reach base via a walk, an error, a hit by pitch, a passed ball or wild pitch on strike three, or catcher's interference.
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