This may be one of the strongest teams, not only in the American League West, but the entire American League.
After finishing 94-68 in 2007 and winning the AL West, you wouldn't think this team needed to make much of a change to be just as strong next season. Apparently, the front office thought otherwise, coming out of nowhere to sign free agent outfielder, and former Twin, Torii Hunter to a 5-year $90M deal back in November.
Hunter gives the Angels the cherry on top of an already stacked outfield with Vlad Guerrero, Gary Mathews Jr, Juan Rivera and Reggie Willits. It gives manager Mike Scoscia a combination of options that he could start on any given day and still have a scary offensive lineup, it will also allow him to move Chone Figgins back to the infield to possibly be the Angels' opening day 3rd baseman.
Arrivals:
RHP Jon Garland
CF Torii Hunter
Departures:
SS Orlando Cabrera
3B Dallas McPherson
On the pitching side, the Angels made a move that made a lot of their fans scratch their heads, sending SS Orlando Cabrera to the Chicago White Sox for right-hander Jon Garland. Garland had struggled in the White Sox rotation the last 2 seasons, but with a change of scenery, and being behind guys like Jared Weaver and John Lackey, it could give him a boost in confidence.
The one issue the Angels are still dealing with is the arbitration hearing with closer Francisco Rodriguez. Neither side is blinking, could this mean an end to an era? Talking to Angels' beat writer Lyle Spencer a few months ago, he mentioned that the Angels would be reluctant to give KRod $12M/year but that Rodriguez could be using the extension of Yankees' closer Mariano Rivera as a bargaining point.
Prediction Time:
The Angels, on paper, look strong enough to make a run at another World Series appearance, I think they should win the AL West fairly easily, especially with the A's in a rebuilding stage and the Rangers also starting a new era.
Angels - 99-63
After finishing 94-68 in 2007 and winning the AL West, you wouldn't think this team needed to make much of a change to be just as strong next season. Apparently, the front office thought otherwise, coming out of nowhere to sign free agent outfielder, and former Twin, Torii Hunter to a 5-year $90M deal back in November.
Hunter gives the Angels the cherry on top of an already stacked outfield with Vlad Guerrero, Gary Mathews Jr, Juan Rivera and Reggie Willits. It gives manager Mike Scoscia a combination of options that he could start on any given day and still have a scary offensive lineup, it will also allow him to move Chone Figgins back to the infield to possibly be the Angels' opening day 3rd baseman.
Arrivals:
RHP Jon Garland
CF Torii Hunter
Departures:
SS Orlando Cabrera
3B Dallas McPherson
On the pitching side, the Angels made a move that made a lot of their fans scratch their heads, sending SS Orlando Cabrera to the Chicago White Sox for right-hander Jon Garland. Garland had struggled in the White Sox rotation the last 2 seasons, but with a change of scenery, and being behind guys like Jared Weaver and John Lackey, it could give him a boost in confidence.
The one issue the Angels are still dealing with is the arbitration hearing with closer Francisco Rodriguez. Neither side is blinking, could this mean an end to an era? Talking to Angels' beat writer Lyle Spencer a few months ago, he mentioned that the Angels would be reluctant to give KRod $12M/year but that Rodriguez could be using the extension of Yankees' closer Mariano Rivera as a bargaining point.
Prediction Time:
The Angels, on paper, look strong enough to make a run at another World Series appearance, I think they should win the AL West fairly easily, especially with the A's in a rebuilding stage and the Rangers also starting a new era.
Angels - 99-63
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