Abreu to the Angels

by Adam J. Morris on Feb 11, 2009 10:58 AM CST Comment 80 comments

Bobby Abreu has signed a 1 year, $5 million deal with the Angels.

Very good pickup for the Angels, who get a DH and occasional COF (when Vlad needs to DH) with OBP and some power for a reasonable one year commitment.

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Good move...

…wish we could have done it. Abreu at DH for $5MM sounds a lot better than Hank at DH for what we’re giving him.

We couldn't have known it at the time but we definitely killed the wrong Belushi brother.

by Chad Crudup on Feb 11, 2009 11:04 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

meh

Blalock these past couple of years has been doing pretty much as well as Abreu over the past 4 years. Health is a concern with Blalock, but I’ll take the 28 year old for a million more.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Feb 11, 2009 11:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Over the last 4 years

Hank Blalock 1704 ABs
Bobby Abreu 2350 AB

Give me the one who actually can show up to play.

Get off my lawn.

by DJCahill on Feb 11, 2009 11:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Abreu managed to get to the plate 684 times last year...

…with an OPS+ of 120.

Blalock posted 121, but has managed only 513 PAs the last TWO years combined.

We couldn't have known it at the time but we definitely killed the wrong Belushi brother.

by Chad Crudup on Feb 11, 2009 11:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Health is a concern, no doubt about that

But I’m cautiously optimistic that Blalock has overcome his TOS and CTS enough to be able to play 140-150 games at DH. And I can’t overlook the age factor here. Abreu at 35 vs. Blalock at 28.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Feb 11, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, ridiculously good deal for them, especially if they play him exculsively at 1b/DH and keep him the hell away from doing his Kevin Reimer impersination in the OF.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

I hate Michael Young.

"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith

by thedirkatron on Feb 11, 2009 11:04 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Oh KevReim...

…I have a Rangers hat autographed by him buried somewhere in a closet that I “won” as a door prize at a charity event many years ago.

We couldn't have known it at the time but we definitely killed the wrong Belushi brother.

by Chad Crudup on Feb 11, 2009 11:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And yes I realize that the way I worded that post...

…it would seem that I won the closet at the event. It was the hat actually.

We couldn't have known it at the time but we definitely killed the wrong Belushi brother.

by Chad Crudup on Feb 11, 2009 11:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's too bad. Closets make excellent door prizes.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

I hate Michael Young.

"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith

by thedirkatron on Feb 11, 2009 11:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Eventually you have to come out of it.

by Inkara1 on Feb 11, 2009 12:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My enduring memory of Kevin Reimer

is sitting at old Arlington Stadium listening to the broadcast on a Walkman. Reimer gets under a flyball in left field and it hits him in the shoulder, and this was Norm’s commentary was something like “Someone needs to go get him. I’m genuinely concerned that he’s going to hurt himself out there.”

Purgatory's kind of like the in-betweeny one. You weren't really shit, but you weren't all that great either. Like Tottenham.

by TheJeezus on Feb 11, 2009 11:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They can't play him at 1B

I’ve been told on these boards before its an impossible position to play if a player has never played there before.

Get off my lawn.

by DJCahill on Feb 11, 2009 11:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Really? I think it's the absolute easiest position to play on the diamond as long as you're coordinated enough to walk and chew gum at the same time- which Abreu is.

If Abreu played 1b exclusively this season I’d say there’d be about a 99.735% chance he’d be a better defensive 1b than Face will be a defensive 3b.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

I hate Michael Young.

"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith

by thedirkatron on Feb 11, 2009 11:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you might want to calibrate

your sarcasm detector.

Get off my lawn.

by DJCahill on Feb 11, 2009 11:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't you know that sarcasm is not factored in on Wednesdays?

…or during recessions.

(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."

by mtex on Feb 11, 2009 11:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No, I get that you were being sarcastic, my "Really?" was directed at the people who supposedly told you that position was unpossible to start playing or whatever.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

I hate Michael Young.

"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith

by thedirkatron on Feb 11, 2009 11:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"Me fail English? That's unpossible!"

“My cat’s breath smells like cat food!”

“The doctor told me that BOTH my eyes were lazy! And that’s why it was the best summer ever”

We couldn't have known it at the time but we definitely killed the wrong Belushi brother.

by Chad Crudup on Feb 11, 2009 11:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

it was specific to botts and sosa not being able to play 1b

and neither one has played 1b yet

"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."

by ab03 on Feb 11, 2009 2:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Like I said in the other thread mentioning Abreu

I’d love for him to start trying to play 1B for the Angels.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Feb 11, 2009 11:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why?

The 40 Trumps All!!!

I hate Michael Young.

"There are no weak opinions with the dirkatron, it’s all scream-across-the-parking-lot echelon." -hightowersmith

by thedirkatron on Feb 11, 2009 11:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't have as much confidence in Abreu being able to be as good defensively there as you do

While 1B is the easiest position to play, I don’t think Abreu is going to be able to just pick up the position and not hurt the team there. Add in the crappy OF defense the Angels will get from Vlad/Hunter/Rivera/GMJ and they are going to have to get some amazing performance from the rest of their IF to be good defensively.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Feb 11, 2009 11:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

1B

I’d rather they run Kendry Morales out there. He’s a pretty good bet to suck.

"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky

by RCCook on Feb 11, 2009 11:35 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Any idiot

can play passable 1B. If you can play any other position on the field, you can play 1B.

Get off my lawn.

by DJCahill on Feb 11, 2009 1:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Adam Dunn is pretty shaky at 1B

and he just signed with the Nats.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/2009/02/sources_nats_sign_adam_dunn.html

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Feb 11, 2009 1:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

and yet

+/- varies enough on 1B to make that statement completely untrue.

but, you would be just as happy with mike james at 1b (defensively) as you would teixeira?

"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."

by ab03 on Feb 11, 2009 3:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

*mike jacobs

"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."

by ab03 on Feb 11, 2009 3:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yea...

we saw that with Broussard and Botts. I’m not sure I’d want a lead glove to be handling the ball defensively that much. It’s not as easy at first as some make it to be. Sure, you really don’t have to have a lot of range to field the position, but some of the throws coming across the diamond are real adventures. Most good shortstops can usually heave a ball in the mid nineties and most don’t care how many times it skips.

by Redcaps on Feb 11, 2009 10:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't they have enough Outfielders???

by Agreen07 on Feb 11, 2009 11:24 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Matthews, Jr., Guererro, Willits, Abreu, Rivera

who else?

(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."

by mtex on Feb 11, 2009 11:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Torii Hunter

with a giant contract.

by JBImaknee on Feb 11, 2009 11:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Lets see

GMJ, Juan Rivera, Torii Hunter, Vlad, Abreu… I think they’re pretty much set for those four DH/OF spots

Of course, when the Rangers invite an outfielder to spring training, they are jeopardizing the future in a crowded position. But when the Angels sign a guy for $5 million to a position they already have 4 guys, they’ve made a great move.

by JBImaknee on Feb 11, 2009 11:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This is what i'm thinking....

It’s bull crap. How much are we paying our outfielders combined? …The price of Abreu, perhaps?

(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."

by mtex on Feb 11, 2009 11:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Do you really not see the difference?

by Adam J. Morris on Feb 11, 2009 11:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What?

Abreu is a good player. I’d like him on the Rangers more than any other OF than Hamilton. The problem is, they already have 4 or 5 guys out there who they are paying a lot of money for.

Andruw Jones was a good player, and has been awful lately. He most likely won’t even be on the team on April 1st. He’s an incredibly low risk signing, with the only long-term downside of him making the club is that he takes ABs away from perennial disappointments Cruz and Byrd.

While you may argue that both team’s have crowded outfields, the Rangers outfield is crowded with AAAA guys and a few decent players. The Angels is crowded with guys earning millions a year. One can make an argument the Angels should have invested that $5 million in something other than an outfield bat.

by JBImaknee on Feb 11, 2009 11:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Is Byrd really a perennial disappointment?

And looking at the merits…the Angels are trying to win this year, and brought in a guy in Abreu who fills a hole.

The guys the Angels are paying millions may be making millions, but the team still has a hole at DH. GMJ is a 4th outfielder, and signing Abreu makes him a 4th outfielder. That’s the way it should be.

A team trying to win now adding a player who has been consistently good the past several years to fill a hole for them is different than a rebuilding team adding a guy who makes an already crowded position even more crowded.

by Adam J. Morris on Feb 11, 2009 11:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

One by one

Byrd isn’t a guy who I’m extremely confident in (though perennial disappointment is not really fair – that does apply to Nellie Cruz though, and he got lumped in). He’s played well the last two years – if he can put up .300/.350/.450 numbers full time like he has the last couple of years playing roughly 2/3 time, then great. The problem is he’s been a part time player most of his career, and its hard to rely on that.

I see the Rangers outfield in terms of probabilities: there is a near 100% chance Hamilton is good, probably 75-80 on Byrd, 50% on Cruz and Murphy and a 20% chance on Cat. There is certainly room for improvement there, especially with Cat, but also just in the even that Murphy can’t be more than a platoon guy, Cruz fails miserably, or Byrd can’t maintain his production level full time. I guess I just see the Rangers outfield as far weaker than you do. Sure the ideal is nice, but there is only a slight probability of that ideal panning out.

I don’t know if I’d call signing Abreu “filling a hole”. Sure he fills a giant hole in their lineup – they needed a real bat to go with Vlad in that lineup. But Abreu over GMJ makes the outfield defense worse. And as Dave Cameron at Fangraphs points out, they were going to use that outfield spot to move Figgins to get Brandon Wood into the lineup.

I agree that the argument “you have to play GMJ because you’re paying him a lot” is very silly, and I didn’t want to sound that way. GMJ is a sunk cost, and its smart to treat him as such. That said, I think they have better internal options to minimize GMJ’s ABs than to sign Abreu for $5 million.

Adam Dunn would have made more sense, IMO, since he a better shot to help at their 1b hole.

by JBImaknee on Feb 11, 2009 12:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Byrd this season

will be used as a 4th OF which means he’ll probably see something like 400+ ABs again.

You are also underrating Murphy. Murphy might not be great, but all he’s done so far in his ML career is be an above average hitter, even while playing poorly against lefties. So if he ends up showing up as a strict platoon player, you can just call up Boggs to platoon with him (assuming Byrd fails). And while Cruz might only be a 50/50 shot, the potential reward is so great that you have to go with him for at least a month and a half into the season to give him a strong shot of succeeding. If he struggles a bit, but is at least showing some flashes of greatness, I’d probably give him the entire first half at least.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Feb 11, 2009 12:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Murphy isn't that good

He is overrated by Rangers fans.

by Adam J. Morris on Feb 11, 2009 1:24 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

+1

"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.

by Kinslerhomer on Feb 11, 2009 1:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

- 1

He’s pretty good against righties. Maybe just a platoon player but a good one. Having said that I am wondering if he has still recovered from the injuries yet

by BEW on Feb 11, 2009 2:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Take it back!!

Murphy is like the best player hitter fielder man person in the history of ever and stuff!!

t ball on MY - "hate the contract, don't hate the player"

by bspate on Feb 11, 2009 2:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, you've been to the

DMN blog too, huh? Sheesh….

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Feb 11, 2009 2:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

x

Murphy isn’t that good
He is overrated by Rangers fans.

They don’t both have to be true. Murphy is overrated by Rangers fans and especially Rangers media and TAG. Murphy isn’t bad, though. He’s fine. He’s 4th outfielder fine. Not great, sure, but not a bad player.

My Music Blog

by FuturePants on Feb 11, 2009 3:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Murphy

I read somewhere the other day (it may have been a comment on the DMN blog) where someone pretty much suggested Murphy was the second coming of Rusty Greer. That’s just insane.

Murphy’s not a bad player- he hits righties pretty well and can play all three outfield positions credibly, which gives him plenty of value as a 4th outfielder/platoon guy.

"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky

by RCCook on Feb 11, 2009 3:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

well

people underrate rusty greer , if that is possible. I think they just think of Greer as a gritty player who dove for balls and had some pop, not realizing just how good he was in his prime

"To be ignorant of one’s ignorance is the malady of the ignorant."

by ab03 on Feb 11, 2009 4:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Greer took walks.

And still hit for average. Had fairly similar pop. Wake me up when Murphy works the count consistently.

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Feb 11, 2009 6:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yup

Yeah. Spies. They're little guys with beady eyes and long fingernails. They plant bugs that can pick up the hush of a man's heartbeat - or the whisper of a falling hair.

by lonestarJon on Feb 11, 2009 4:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He is underrated here though

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Feb 11, 2009 4:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not really

it’s probably more accurate to say that his overratedness is overstated here.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Feb 11, 2009 6:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

???

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Feb 12, 2009 7:39 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Heh

that was a bit Yogi Berrish of me, wasn’t it?

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Feb 12, 2009 10:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That is my all-time favorite commercial.

Yeah. Spies. They're little guys with beady eyes and long fingernails. They plant bugs that can pick up the hush of a man's heartbeat - or the whisper of a falling hair.

by lonestarJon on Feb 12, 2009 4:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Calling Byrd a perennial disappointment is really, really stupid.

I would go on further with how stupid of a comment that is, but won’t because I"m such a nice guy.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Feb 11, 2009 11:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Marlon Byrd

A great disappointment in Philly and then couldn’t stick on a shitty Washington Nats team.

Pulled off the scrap heap by JD, can’t make a really shitty Rangers team that needed OFs in 2007.

Comes up in June when the team is 18-31 and out of the race and goes nuts (.438 obp), in June eventually becoming the clean-up hitter. Hits 7 HR & 48 RBI with a .726 OPS after July 1.

Makes the team in 2008 and absolutely sucks it hard in the first half (.717 OPS). The stats Byrd rang up from July 1 07 to July 1 08 seem to assure us that Byrd is indeed a spare but with the team on the very fringe of post-season contention, Byrd gets hot for two months but is then very pedestrian (his normal self) in September.

Did I miss anything?

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Feb 11, 2009 12:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Byrd,

was hurt at the beginning of the season and played hurt in September.

"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.

by Kinslerhomer on Feb 11, 2009 12:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It seems to me as though Byrd

has shoehorned a few hot months into what has been a largely mediocre career which is why I’d rather see young kids with true upside playing than him.

"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."

by Josey Wales on Feb 11, 2009 12:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I can't believe it

But I agree with Josey.

My Music Blog

by FuturePants on Feb 11, 2009 3:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fangraphs talks about this move

Click me

I agree with what they’re saying. Its going to be a good move on paper. The offense needed some help and Abreu will do his part on offense to make him worth a 1 year/5 million dollar contract. The problem is where you play him and the effect it will have on the defense. At the end of the day, its a good move for the Angels, just not that big of an improvement over what they have.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Feb 11, 2009 11:40 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

top 3

Is Figgins, Abreu, Guerrero > Kinsler, Young, Hamilton?

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year

by RangerMad on Feb 11, 2009 12:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

No

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Feb 11, 2009 12:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Abreu is hitting second?

You just don't know when to keep your mouth shut, do you Saxy boy?

by oc on Feb 11, 2009 1:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why not?

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Feb 11, 2009 1:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm pretty sure they signed Abreu to back up Vlad in the order.

You just don't know when to keep your mouth shut, do you Saxy boy?

by oc on Feb 11, 2009 1:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd probably bat kendrick second

by tyd3311 on Feb 11, 2009 5:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd be fine with Abreu second if I were an Angels fan.

He gets on base, runs well, and that’s what you want from the guys before your masher(s).

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Feb 11, 2009 6:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's kind of a wash, really

Kinsler >>>> the cockroach bigtime. Abreu >>>> Young bigtime. Hamilton > Vlad, but not by a ton just yet (although he could this year, considering Vlad is on a downturn power-wise – his SLG% has dropped 4 years running).

But like OC pointed out, Abreu isn’t going to hit second – the Angels lineup is so weak you would think he’s either going to “protect” Vlad or he’s going to hit 3rd with Vlad cleaning him up (as with A-Rod in NY). Knowing Scoscia, who likes all his speedy little cockroaches running around at the top of the order, someone like Izturis, Willits, or Aybar will probably hit second most of the time.

Yeah. Spies. They're little guys with beady eyes and long fingernails. They plant bugs that can pick up the hush of a man's heartbeat - or the whisper of a falling hair.

by lonestarJon on Feb 11, 2009 4:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

maybe

Kendrick might be a good choice to bat 2nd. With Figgins in front of him and Abreu behind him he would see a good amount of FBs. A top 5 of Figgins, Kendrick, Abreu, Vlad, Hunter is not too bad.

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year

by RangerMad on Feb 11, 2009 8:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Kendrick

Forgot about him. Probably because he’s never on the freaking field.

Yeah. Spies. They're little guys with beady eyes and long fingernails. They plant bugs that can pick up the hush of a man's heartbeat - or the whisper of a falling hair.

by lonestarJon on Feb 11, 2009 10:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nats sign Dunn to a two-year deal:

link

"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.

by Kinslerhomer on Feb 11, 2009 1:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs