The Angels May Go Shopping While Dodgers Stay Home
The Angels have their hands out to greet free agents. The Dogers are sitting on theirs.
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ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 22: Torii Hunter #48 (C) of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrates with teammates after scoring during the seventh inning in Game Five of the ALCS against the New York Yankees during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Angel Stadium on October 22, 2009 in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Yankees 7-6. (Photo by Jacob de Golish/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Torii Hunter
The Angels made it to the playoffs but fell short of a title, and this off-season they are acting like a team that wants to take the next step. They are considering trading young shortstop Eric Aybar to help land one of baseball’s best pitchers, Toronto’s Roy Halladay.
The Dodgers made it to the playoffs last year but fell short of a title. This off-season they are acting like a team whose owners are divorcing and so they need to keep expenses down.
That could make the Angels the team to watch next fall.
Angels owner Arte Moreno has never been afraid to spend money or make bold moves, whether it be to upgrade the stadium or to get players, This winter has been no exception, the Angels have been mentioned as a possibility for virtually every top free agent on the market.
What the Angels are focusing on is pitching. Ace John Lackey is a free agent and while the Angels have said bringing him back is a priority, Lackey seems to be taking the “wait out the market” approach to negotiations. So the Angels are being proactive and going after a better ace in Halladay. There would be a price — Aybar, Joe Saunders and more would go to Toronto. And the Angels would need to work out a long-term extension with Halladay.
But the Angels are willing to take that risk (or at least talk about it).
The Angels have had a rough off-season, already losing third baseman Chone Figgins to the Seattle Mariners. Prospect Brandon Wood is going to get a shot to be the everyday third baseman. Vladimir Guerrero also is a free agent with Lackey and may not be back. There are some holes to fill.
The Dodgers have holes too, like in their starting rotation, but they are not going after Halladay or anyone that would cost much money. With a lot of younger players like Matt Kemp due raises this year, the Dodgers need to shed some veterans just to keep the payroll flat with last year. Meanwhile, as Frank and Jamie McCourt go through a divorce, the Dodgers are acting like a cash-poor team that can’t make any moves. Because they are.
For the fans, this winter is really about next October. Both Los Angeles teams have been making the playoffs consistently, the question is can they do that again and advance farther next year. The Angels are acting like a team that wants to do that — they are the local team to watch this winter. And maybe next fall as well.
