The Angels Land Bobby Abreu – Not Bad

Bye Bye Yanks, hello LA. Abreau is headed to the Angels! To be honest, it is a monster pickup in my humble opinion. Sure they lost K-Rod, but another bat in the lineup will certainly increase the cushion for the next closer in those late innings.

According to some reports, the Angels are eyeing to offer a deal to free-agent outfielder Bobby Abreu, although General Manager Tony Reagins still has to comment on this subject.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com said that two general managers are told that Abreu will be transferred to an American League team. Another source told Rosenthal that the deal concerning the Angels was closed.

Two other sources said that Abreu and the Angels have had a stern conversation involving the outfielder’s on year deal with the team.
When Abreu entered the free agency pool, and went on finding a potential three year contract averaging $16 million, but in a league overflowing with talent and a not so good market made Abreu to think twice, although there had been rumors that he would go for and $8 million, one year deal.

Boasting a career average of a .300 hitter with a .498 slugging percentage along with a .405 on-base percentage, Abreu would provide a good balance to a team that is full of right handed bats. Kendry Morales, who is expected to replace Mark Teixeira this season at first base, is the only left handed player with power.

If Abreu signs with the team, this would put a mark of ending Garret Anderson’s chances of suiting up for the Angels. Anderson, the club’s most prolific offensive player is also a free agent, with the Mariners expressing their interest along with Ken Griffey, Jr.

“I’m just waiting to see where this goes,” Anderson said. “I’m being patient, and I’m optimistic something will get done.”
Signing Abreu will mean leaving Adam Dunn on the market. All these for the fact that they see Abreu as the best all around player, being able to play bothe left and right field, not considering his history as a good base runner.

Abreu has stolen 22 or more bases for the past 10 seasons, and being with the Yankees in 2006 after 8 1/2 seasons with the Phillies.
He began his career with the Astros in 1996.

Abreu has produced at least 100 RBIs across seven of the past eight seasons, and has delivered 20 or more home runs in his eight of the past 10 seasons.
With Gary Matthews Jr.’s accessibility for the start of the season questionable due to his recovery from knee surgery, Abreu would join Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter and Juan Rivera in a four-man rotation that would be involving the three outfield spots and the designated-hitter role.

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