Feb 11
Jon Heyman is reporting that Bobby Abreu and the Angels have an agreement on a one-year deal worth a little more than $5 million – which also includes incentives.
Related, previously, I got on the Yankees and Brian Cashman for not offering salary arbitration to Abreu.
Seeing what Abreu had to settle for with the Angels, it’s clear my opinion back then was wrong. In the end, this was an excellent call by Brian Cashman. And, he deserves to get credit for making the smart move here with Bobby Abreu and the lack of a salary arbitration offer.
19 Responses to “Abreu Signs With Angels”
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February 11th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
In the end, this was an excellent call by Brian Cashman. And, he deserves to get credit for making the smart move here with Bobby Abreu and the lack of a salary arbitration offer.
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First, kudos to Steve for writing this.
Second, I re-read it five times just to make sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me
Third, I was wrong too. As much as I wanted Bobby to stay, it’s clear that Cashman correctly predicted the market and I was quick to bark at him back in November when he passed on bringing Bobby back.
February 11th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I think this was a move the Angels HAD to make. Their offense was looking like it was going to be pretty awful and if they weren’t in the West they probably wouldn’t be favored to win their division. I still think their offense is going to keep them from being able to compete with the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays though.
February 11th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
I think this was a move the Angels HAD to make.
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I agree. Although I wonder why they didn’t go for Dunn instead of or, frankly, in addition to Abreu.
The Rangers and Mariners are dogs that won’t be contending in 2009 but the A’s have improved their offense with Holliday/Giambi so it’s not inconceivable that the Angels miss the playoffs.
It’s not too late to sign Dunn too and trot out:
1B Dunn
2B Kendrick
3B Figgins
SS Wood
LF Matthews
CF Hunter
RF Abreu
DH Guerrero
with Juan Rivera getting time at 1B, LF and DH.
February 11th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
I wonder if the Yankees, in retrospect, are lamenting now…in the sense they would have liked to have Abreu for one year only, this season, at five mill?
February 11th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I wonder if the Yankees…would have liked to have Abreu for one year only…at five mill?
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They could’ve if they wanted to. All they had to do was trade Nady and bring Abreu back. And it would’ve even saved them $1M.
I think the Yanks just decided they wanted to get younger and slightly better defensively at RF, even if Abreu still brings more to the table offensively than Nady.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Let me preface this by saying that I absolutely could not stand Abreu’s defense. I also felt that he was somewhat overrated as on on-base guy, because his numbers in NY were down from his PHI numbers. I also believe he is experiencing a steady decline as an offensive player.
All that said, which line-up would you prefer?
Damon Damon
Jeter Jeter
Teix Abreu
Rod Rod
Matsui Teix
Posada/Nady Matsui
Nady/Posada Posada
Cano Cano
Melky/Gardner Melky/Gardner
I realize Swisher could play instead of Nady (I would prefer that, myself.) Nady/Swisher are 6-7 type hitters. Abreu is still a top of the order guy. I think this line-up would be MUCH superior to the one we put out there.
Without looking at defensive statistics and whatnot, I would guess that Abreu’s offense vs. Nady’s would more than offset Abreu’s defense vs. Nady’s.
Surely if we had resigned Abreu, for say 1 yr 7 mil, we would have had to trade Swisher or Nady. We would likely have traded Nady, since he only has one year left on his deal. Swisher could also be a late inning defensive replacement in RF for Abreu. I think this could have worked out to the benefit of the Yankees.
This is obviously a dream, and I’m not upset this didn’t happen. But in retrospect, I think keeping Abreu (at this discounted price, only) might have been worth it.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
ah, the line-ups were meant to be farther apart. It reformatted it…. my apologies.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
…and some other people beat me to the punch too as I typed that long post
February 11th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Steve, you deserve much credit for writing this and admitting you were wrong. I appreciate it, all we can ask for it honesty when we go out on a limb and say something. I preached, for weeks, that the Yanks weren’t going after Tex and were smarter for doing it…and wow, I couldn’t have been more wrong myself.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I wonder if the Yankees, in retrospect, are lamenting now…in the sense they would have liked to have Abreu for one year only, this season, at five mill?
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I doubt it. Swisher should be able to replicate that, Nady should be able to come fairly close.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I agree. Although I wonder why they didn’t go for Dunn instead of or, frankly, in addition to Abreu.
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I was thinking the same thing…until I thought about it some more and Abreu is cheaper and less of a commitment so that’s probably why they went with him. Plus the Angels seem like more of a AVG team than an OBP team, so maybe they don’t value Dunn as much. I thought Dunn would fit better though since he can play 1B, OF, and DH and they have needs in all those areas.
I would have liked to keep Abreu instead of Swisher or Nady, but only if they didn’t get Teixeira. Now that they have Tex, I feel more comfortable about the middle of the Yanks lineup.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
I agree. Although I wonder why they didn’t go for Dunn instead of or, frankly, in addition to Abreu.
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If the Yanks finally found religion WRT defense, I can understand why they would stay away from Dunn.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Finally Dunn signed. Thank Mo, now I can stop hearing all this “Trade this guy or that guy and sign Dunn!!”
February 11th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
I agree. Although I wonder why they didn’t go for Dunn instead of or, frankly, in addition to Abreu.
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If the Yanks finally found religion WRT defense, I can understand why they would stay away from Dunn.
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Raf, my question was in reference to the Angels not the Yanks.
FWIW, I agree that the Yanks have moved beyond guys like Dunn because of defensive questions and also because between Posada and Matsui, the team just can’t find a place for a third DH-type.
February 11th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Also looks like Dunn has signed with the Nats.
February 11th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Also looks like Dunn has signed with the Nats.
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2Y/$20M is what SI.com is reporting. Considering they were willing to go over $160M for Teixeira, this is a much better deal for their ballclub.
February 11th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Raf, my question was in reference to the Angels not the Yanks.
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Ah yes, my bad
February 11th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
MJ, YankCrank, et al – thanks.
Hey, I’ve always said:
I’ll give credit when it’s due – just as I will shine the light when something bad needs to be pointed out.
And, I’ll gladly, ALWAYS, admit when I’m wrong – and do it with a smile when it means good news for the Yankees.
February 12th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
I wonder if Abreu would’ve accepted the arbitration. He was looking foe a multi-year deal. Did he or anyone else think he’d be settling for a one yr at $5 million?