Don't include any of these in trade speculation... The following Angels will be here for the forseeable future:
Torii Hunter - signed thru 2012 - no trade clause.
Gary Matthews Jr. - signed thru 2011 - no trade clause thru 2009, but nobody is going to take him, trade for him and he is just "off-the-bench" enough that we will keep him instead of eating the remaining $33 Million of his contract.
Scot Shields - signed thru 2010 - owed $10.35 Million total. That is a LOT of Bud Lites.
Justin Speier - signed thru 2010 - owed $10 million and nobody in baseball would take him for free.
0 recs | 23 comments
Oh no!!!
It’s bad enough we’re stuck with GMJ, but to be stuck with Speier too??!!? UGH! I really hope they bring back Oliver then. Maybe Speier just had a bad year and can do better next year, but I have my doubts!
dprice413 - October 15, 2008
{barfing}
re: Speier
gdog009 - October 15, 2008
Not THAT Bad...
I think Justin Speier will turn in a better year in 09, given the chance, though I thought GMJ was a bad sign at the time, and it sure seems moreso now. A defensive-minded outfielder isn’t a bad thing to have, but at 5/$50 it’s an awful lot of cash.
Kernel - October 15, 2008
GMJ was an awful sign
No one can debate that.
Speier had by far the worst year of his career and it was in no way foreseeable. I don’t think he’s quite as good as he pitched in 2007, but there’s no way he’s as bad as he was last year, unless last year was the last gasp for him.
But try this name on: JC Romero. Awful in half a season in Anaheim , he’s now a valuable setup guy in a decent Phillies bullpen. I think Speier will come back, if not strong, at least to usefulness.
Gorbachav5 - October 15, 2008
Rev, are you trying to say that the GMJ straight up for Peavy rumor is false???
That will ruin my day.
snowhor - October 15, 2008
The thing about Speier is that...
his 2007 stats were padded by his incredible first half of the season. He struggled in the second half of 2007 and has never really been the same since. Though admittedly, his poor 2nd half of 2007 was still better than his horrid entire 2008 season.
Chzburger Jones - October 15, 2008
And yeah, about Gary No-thank-ews...
We should attempt to trade him in a desperation salary dump move, even if we don’t get equal value back. I just want him off the books. Trade him for some worthless minor leaguers or something.
Chzburger Jones - October 15, 2008
Dude - he has a NO-TRADE clause
not gonna happen – we CANNOT trade him.
Rev Halofan - October 15, 2008
the bench warming didnt exactly entice him to waive said clause either
was hoping it would, but it seems he’ll take the money and play sporadically rather than take a pay cut to go be a regular elsewhere.
linkbruin - October 15, 2008
Hey, Let's trade his no-trade clause!
Then some other suckers will be stuck with the inability to trade him.
“That’s why the guys in my car club call me The Cruiser…”
The Clyde - October 15, 2008
We CANNOT trade him.........
even if we ask nicely Rev?
Angel Aviator - October 16, 2008
Are you kidding?
HGH Jr. has a no trade clause?
….wow his contract is worse than I thought.
Chzburger Jones - October 15, 2008
"This deal just keeps getting worse all the time..."
the words of Lando Calrissian ring true.
Downing Rules - October 16, 2008
i was waiting for the star wars reference
glad i wasnt the only one that thought that
linkbruin - October 17, 2008
Not SO bad..
Torii = awesome.
Scot – still has it and despite that ninth inning he was pretty solid in the post-season.
Justin- Dont give up on him just yet. He might figure out again how to stop giving up home runs in crucial situations.
GMJ – Man, I’m trying to give this guy the benefit of the doubt. I hope that somewhere in there some consistent, solid, talent exist but damn…his contract just seems like bummer city to me man.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - October 15, 2008
GMJ
We are stuck with him. Everyone knew (seemingly except the Angels) that his 2006 production was a fluke and would never be replicated. Heck, it’s even doubtful that he can replicate his first season aggregate hitting totals with the Halos. Damn, Stoneman sure lived up to his last name when he made this atrocious signing.
stolenbases - October 16, 2008
That is why
We mellow out a bit and don’t do anything rash with big money signings for a while. We’ll be just fine.
vladtheimpaler - October 16, 2008
new GMJ nickname
Herpes. No matter how much you want him gone, you’re stuck with him
HaloDutch - October 16, 2008
GMJ...
I am a big anti-Gary Matthews guy, but…
I am wondering if his knee needs some work and if that gets fixed, maybe he will magically be the same as he was in his “figured it out” season.
Downing Rules - October 16, 2008
Probably not
he’s a career .250 hitter who, if he plays 150 games, will hit about 15 HR. That’s what you can expect from him if he’s healthy. In other words, he’s a slightly below-average player. And despite some highlight reel plays, he’s only a marginal defender.
He is the archetype of an average ballplayer, yet he is being paid like a star. He’s not horrible. He’s just…average. A $2 million a year player getting paid several times that.
jjackflash - October 16, 2008
Hasn't he been playing on a torn tendon since 07?
TheTypingFiend - October 16, 2008
GMJ, There's no way he'll be as terrible next year
Look for a decent amount of rebound. Nobody likes to be embaressed.
I bet he hits .270 with a 340 OBP and has a 15/15 year. Not worth the money, but hey we’re stuck with him for now.
Big Bad , "VLAD"! - October 16, 2008
Ditto for Speier
Big Bad , "VLAD"! - October 16, 2008
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