Hold Lackey at Bay for the Cab
December 7, 2009
Before I begin, I’m taking a moment to remember those men who defended at Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Thank you!
Without the GMJ Rays connection, the Halos might have the following opportunity to look into. They were prepared to shell out (or believed to be) $160 million over 8 years for Tex last season. They were also in on the Miguel Cabrera (M-Cab) trade talk during 2007 Hot Stove before he went to Detroit. Now, Cabrera has $126 million remaining over 6 years, would the Angels be willing to assume that now?
Considering, Detroit has some holes to fill: OF, 2B, SP. Placido Polanco’s signed with Philadelphia while Carlos Guillen can play between 1B and OF. Adam Everett has re-signed, plugging their SS need, but moreover may serve as stop-gap, depending upon who may emerge. If given the opportunity to take Cabrera’s money off the books, it would appear to give the more preferred flexibility to hold onto Granderson (under contract until 2013) and even the arbitration eligible Edwin Jackson (commanding quite a raise at this point).
Supposedly the Angels have opened talks with Jason Bay. If and with Cabrera persisting from Detroit, though, I’d rather see them direct that money to Lackey and call GM Dave Dombrowski about Cabrera. With Lackey sealed, right off the bat, Dombrowski can look at the Angels with either of two quality starting pitchers – Weaver or Santana – to bolster and improve their rotation and position with keeping Jackson and the payroll breathing room around the rest of the field (of keeping Detroit city’s present economical flux with the domestic auto industry in mind). On top of that, the Angels would give a nice valued OF (with GMJ tough to move) in Juan Rivera, a promising though hit-or-miss Brandon Wood for SS, plus a prospect. The Angels might even consider giving up Kendrick for 2B, instead, leaving Wood to play 3B and put Morales in the OF with M-Cab at 1B, and avoid giving up the prospect. Whichever decision, M-Cab might play 1B, 3B, or OF for the Angels.
Dombrowski has said no about trading Cabrera. Understandable, a player like that yields a great farm residual for any team, but there’s no denying the spread of opportunity here on this trade match with the Angels: given a top of the starting rotation pitcher, a proven LF, a proven 2B or potentially potent SS and a prospect, plus the payroll room.
A match like this between these two clubs might be difficult to pass up.
mlblogshalothunder
After dealing Granderson and Jackson, Detroit is not gonna part with Cabrera. Plus, the Angels aren’t gonna take on his remaining salary. Their pockets aren’t deep enough for Cabrera and Lackey. That’s about $200MM!! Not in this economy, Mr. Economist graduate from the University of Kentucky. I know it’s pretty easy playing fantasy GM with Arte Moreno’s checkbook, but you need a good dose of reality. The Halos don’t need to trade all their depth and assume Cabrera’s salary! Why would they?
That’s not the way you look at it. Figuratively, Add $7 million to Lackey’s original $9 million and the Halos have cleared about $34.554 million off the old 2009 payroll level with free agents Vlad, Escobar, Figgins, Oliver, and Quinlan. This is if they sign Lackey who I estimate near $16 million per year over 5.
It’s diminished opportunity with Granderson and Jackson dealt, I agree. I simply took the standpoint, there he might be again after missing out on him in 2007. How does that change? The economy, maybe, but they’ve shifted their emphasis to premier starting pitching. Within that $34.554 million they obviously prepared to shell out about $21 or $22 million per year (that I estimate) on a 4-year extension for Halladay after putting up the players for him.
Cabrera’s a 27-year old premier slugger to the game proven in both leagues old with 6 years left on his contract. With rewarding results added their their lineup, that’s a lot to time to build up the farm and residual off the investment. Vlad certainly created that himself when they signed him at the same age for 6 years from 2004. Any GM will tell you, make room for him if you have it!
The Angels are indicating that. If they lose out on Halladay but sign Lackey, the might still inquire on Cabrera. You wouldn’t?!
I still think the Halos have a few surprises under their Christmas cap right now.
Even if Lackey happens to slip away to the north, you got to believe that the Angels have the right pieces to intrigue Toronto to think twice before finalizing anything to do with Halladay.
And in the climate today, that is worth keeping the eyes and hearts open for a pitching Christmas present.
Rays Renegade
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