QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't know that I've met a guy mentally as tough as Francisco on the mound. He can turn the page as well as anybody I've been around ... and I think that's going to be important. It was important for us, and it's going to be important for New York." -- Angels manager Mike Scioscia, on RHP Francisco Rodriguez signing with the Mets as a free agent.
The Angels thought they had put together a team capable of winning the team's second championship. It didn't work out that way, and now they are faced with some difficult contract decisions. While the roster that won 100 games for the first time in franchise history might be worth keeping together for another run at the World Series, financial pressures make that all but impossible.
BIGGEST NEEDS: The addition of 1B Mark Teixeira in midseason seemed to fill the Angels' gaping need for a dangerous presence in the middle of their lineup to team with OF/DH Vladimir Guerrero. Filling the hole left by Teixeira's exit is a now problem the front office will have to address.
DEPARTURE: RHP Francisco Rodriguez (free agent, signed with Mets).
FREE AGENTS: 1B Mark Teixeira, RHP Jon Garland, OF Garret Anderson.
Anderson is represented by Scott Boras, so the veteran's future might start to take shape once Teixeira's deal with the Yankees is finalized.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: 3B Chone Figgins, RHP Ervin Santana, C Mike Napoli, INF Maicer Izturis, INF Robb Quinlan, LHP Darren Oliver.
Santana figures to get a big raise after his 16-7 season during which he finished among the AL leaders in wins, innings pitched, strikeouts and ERA. Figgins is in a more tenuous position after a subpar season in 2008. He could become a chip the Angels use in trade talks. The Angels are likely to make offers to Napoli, Izturis and Quinlan and get them re-signed before any arbitration hearings. Oliver accepted the Angels' offer of arbitration after filing for free agency.
IN LIMBO: The Angels made decisions on three players with club options in 2009, picking up the options on OF Vladimir Guerrero and RHP John Lackey, but buying out the option of OF Garret Anderson and allowing him to become a free agent. Look for Lackey to get a contract extension sometime in 2009, but Guerrero's skills appear to be in decline and the Angels could have a difficult decision ahead with him.
INF Maicer Izturis (left thumb surgery in August 2008) was playing winter ball and was fully recovered from surgery.
OF Vladimir Guerrero (left knee surgery in October 2008) should be fully recovered in time for Opening Day.
RHP Kelvim Escobar (right shoulder surgery in July 2008) is not expected back until midseason 2009.
