OF Gary Matthews Jr. (left knee surgery in October 2008) faces a four- to six-month recovery period, so it is likely he will not be ready to play when the 2009 season opens.
RHP Kelvim Escobar (right shoulder surgery in July 2008) is not expected back until midseason 2009.
--The Angels lost three pitchers in the Rule 5 draft, including RHP Darren O'Day, who spent much of the 2008 season in the majors but is now rehabbing a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder. O'Day was taken by the Mets. RHP Bobby Mosebach was taken by the Phillies, and RHP Miguel Gonzalez was taken by the Red Sox.
--The Angels had discussions with the agent for LHP CC Sabathia but never made a contract offer, GM Tony Reagins said. "We talked to CC's people and made it clear that if the numbers being reported were accurate, we weren't a player," Reagins said. "And they assured us they were accurate." Sabathia signed with the Yankees for seven years, $161 million (and the largest contract ever given to a pitcher).
--Signing OF Manny Ramirez is "probably not a likely scenario" for the Angels, GM Tony Reagins said. If the Angels are unable to re-sign free agent 1B Mark Teixeira, they will be in the market for offensive help. But Reagins said, "We have another direction we'd want to go before we went that route."
--The Angels agreed to terms on a minor league contract with Korean RHP Pil Joon Jang. Jang, 20, is the second Korean-born player in the Angels farm system, joining RHP Jung Young-il.
--OF Vladimir Guerrero is doing well in his recovery from surgery on his left knee in October and should be fully healthy by spring training, GM Tony Reagins said. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he anticipates Guerrero being able to play right field "a lot" in 2009 and not getting relegated to DH so often. Guerrero started at DH a career-high 44 games in 2008.
BY THE NUMBERS: 244 -- Games in which both relievers Scot Shields and Francisco Rodriguez appeared for the Angels, the second-highest total for teammates behind the A's Dennis Eckersley and Rick Honeycutt at 248.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "You just have to develop a plan you're comfortable with as an organization and be responsible. ... Hopefully, that gets it done." -- Angels GM Tony Reagins, on the team's hopes for re-signing free agent 1B Mark Teixeira.
The Yankees seem disinclined to sign free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira if his price soars to the $180 million to $200 million range.
Funny time for them to find religion, don't you think?
MLB Hot Stove
Free-agent second baseman Orlando Hudson, recovering from surgery to repair a dislocated bone in his left wrist, has been cleared by his surgeon to resume all baseball activities without restriction. Hudson, who had already begun hitting, now can work on his fielding as well, according to the report his agents received from Dr. Donald Sheridan ...
Author's Website:http://www.foxsports.com
Added: October 19, 2008
