DEPARTURES: RHP Francisco Rodriguez (free agent, signed with Mets), 1B Mark Teixeira (free agent, signed with Yankees).
FREE AGENT: OF Garret Anderson.
1B Mark Teixeira was the Angels' top priority, but they were unwilling to match the eight-year, $180 million offer from the Yankees. They made no effort to re-sign RHP Francisco Rodriguez, preferring to sign free agent LHP Brian Fuentes instead. But the waiting game with Teixeira has left them with limited alternatives to improve a mediocre offense left wanting without the first baseman.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: RHP Ervin Santana, INF Maicer Izturis.
Santana will get a big raise after his 16-7 season during which he finished among the AL leaders in wins, innings pitched, strikeouts and ERA.
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.
C Mike Napoli (right shoulder surgery in October 2008) should be fully recovered in time for Opening Day.
OF Gary Matthews Jr. (left knee surgery in October 2008) could miss the first month of the 2009 season.
The Angels were willing to make first baseman Mark Teixeira the highest-paid player in franchise history (and one of the highest-paid in baseball) with a $160 million offer that nearly matched Arte Moreno's purchase price of the franchise six years ago (approximately $184 million).
But Teixeira spurned the Angels for an even more lucrative contract with the New York Yankees, leaving the Angels with money to spend -- but they haven't.
