Moving forward, Mozeliak isn't shopping for another infielder. Khalil Greene will start at shortstop, Kennedy will start at second and Ryan, Barden, Tyler Greene and newcomer Joe Thurston will be among those competing for bench roles.
Mozeliak will keep shopping for pitching help. A buyer's market is shaping up for the legion of unsigned starters.
"I still want to add some lefthanded depth to the bullpen, but it's not like I have to go out and get one of the names being bandied about," he said. "I want to get some protection.
"Having a back-up plan for starting pitching makes a lot of sense. I don't know what the timing will be. My preference would be to not go with a three-year deal."
The Angels couldn't acquire left-hander Brian Fuentes when they needed a setup man. But they did land him when they needed a new closer.
Fuentes was a target at the trade deadline in July when the Angels were looking to strengthen their bullpen for the stretch run. They could not work out a deal with the Rockies that would have added Fuentes as a setup option leading to closer Francisco Rodriguez.
But with Rodriguez gone via free agency, the Angels targeted Fuentes again. This time, they landed the free agent reliever, signing him to a two-year, $17.5 million contract to replace Rodriguez in 2009.
The contract includes an option for a third season at $9 million.
"Brian Fuentes has been in our sights for some time," Angels general manager Tony Reagins said. "Brian joining Jose (Arredondo), Scot Shields, (Justin) Speier and (Darren) Oliver should give us a good opportunity to close games."
Had the Angels been able to re-sign free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, that opportunity would most likely have gone to Shields. The longtime setup man would have represented a cheaper alternative at closer, something the Angels' budget might have required following a big-ticket commitment to Teixeira.
When Teixeira opted to sign with the Yankees, the Angels had money to spend and chose to replace Rodriguez with a pitcher more familiar with the ninth-inning role. Fuentes has had 30 or more saves in three of the last four years with the Rockies.
"I knew with Frankie on the free agent market I had a chance to get to Anaheim," Fuentes said. "Being from California, it's always nice to stay here and have that comfort zone.
