--RHP Francisco Rodriguez was named to The Sporting News' All-Star team. Rodriguez broke the single-season saves record last season with 62 in 69 save opportunities.
--RHP Francisco Rodriguez was the last of the Angels' six eligible free agents to file. He joins RHP Jon Garland, 1B Mark Teixeira, OF Juan Rivera, LHP Darren Oliver and OF Garret Anderson (whose option was bought out by the Angels) on the open market.
--GM Tony Reagins would not rule out the possibility of the Angels being in the bidding for the two most attractive players on the free agent market -- 1B Mark Teixeira and LHP CC Sabathia. "But we're going to act reasonably and responsibly," Reagins said.
--The Angels could be in for a big haul of draft picks if they don't re-sign their free agents. Three of their six free agents (Mark Teixeira, Darren Oliver and Francisco Rodriguez) were ranked as Type A free agents. Two (Garret Anderson and Jon Garland) rank as Type B free agents. Teams losing a Type A free agent receive the signing team's first-round pick and a supplemental pick as compensation. Compensation for Type B free agents is just a supplemental pick.
BY THE NUMBERS: .358, 13 home runs, 43 RBIs -- 1B Mark Teixeira's numbers in 54 games with the Angels last season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The marketplace for Mark Teixeira is going to be very aggressive." -- Agent Scott Boras, on the free agent first baseman.
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. Now they have to decide if they are willing to pay what it will take to keep Teixeira. That is just the biggest of several offseason questions the front office will have to address. "I think it's pretty obvious it's going to be tough to keep every piece in that room here. That's the reality of it," manager Mike Scioscia said.
FREE AGENTS: RHP Francisco Rodriguez, 1B Mark Teixeira, RHP Jon Garland, OF Juan Rivera, LHP Darren Oliver, LF Garret Anderson.
Teixeira should be the Angels' top priority. But re-signing him will take a clash of negotiating styles between the Angels (who like to move quickly) and Teixeira's agent, Scott Boras (notorious for playing the market out to get his clients the most money possible). Rodriguez is as good as gone after his record-setting season. There are cheaper in-house alternatives in Scot Shields and Jose Arredondo. If the Angels can save enough money on some decisions (like letting Rodriguez and Garland go), they could become players for free agent LHP CC Sabathia as well.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: 3B Chone Figgins, RHP Ervin Santana, C Mike Napoli, INF Maicer Izturis, INF Robb Quinlan.
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 hearing.
