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.
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.
IN LIMBO: The Angels have to make decisions on three players with club options in 2009 -- OFs Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson and RHP John Lackey. Look for them to exercise Guerrero's option for next season, but his skills appear to be in decline and another long-term deal is unlikely. An extension for Lackey could be on the Angels' agenda this offseason. Anderson, meanwhile, is a stickier situation. He holds nearly every franchise record for a position player and still has some skill (as shown by his .335 batting average after the All-Star break this season). But he is no longer worth the $14 million he is scheduled to be paid next season and, like Guerrero, needs increasing DH time.
INF Maicer Izturis (left thumb surgery in August 2008) is expected to recover in time for spring training.
OF Vladimir Guerrero (right knee tendinitis) will consult with team doctors about possible surgery.
RHP Kelvim Escobar (right shoulder surgery in July 2008) is not expected back until midseason 2009.
The Angels were left stunned by their third first-round exit in the past five postseasons. This year, they thought, would be different.
"It's going to be with me for a while. It's frustrating," outfielder Torii Hunter said. "With this team, I could have sworn to you we were going (to the World Series). I was so happy and confident. If any team I was part of was going to go all the way, this was it."
That was a common sentiment in the Angels' locker room after their AL Division Series loss to the Boston Red Sox. But the reality is that regular-season success has not translated into playoff success for the Angels. They have won 90-plus games and a division title in four of the past five seasons. In that same time, they are 5-15 in playoff games with only one series victory (the 2005 ALDS against the Yankees).
