LOS ANGELES ANGELS

They made the biggest splash this off season in signing Albert Pujols, the biggest name in the free agent pool. The money alone could finance most teams for a year; the sense to it seems remote.

Albert Pujols

If the Angels win the World Series this year, it will be a very expensive World Series. When they got Albert Pujols they pretty much said, we are the next champions. That may be true, but then again it may not. The problem is the Angels are paying this guy $25 Million a year, for TEN YEARS! Is he going to be the same hitting Albert Pujols in 8 or 9 years? Is that contract going to hold up signing anyone else in the future free agent market on the Angels?

The Angels finished 86-76 and 10 games out of first place. A few bounces one way or the other could have given them either the pennant or mediocrity. They finished 17^th in runs scored, 15^th in batting average and 21^st in on base percentage, and a mediocre 14^th in slugging percentage. Albert Pujols should make a difference in those numbers.

A deal to keep Jered Weaver, the Angels reached a similar agreement with Howie Kendrick. These are productive players going into their prime, so they are solidifying their future.

Kendrick will bat in front of Pujols, and after a career year in which he may take it to a new level, Kendrick is in position to become a force in his own! Kendrick is the 2^nd baseman for now and the future.

The pitching seems solid for now with Jered Weaver, 2.41 ERA, 18-8 record and 198 K’s.  the Angels agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with veteran reliever LaTroy Hawkins2.42 ERA 0 Saves and 28 K’s.

The other piece of their starting pitching is C. J. Wilson, signed as a free agent, taking away their main obstacle to first place and moving by Texas. 2.94 ERA, 16-7 record and 206 K’s, makes this an important signing.

Jordan Walden, 32 saves, and setup man Scott Downs closes out a pretty decent pitching staff.

Alberto Callaspo at third; .288 BA and .366 OBP, Mark Trumbo, 29 HR’s and 87 RBI’s and Erick Aybar’s 155 hits look to be a promisingly destructive lineup. The question is how well will Trumbo do away from 1^st base?

Overall, with the addition of Pujols and Wilson, the Angels upgraded better than anyone this off season. The signings of Weaver and Kendrick were smart moves toward the future, so I would think they are the favorites to win the AL West