With the heart breaking end of the season still glaring at us from behind the tube, while the Yankees and Phillies fight for intergalactic East Coast dominance, it's that time of the year for me to look forward to the off-season. With our off-season inevitably looming ahead, it seems a bit like a steam train heading straight towards an 8 foot thick brick wall and neither side is going to come out ahead. Obviously that analogy is referring to the Free Agent class bred from the 2009' Angels and the Angels Organization.

It's well documented that the Angels will have several key positions most likely leaving the organization this off-season, and to say that is fair is an understatement. We've had, probably the best years out of 4 of the impending Free Agents, including John Lackey, Chone Figgins, Vladimir Guerrero and Darren Oliver. Each of these players has contributed whole-heartedly to the club and it's fair to say they want what they want, be it money or championships.  With a total of (I believe) 6 Free Agents on the active roster, the organization does have a lot of holes to fill.

* Bobby Abreu

* Vladimir Guerrero

* Chone Figgins

* John Lackey

* Darren Oliver

* Robb Quinlan

We know their stats, we know their production, we know just about everything that we need to know to gauge how valuable they are to the Angels. I won't dwell into the stats all that much, I'm not a stat-head myself which makes me probably the least likely of person you'd want discussing those type of arguments. The question here is, what do we do to replace the total production. I'll start with Abreu and work my way down, guesstimating, hypothesizing and using voodoo to predict my outcome.

Abreu: It's hard to mask his type of production, patience and even if it's not a stat, influence on other players. This is a player who is a typical #2 style hitter, that can draw a walk, hit a bomb and run the base paths with ease. His liability is his defense, which would make him much more likely to extend his career in the American League. Unfortunately I don't see Abreu returning to the Angels as he has not accepted the Angels initial offer, and I can't see the Angels extending the offer for an aging defenseless outfielder.

Guerroro: This is another individual who's feats are widely known all throughout baseball and who's untraditional skill set makes him a viable threat to anyone who's risky enough to keep his injured body in the dugout. With the lack of available sluggers on the Free Agent market or trading block, I can absolutely see the Angels trying to resign him to a 2 year deal with an club option for a third. Or possibly a 1 year deal with a mutual option followed by a club option. This doesn't have to do with only the fact that he is still a slugger, but also that he draws audiences and is as Rev said, a sure-fire HOFer.

Figgins: Figgins had a career year, several times. Whether it be SB's, AVG or OBP, he's a bit of a chameleon in the statistical standpoint. In my opinion, the man has slowed down, forgotten how to hit ground balls and lacks the initial burst of a true base stealer. I'm no scout, or stat-head (as mentioned previously) this is all just based on observation over this last season. I cannot see the Angels trying to resign Figgins, it doesn't make sense on any level for the organizations future.

Lackey: Oh Lackey, Lackey, Lackey, sentimentally this is a hard thing for me to see. I was hoping the Angels were going to be able to lock him up to an extended contract last year, alas it never happened. This is the one Free Agent that if the Angels are not able to re-sign, will hurt the most in my opinion. Never dominating, always resourceful Lackey, is an Ace in his own right. Sure he doesn't have a FIP of 1.1, or a 97MPH FB and a 8" Breaking Splitter like some Bostonians call the "Ace of All Aces". What he does have his determination, heart and the ability to spot pitches when he's on that makes him a bit of a Maddux style pitcher. I forsee the Angels attempting whole-heartedly to resign Lackey to a 5/75 up to a 6/85 type of deal.

Oliver: Oliver is awesome, plain and simple, the man of a million jobs and he knows how to do each of them. Most likely he'll be heading to retirement, which bums me a bit, I always liked him. As a person he was really easy to talk to and converse with even at the Park. If he does not retire, the Angels will offer him arbitration and he will accept being the clever man that he is (ala 08' Off Season).

Quinlan: Q, I have nothing to say here. There was this one year where he hit lefties really well. Was that like 3 or 4 years ago? He seemed like a hardworking player, but never grew into a sustainable every-day player. He's not an A or B type free agent and I can't see the Angels re-signing him with other available youngsters in the minors or a deeper class of backup players in the Free Agent Pool.

My final thoughts on this matter in particular is if the Angels are unable to resign either Abreu or Lackey then they will have to explore both Trades and Free Agents. I could see them trying to explore Holliday depending on the shake of the economy for top-tier Free Agents. They could, and most likely will give SD a call to see how Adrian's doing (with the obvious hang-up right when Gonzalez's name is mentioned). Jorge Cantu could be moved to RF if they attempted to talk with the Marlins. There are many names available, too bad not all of them are the impact players the Angels are looking for.

As for Lackey, if they can't resign him then that's an issue and I personally do not feel like Sean O'Sullivan has the ability to be a 5th Starter for an entire Season. Possibly a look at Javier Vasquez, or Jeremy Bonderman? Who knows, but it will be an entertaining off-season none the less.

I'm just curious if anyone knows specifically why the Angels minor league prospects seem to be stuck and in limbo at Triple A?

This is all observation of course, but I am curious as to why Rodriguez and Wood are sitting wasting away in Triple A when they could be ahead of Aybar or Izturius? Is it that Aybar or Izturius are trade bait? Sosh hates Minor League players? Does the front office believe power bats are evil?

I'm honestly curious as to why this continues to be an issue and why, when our power threats are out, Napoli is not DHing... Is there any method to this madness that I continue to see?

Can anybody explain to me what has happened to Ryan Grant? If he's injured, shouldn't Brandon Jackson be getting more reps? He looks like he can't run...

Without a running game, the Packers seem to be completely one dimensional and putting additional pressure on Rodgers; fair or not... no competitive team can be one dimensional.

Is this 75 words yet?

How about now?

And now? Grrr....... How about now?!?!?! And Now? And freakin' Now?

I'm sure everyone has different opinions on if they would enjoy having M.Ram on the Angels; I personally think it'd be a worthy risk.

We know of the prolific offense that Manny Ramirez can bring to a relatively starved offense; yet we also know the antics that Ramirez can bring and more than likely the dissolving clubhouse.

If we look at it in terms of putting a team "over top" this would be the most likely situation for any post-season bound team.

Let's say, for example, the Angels and Sox made the trade for Manny - what exactly would be involved in the trade?

1.) Manny would have to waive his no trade clause.

2.) Sox would demand at minimum 2 mlb-ready prospects.

3.) Angels would have to believe that the prospects being given up were not detrimental to the future of the organization.

Well, most people would think Manny would have to have his last two club options picked up to approve a trade - I doubt this for one reason: Vladimir Guerrero. Manny has admitted that he'd love to play with Vlad in the past, I don't see it changing anytime soon.

Yes, the Sox would probably demand 2 if not 3 mlb-ready prospects. Although, what are mlb-ready prospects? Dustin Moseley? Bootcheck? Thompson? Sean Rodriquez? I think all of us can speculate that a deal would probably center around Juan Rivera and Dustin Moseley both going to the  Sox. That deal would more than likely make a lot of sense for the Sox to increase their pitching depth while still getting some power out of Rivera.

To get a valuable, although declining, hitter such as Ramirez without having to pickup his 09 and 10 options will be valuable to the Angels since they can let him go next off season, sign or bring up another outfielder and collect the compensation draft picks for him.

The deal would benefit the Angels organization in a variety of ways; is it worth it?

UPDATE: According to Marlins.com Maicer Izturis could be had instead of Brandon Wood
Link To Update

According to the LA TIMES:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-sp-cabrera14nov14,1,6152700.story?coll=la-headlines-pe -sports

Kendrick is apparently not untouchable and would be part of a package for Miguel Cabrera is the Angels were to get a 2nd player in return. Apparently that second player could be Dan Uggla, MLBTradeRumors.com has also noted Dontelle Willis being added to the deal.

This is a tough deal to look at.

We'd be giving up Nick Adenhart, Howie Kendrick, "Dick" Wood and Mathis or Napoli. But, in return we'd be receiving Miguel Cabrera and Dontelle Willis or Dan Uggla.

I'm not sure I would do this trade of Kendrick was included. I love Uggla's power, but it's the NL and his BA is questionable. We'd also be putting ourselves into a large hole with the lack of Adenhart in the minors. What would you all do?

Kevin Gregg is apparently the heir apparent to the closer role for the Marlins, according to MLB.com

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070223&content_id=1813360&vkey=spt2007news&fex t=.jsp&c_id=fla&partnered=rss_fla

It's quite ironic if this happens, again. Jenks, Turnbow and possibley Gregg? Who knows though. That's a scary thought though.

This is freakin' awesome.

http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070119&content_id=1782959& ;vkey=news_ana&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana

go Percy, watchout Butcher. Here comes Percy.

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With the possible departure of Erstad, who would the Angels look to for leadership off the bench? And in the bullpen?

It's just something I was thinking about after reading something on angelsbaseball.com and it occured to me that there is a lack of leadership on the team, who would take the place of Erstad? Vlad? Lackey? Franky?

I'm still confused about this, and the impending offseason still has yet to help me figure what the Angels intentions are with Ervin Santana. Someone just noted that Santana was moved to the 'untouchable' list, yet every media outlet I see says that he's going to be traded and its likely that the Angels will sign Barry Zito to be the other starter in the rotation. I've also seen a few idiots that think the Angels would trade McPherson/Aybar for Cabrera (Orioles), but that's a seperate side note.

My question is that, what is he really worth to the Angels? His talent sure has a high ceiling, but is it worth trading a possible future cy young winner to get someone like, ugh Tejada? And why would we really need to sign Zito, especially since Stoneman likes to go in route of FA signings for our impact bats?

The whole issue confuses me, does anyone have anything to enlighten me on the situation?

Congrat KRod for your ability to convert more saves then anyone else this year. And thus you have earned something much more valuable then that pussy Mariano Rivera who hides behind his fans. :)

LINK -to- STORY

Wooo.