 |
Pujols deal helped Angels add Wilson |
Updated Dec 29, 2011 11:21 PM ET
Albert Pujols agreed to backload his 10-year, $250 million contract to help the Los Angeles Angels sign free-agent pitcher C.J. Wilson, ESPN reported Thursday, citing sources. Pujols will make significantly less money in the first two years of the contract, which is one of the most lucrative in professional sports history. The slugger will reportedly make a base salary of $12 million in 2012 and $16 million in 2013, with the salary gradually increasing until he makes over $30 million a year towards the end of the deal. The backloading of the contract allowed the Angels to sign Wilson to a five-year, $77 million deal, the sources said. Pujols, who turns 32 next month, departed St. Louis after 11 brilliant seasons, including World Series titles in 2006 and 2011. The nine-time All-Star has a career average of .328, with 445 home runs. The 31-year-old Wilson went 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA in 2011 and helped lead the Texas Rangers to their second consecutive World Series appearance. The converted closer is 31-15 over the past two seasons, his first two as a starter. Gotta run!. Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
|
|
|
Los Angeles Angels ink Albert Pujols to 10-year,… |
By Ronald Blum DALLAS – Albert Pujols could have been a wealthy Cardinal for life, planning for the day his statue would be erected outside Busch Stadium next to those of Stan Musial, Bob Gibson and the other St. Louis greats. Instead, exactly six weeks after leading the Cardinals to a second title in one of the most thrilling World Series ever, he decided to accept the second-highest contract in baseball history for a new future in southern California with the Los Angeles Angels. The three-time NL MVP agreed Thursday to a $254 million, 10-year contract with the Angels, leaving behind a heartbroken fan base by jilting one of the sport’s traditional teams for an expansion club with only one championship in its half-century. For baseball, it was a virtually unprecedented move. Many top stars have changed teams in their careers, from Babe Ruth to Willie Mays to Barry Bonds. But this is perhaps the best player in the game over the past decade, exiting shortly after one of the great postseason power shows. A big and burly offensive force with a shaved head, the nine-time All-Star has a room full of honors, winning the 2001 NL Rookie of the Year award, NL MVPs in 2005, 2008 and 2009, a batting title in 2003 and a pair of Gold Gloves at first base. Who would have predicted that when the Cardinals selected him in the 13th round of the 1999 amateur draft with the 402nd overall selection? And now, he’s going West. As his deal fell into place on the final day of the winter meetings, the Angels struck another big agreement, a $77.5 million, five-year contract with left-hander C.J. Wilson, the ace whose Texas Rangers lost to the Cardinals in the seven-game World Series. “This is obviously the moment where we have thrown our hat in the ring,” new Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said. Had he stayed in St. Louis before packed, adoring crowds, Pujols would’ve established a Cal Ripken-like legacy of loyalty, a rare modern star who remained with a franchise from first at-bat to final swing. Instead, some of his former fans will see him as a sellout. Pujols rejected a multiyear extension last offseason that was said to include a small percentage of the franchise and cut off negotiations a day before he arrived at spring training. St. Louis also offered the slugger a 10-year deal that chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said was in excess of $200 million. “I would like our fans to know that we tried our best to make Albert a lifetime Cardinal,” he said in a statement, adding later in a telephone interview: “They were substantially higher than our bid.” In St. Louis, Pujols has accomplished so much that he would have been beloved no matter his future performance. But in Anaheim, he will have to prove himself anew. “I think his body’s going to start breaking down and he’s not going to be good for 10 years,” said Katie Coyle, fitness coordinator at the Webster-Kirkwood YMCA in Missouri, a die-hard fan who wore team colors to work during the playoffs. “I think he’s going to regret leaving here. If he’d have stayed here and signed a long-term deal with the Cardinals, they’d have had compassion for him because they’ve seen him at his best.” Pujols’ contract, which like Wilson’s is subject to a physical, is only the third to break the $200 million barrier, following Alex Rodriguez’s $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas before the 2001 season and A-Rod’s $275 million, 10-year agreement with the Yankees before the 2008 season. “This is a monumental day for Angel fans and I could not be more excited,” said owner Arte Moreno, who bought the team for $184 million from The Walt Disney Co. in 2003, a year after its only title. Despite a top-four payroll this year, the Angels finished second behind Texas in the AL West. They spent $331.5 million on just two players, capping an unusual winter meetings in which the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox watched while the Angels and Miami Marlins spent as if they were the sport’s financial elite. That’s all the news for today. Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
|
|
|
Blue Jays send Mills to Angels for Mathis |
Jeff Mathis can wait to get to work with the Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff. The Blue Jays acquired Mathis, a defensive specialist who excels at strategizing with his battery mate, from the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday for left-handed reliever Brad Mills. “That’s a big part of my game, getting to know the pitchers and what they like to do and how they like to throw the ball,” Mathis said on a conference call. “I’m just excited to be able to work with a bunch of those guys and get to know them and see if we can get on the same page and have a good year.” The 28-year-old batted just .174 with three homers and 22 RBIs in 93 games with Los Angeles last season. He has a .194 with 26 homers since starting his major league career with the Angels in 2007. Mathis will likely back up J.P. Arencibia at catcher for the Jays. In 2011, Arencibia hit .219 with 23 home runs and 78 RBIs in his first full season with Toronto. The Jays lost their 2010 backup catcher to free agency on Nov. 28 when Jose Molina signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. For his part, Mathis is just eager to work with Toronto’s young pitchers. “I like to tell them things that I can see and I also like them to ask me questions,” Mathis said. “I try to be as honest with them as I can, but you got to get to know them and know how to handle guys. “That’s the biggest part of the catcher-pitcher relationship: knowing how to go out there and approach different pitchers.” This is the second consecutive off-season the Blue Jays have acquired a catcher from the Angels. Toronto traded for Mike Napoli on Jan. 21. Just four days later, Napoli was traded to the Texas Rangers for right-handed reliever Frank Francisco and cash considerations. Mathis doesn’t think he’ll suffer the same fate after speaking with several members of the Blue Jays front office, including manager John Farrell and general manager Alex Anthopoulos. “I’ve talked to a bunch of the guys from the organization and it sounds like I’m here to stay,” Mathis said. “I’m excited about it.” Mills made four starts for the Blue Jays last season, going 1-2 with a 9.82 earned-run average. He spent most of the season at triple-A Las Vegas, going 11-9 in 24 starts. Leave any suggestions in the comment box. Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
|
|
|
Blue Jays send reliever Brad Mills to Los Angeles… |
The Canadian Press – ONLINE EDITION By: The Canadian Press
3/12/2011 4:42 PM 
Enlarge Image Los Angeles Angels catcher Jeff Mathis throws to first on July 26, 2011, in Cleveland. The Toronto Blue Jays have traded left-handed reliever Brad Mills to the Los Angeles Angels for catcher Jeff Mathis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Mark Duncan TORONTO – Jeff Mathis can wait to get to work with the Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff. The Blue Jays acquired Mathis, a defensive specialist who excels at strategizing with his battery mate, from the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday for left-handed reliever Brad Mills. “That’s a big part of my game, getting to know the pitchers and what they like to do and how they like to throw the ball,” Mathis said on a conference call. “I’m just excited to be able to work with a bunch of those guys and get to know them and see if we can get on the same page and have a good year.” The 28-year-old batted just .174 with three homers and 22 RBIs in 93 games with Los Angeles last season. He has a .194 with 26 homers since starting his major league career with the Angels in 2007. Mathis will likely back up J.P. Arencibia at catcher for the Jays. In 2011, Arencibia hit .219 with 23 home runs and 78 RBIs in his first full season with Toronto. The Jays lost their 2010 backup catcher to free agency on Nov. 28 when Jose Molina signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. For his part, Mathis is just eager to work with Toronto’s young pitchers. “I like to tell them things that I can see and I also like them to ask me questions,” Mathis said. “I try to be as honest with them as I can, but you got to get to know them and know how to handle guys. “That’s the biggest part of the catcher-pitcher relationship: knowing how to go out there and approach different pitchers.” This is the second consecutive off-season the Blue Jays have acquired a catcher from the Angels. Toronto traded for Mike Napoli on Jan. 21. Just four days later, Napoli was traded to the Texas Rangers for right-handed reliever Frank Francisco and cash considerations. Mathis doesn’t think he’ll suffer the same fate after speaking with several members of the Blue Jays front office, including manager John Farrell and general manager Alex Anthopoulos. “I’ve talked to a bunch of the guys from the organization and it sounds like I’m here to stay,” Mathis said. “I’m excited about it.” Mills made four starts for the Blue Jays last season, going 1-2 with a 9.82 earned-run average. He spent most of the season at triple-A Las Vegas, going 11-9 in 24 starts. Feel free to leave your comments below. Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
|
|
|
Red Sox Free Agency 2011: Mark Buehrle Drawing… |
Read More: Mark Buehrle (P – CWS), Boston Red Sox Mark Buehrle is drawing interest from the Boston Red Sox, among other teams, as they look to firm up their rotation heading into next season. Buehrle, a Type-B free agent, is also being pursued by the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, Washington Nationals, Texas Rangers and Miami Marlins, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports. Buehrle is coming off of a four-year deal worth $56 million with the Chicago White Sox, where he has pitched for his entire career. In 390 career games, Buehrle is 161-199 with a 3.83 career ERA and 1,396 strikeouts. Last season, Buehrle posted a 13-9 record with a 3.59 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 31 games. He has also thrown two no-hitters, including one perfect game, in his career and has won three Gold Glove award in a row. He’s reportedly looking for a three- or four-year deal. For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page and blog, Over The Monster. Subscribe to our feed!. Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
|
|
|
Angels take C.J. Wilson to dinner |
It wasn’t clear if Angels owner Arte Moreno would be at the dinner, but the Times reports that Moreno “has already established a relationship with the Texas Rangers star from bargaining sessions for baseball’s new labor agreement.” Dipoto met with the lefty’s agent, Bob Garber, for another dinner last week during the GM meetings. The word from the Times is that Wilson will meet with another team’s GM in L.A. as well and then travel to the East Coast to speak with a few different teams next week. The New York Yankees and Texas Rangers are among the mass of teams — “as many as 13,” the Times reports — that are interested in Wilson, who went 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA for the American League champs last season. Find out before your friends. Follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook. Source: Los Angeles Times Related: C.J. Wilson, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers What do you guys think about this. Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
|
|
Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia and general manager Jerry Dipoto were scheduled to take free agent 
