LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – And on the third day, Jerry Dipoto rested.
The Angels general manager might not have been dozing in his suite Wednesday at the winter meetings, but he did transition from the grind of negotiating a three-way trade to the relatively easy work of talking to agents.
Late in the afternoon Dipoto said it had been a “relatively quiet” day as he met with representatives of several starting pitchers and position players. He said no deals were close.
The Angels’ priority is a pitcher to bolster the rotation – Matt Garza and Masahiro Tanaka, if he’s posted, are believed to be their top choices – but Tuesday’s Mark Trumbo trade also created the need, albeit less pressing, to find someone who could help fill the designated hitter void.
Raul Ibanez is the only player so far confirmed to be on the Angels’ list of candidates for the role. Ibanez, 41, hit .242 with 29 homers and a .793 OPS last season for the Seattle Mariners. His numbers were comparable to Trumbo’s (.234, 34, .747), but his age obviously would make him more likely to decline.
It is likely the Angels also will look at players such as Mark Reynolds, Lyle Overbay or Adam Lind. Michael Morse would be an ideal fit, but his price tag might be too high. Corey Hart, who missed all of last season with injuries, agreed to a one-year incentive-laden deal worth a guaranteed $5 million to the Seattle Mariners.
The Angels are $18 million under the Competitive Balance Tax threshold – although it’s likely they would be willing to exceed it slightly if necessary – and a pitcher such as Garza will cost around $13 million to $15 million. Tanaka could cost as much as $20 million.
TROUT NO. 2
Manager Mike Scioscia said he’s not sure exactly where Mike Trout will hit in the lineup, but it probably won’t be leadoff. Scioscia seems to be leaning toward an alignment with Trout hitting second, followed by Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton.
“I think his future is anywhere from two, three four in the lineup,” Scioscia said. “In the leadoff spot it’s always sexy to talk about that type of leadoff hitter, but I don’t know if it’s functional for Mike or our team if you’re not setting the table for him, so that’s why it’s probably better for him to hit at least No. 2 and see where it goes from there.”
Scioscia did not say who he envisioned hitting leadoff, but the most logical choice seems to be Kole Calhoun. J.B. Shuck, who hit leadoff most of the second half, might not be in the lineup if the Angels acquire another hitter to be the DH.
NOTES
C.J. Cron, who won the batting title in the Arizona Fall League, is not likely to be a candidate to immediately help fill the void at DH.
“As far as breaking spring training and making our team, that might be a bit of a stretch,” Scioscia said. “But I think we’re very comfortable with the fact that at some point next year, if he makes the same improvement that he made this year in the Fall League … that he will be on our depth chart.” …
T.J. Harrington, the Angels’ strength and conditioning coach, has been traveling to visit every player on the major league roster to assess his offseason conditioning. Last year the Angels had at least two players – Alberto Callaspo and Jerome Williams – who showed up to camp overweight.
Contact the writer: jlfletcher@ocregister.com
