Transaction Analysis

Transaction Analysis: March 6-16

ANAHEIM ANGELS Returned 3B Troy Glaus, RHPs Ramon Ortiz and Mike Bovee, LHPs Scott Schoenweis and Jarrod Washburn, OF Norm Hutchins, C Ben Molina, and INF Nelson Castro to minor-league camp; released OF Patrick Lennon. [3/11] Glaus had an outstanding camp, and Washburn was simply out of luck after the Angels decided to tack on...

Transaction Analysis: February 27-March 5

by Christina Kahrl 3/10

ANAHEIM ANGELS Assigned Ps Mo Sanford, Rob Banano, Darryl Scott and Brian Cooper and Cs Ben Molina and Jaime Burke to their minor league camp. [3/3] The only surprise here is that Mo Sanford is still around to throw his wicked breaking stuff. Here’s hope he’s got the aptitude to coach, because it doesn’t look...

Transaction Analysis: February 19-26

by Christina Kahrl 2/27

ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed RHP Jack McDowell to a one-year contract; signed 1B/CF Darin Erstad to a four-year contract. [2/25] Both the Angels and Black Jack are treating this as the signing that ices the Mickey-Mouse-gloved stranglehold that they claim to have on the ’98 division title. It definitely forces Omar Olivares into the sixth starter-long...

Transaction Analysis: February 13-18

by Christina Kahrl 2/20

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Purchased the contract of RHP Ken Robinson from Toronto. [2/17] Robinson is coming off of an outstanding season as Syracuse’s closer. But he’s short, so like Jim Corsi, some people don’t go ga-ga over him. Given the D-backs’ extremely weak bullpen situation, he’s as good an option for the team’s closer as they’ve...

Transaction Analysis: February 6-12

by Keith Law 2/17

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Traded minor-league infielder Mike Bell to the New York Mets for minor-league pitcher Joe Lisio. [2/10] Since Mike Bell was blocked at third by Matt Williams until forever and doesn’t hit enough to play third in the majors anyway, the D-backs essentially gave up nothing to get a minor-league closer with perhaps a...

Transaction Analysis: January 30-February 5

by Christina Kahrl 2/06

ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed OF Patrick Lennon to a minor league contract with a spring training NRI. [1/30] Outrighted RHP Mike Freehill to Vancouver (AAA). [2/3] After snagging Gary Thurman and Damon Mashore, you would have figured that the Angels were set as far as setting themselves up with good RH-hitting fifth outfielders. Lennon can be...

Transaction Analysis: January 23-29

by Christina Kahrl 1/30

ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed OF Damon Mashore to a minor league contract with a spring training NRI. [1/26] Mashore has outstanding plate discipline, reasonable range, and a strong, accurate arm. His ability to contribute as a major league regular has essentially been ruined by his annual knee injuries, but as a bench player, platoon partner, and...

Transaction Analysis: January 16-22

by Christina Kahrl 1/23

ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed LHP Rich Robertson to a minor league contract. [1/19] Signed OF Gary Thurman to a minor-league contract with a spring training NRI. [1/22] Neither are bad additions. The Angels rotation is currently looking to be Chuck Finley, Ken Hill, Allen Watson, Jason Dickson, and Omar Olivares. Robertson joins William VanLandingham on the...

Transaction Analysis: January 5-15

by Christina Kahrl 1/19

ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed INF Norberto Martin to a one-year contract. [1/9] Signed RHP William VanLandingham to a one-year contract. [1/10] With the defections of Jack Howell and Craig Grebeck, the Angels were getting pretty thin for utility infielders. Paco Martin may have his faults (mostly in the field), but as a pinch-hitter or pinch-runner for...

Transaction Analysis: December 19-January 4

by Christina Kahrl 1/05

ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed DH/1B Cecil Fielder to a one-year contract. [12/19] The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Angels were confronted with a very similar choice after the 1990 season, when they let Brian Downing walk away to bring in Dave Parker to DH. Fielder’s a better player now than Parker...

Transaction Analysis: December 15-18

by Christina Kahrl 12/22

ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed C Matt Walbeck to a one-year contract. [12/16] ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Sold the rights to LF Harvey Pulliam to Orix of the Japanese Leagues. [12/17] Signed RHPs Scott Brow, Greg Hansell, Barry Manuel, and Dave Pavlas to minor league contracts with NRIs to spring training. [12/18] The D-backs’ pitching situation is fluid (to...

Transaction Analysis: December 8-14

by Christina Kahrl 12/15

ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed RHP Rich DeLucia to a one-year contract, and signed RHP Mark Gubicza to a minor-league contract with a spring training invite. [12/8] Signed RHP Omar Olivares to a one-year contract. [12/11] The Angels haven’t managed to pull off any of the rumored deals for pitching that would in turn move either Garrett...

Transaction Analysis: December 1-7

by Christina Kahrl 12/08

ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed C Eric Helfand to a minor league contract. [12/3] Signed LHP Greg Cadaret and 3B Frank Bolick to minor league contracts. [12/4] Signed INF Steve Scarsone to a minor league contract. [12/5] Fillin’ up for Vancouver… Scarsone is a handy utility infielder with good offensive skills vs. LHPs, and with Craig Grebeck’s...

Transaction Analysis: November 24-30

by Christina Kahrl 12/01

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Named Mark Connor pitching coach, and signed LHP Kirt Ojala to a minor league contract. [11/26] Although clearly less guilty than the D-Rays in this regard, chalk this up as an example of Buck Showalter wanting people he’s familiar with. Connor was his pitching coach with the Yankees, and the Boss’ decision to...

Transaction Analysis: November 14-23

by Christina Kahrl 11/24

ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed RHP Ken Hill to a three-year deal with a one-year option. [11/16] Acquired UT Phil Nevin and C Matt Walbeck from Detroit for RHP Nick Skuse. [11/20] Trading Perisho for the subsequently drafted Mike Bell doesn’t hurt as much now, since Hill came around and re-signed. There are still questions about whether...

Transaction Analysis: November 7-13

by Christina Kahrl 11/17

ANAHEIM ANGELS Exercised the option on RHP Ken Hill, who declined and is now a free agent. [11/7] The Angels are supposed to be livid about this, because they claim they would not have traded Matt Perisho to the Rangers had they known this was going to happen. Since the Perisho-Mike Bell deal wasn’t a...