I conditionally like this/dislike this signing. It really depends on the capacity in which he's used and what other personnel are brought in.

-If he's our DH and we sign one of Bay or Holliday, it's a good move
-If he's our DH and we settle for GMJ, Pettit or Evans in RF, it's an ok move, doesn't really help us though
-If he's been signed as our RF and our DH is Vlad, it's not a very good move
-If he's our RF and DH is roving next year, this is a BAD move.

-Are we still going to be pursuing Holliday or Bay?
-Does this mean Vlad's time here is done?
-Have we forgot his performance in the ALCS?
-Are we putting Abreu in RF?
-Is 9 million a year a good price for a 36 year old OF with little power?
-Will he still be able to steal bases at age 38?

I'm just a little shocked its us making a move so quick and not dragging our feet.Your right though with so much to decide this off-season this move leaves lots of questions

The first move of any kind can bring questions...but why focus on that? Rather than questions, this move gives the Angels "OPTIONS". They, now, do not have to be "in a hurry" or feel an urgency to possibly make a "wrong" move.

At worst, you have Abreu in right field on defense. They lived with it and won the division...and got to the AL Championship this year with him there....certainly not ideal...but serviceable.

With Abreu now on board, he fills either the DH role or right field. Now the focus can be whether or not bringing Figgy back is a priority/correct move for the Angels. An early overture could get Figgins on the cheap compared to what the White Sox will offer. If he stalls, it might be time to give Wood a chance or go with the proven defense a Beltre...I personally like the Beltre option. He is due for a change of scenery. Options you can deal with...no Tex noose around their heads this off season!

All other positions are manned adequately, but available for upgrade IF the Angels desire to make the move. They do not HAVE to...and that's when good things (free agents & trades) happen.
Upgradign Left Field with Bay or Holliday would be a plus, of course. Might we see both?

Let Big John walk...there a ton of number 5 starters out there...and Mosely is coming back.
Sign Kelvin on the cheap...he owes that to the Angels after the last few seasons. He loves being a Angel...5th starter or bullpen help...when he is right he is really good. Save your pennies and go get Halladay next year...there is a guy to invest in!

Bullpen will be fine...get Oliver back, and then peruse the REAL CLOSERS available. Heath Bell from the Padres is still an option OR...give the job to Jepsen and move on. The kids got the stuff...and a full season will make him bulletproof in my opinion. Either way...lots of options there!
With a healthy Shields, the Angels should have one of the better pens in the league again. This year was an aberration...with too much opportunity given to Fuentes to fail. Although, he did save a ton of games...even with the roller coaster finishes.

YOU GOTTA LOVE HAVING OPTIONS. The Angels are smart...and proved it with the Abreu signing.
It's gonna be a fun off-season!

By the way...I am still sick to my stomach watching Tex leave and get a ring...and A-Roid finally getting the ONLY thing in the world he did not have...a WS ring.

Oh well...we can only hope its almost another decade before they get another one!

Let's get real. Boras hinted that he was looking for "Teixeira money" for Holliday. He mentioned 8 years and somewhere in the $150-180 million range.

Holliday won't be coming here. Only the yankees can cough up those bucks.

Kelvim? You're kidding....right?

I highly doubt we will go after Bay or Holliday.

You are correct, but do you think the Yankees feel the need to go get Holliday...and at the rate BORASS is asking?

They just won the whole thing without him...I could be wrong but do not think that's gonna happen again. So, if the Yankees pass where does the market go? Down....unless Epstein loses his mind.

Good to have options....and the Angels don't desperately need him.

I am not kidding about Kelvim...perhaps a little hopeful that all this time off brings him back healthy. If so...would fit nicely in the bullpen.

You think he's done? Have you seen any word that he is not progressing...I have not.
Well, if so...fine. The Angels have the luxury of many options there also.

"-If he's been signed as our RF and our DH is Vlad, it's not a very good move"

Why? What if Vlad signs a deal similar to what Abreu signed this year to prove his worth?

Say we sign Vlad to an incentive laden deal for $5 million guaranteed that could pay him up to $10 million if he reverts to the type of season Vladdy had for 8 of the past 10 seasons (.315+ avg, 25HRs, 100+ RBIs) with maybe an option like Abreu got. In that case you pay Abreu $9 million and Vladdy up to $10 million and for a total of $19 million, you have 2 highly productive hitters in the lineup. This year we paid $21 million for them, so we are getting the pair for less. That frees up some money to resign Lackey and avoid arbitration.

We know Holliday turned down $16 million per year and 6 years, so it is likely he will cost as much as Abreu/Vlad combined and require a significant long-term commitment. His outfield defense is worse than Abreu, and Abreu will likely steal more bases again given his smarts.

We were only 2 wins away from beating the World Champs...I say bring back as many players as we can for as minimal a long-term commitment as possible.

Recently, in the past week or so, Escobar threw some light exercizes and felt more discomfort so he stopped throwing.

Escobar plans to pitch some in the winter leagues to see if he can still go on.

For a guy who is unsure of his arm you still want to sign him?

Escobar pitched a total of ONE year on a THREE-YEAR contract.

Don't you think it's time to let go of him and look elsewhere? How about a healthy arm instead of Escobar? Is that wrongheaded?

"..for as minimal of a long commitment as possible.."

Am I missing something? I don't get it.

Fine with me because we have no chance at them anyways.

Sorry, meant to say for as minimal a long-TERM commitment as possible.

So I like the deals like we did with Abreu for 2, maybe 3 years if he earns it, same with Fuentes, and so on.

Let's say we get both Abreu and Vlad for 2 more years, Matthews will be gone then and Torii will only have one year left. Then we can see what our Outfield prospects from this year's draft our doing.

I don't like the thought of Holliday or Bay for 6 or 7 years. Those rarely if ever work out.

"Say we sign Vlad to an incentive laden deal for $5 million guaranteed that could pay him up to $10 million if he reverts to the type of season Vladdy had for 8 of the past 10 seasons (.315+ avg, 25HRs, 100+ RBIs) with maybe an option like Abreu got."

According to MLB Union rules, such a contract - based on stats - is not allowed. It would be based on playing a certain minimum number of games, as was Bobby's contract.

Here's a clue for you - players who decline physically, like Vladdy has obviously done over the past two years, do NOT come back as if they suddenly took a pill and got better. Vlad's body is falling apart and the strong likelihood is that this trend will continue to decline - not suddenly reverse itself.

For an EXTREMELY comparable physical specimen, look up Jim Rice's last few years - at the same age Vladdy is now. At the same age, as Vlad's last two years Rice was similar in stats and decline, and his 2 or 3 following years got worse every year.

IMHO, Vlad won't accumulate 25 HRs and 100 RBIs, for the rest of his career, let alone next year.

The only thing Vlad will do next year - as an Angel - even for ONE million dollars, is clog up the DH position even worse than he did this year.

Just say NO to Vladdy.

We had to sign Abreu before he hit the market and end up in a bidding war. I think the main reason the Angels got him cause they don't have any confidence in signing Figgins. When Abreu being signed he can serve as a mentor to Erick Aybar who can very possibly be our new leadoff hitter. I think Vlad is gone. Abreu just makes the whole lineup better. Like Tori, I expect Abreu to hit more homeruns in his second year, last year. He went 150 at bats before he hit his first homerun and ended the year with 15. Trust in Tony Reagins, we'll be okay.

I trust Tony, so far I think he's doing a bang up job as our GM, but I don't think Abreu's HR's will increase next year. The only reason he tagged so many in New York is because he played the majority of his games in a launchpad, literally 100 games a year in New York and Fenway. Put Reggie Willits on the Yankees or Red Sox and he'd probably hit 5 or 10 HR's a year. In 2010 I anticipate Abreu giving us .285 25 DB 13 HR 20 SB and .380 OBP.

That's still good, but I think for 8 million less Chris Pettit can do the same except steal a couple more bags and not get on base as much, but play better defense.

I like Abreu, he seems like a really good guy, I just don't think he has any business playing RF everyday anymore, I think he should be our DH.

your right Abreu doesn't belong in the outfield, maybe once or twice a week to spell the other guys. Pettit won't get that much playing time, Sosh will play Matthews and Willitis over Pettit. I would like to see Pettit on the 25 man opening day just so he can sit next to Abreu and get some schooling. Abreu makes everybody better.

I think people wayyyyy over exaggerate Abreu's age.

Yes hes 35, so.

Hideki Matsui is 35 and look what he just did.

Did you guys watch Abreu steal all of those bases??? Hes got great legs, for ANY age guy, and is healthy as an ox.

I know Vlad is falling apart at the age of 34, but Abreu IS NOT Vlad.

And thats why I'm happy as heck we chose to sign the horse that is Abreu rather than Vlad.

And yes, I think with the changes that are going to be made, signing Abreu sealed Vlad's fate here, he is gone.

Age is often a sudden thing. A guy like Abreu who can steal a base can suddenly be an old man the very next game. It's like what we hear a lot..."I woke up this morning and saw two wrinkles that weren't there yesterday..."

Abreu is 36 and so many are in denial....36 is old for a ballplayer. When they get a twist or a sprain, unlike the young guys, they go on the DL whereas a young player is day-to-day.

Signing Abreu is a bad idea and he takes up a valuable roster spot for two years.

This signing is totally Mike Scioscia's idea. He said he doesn't want a fixture at DH so that means Abreu plays RF....that is gonna be chaos. He is below average rtight now and next year he will drop even more.

This team is never gonna get a young outfield and that will never be a plus.

Age is age...there's no "wishing it away!" Watch and see.

So if we overpay for Holliday or Bay it's a good move?

Wow.

That kind of thinking is similar to the people who thought we should overpay for Teixeira last year.

The WORST thing the Angles could do this year is overpay for those kinds of free agents. And throw Lackey and Figgins into that mix as well.

--
Say we sign Vlad to an incentive laden deal for $5 million guaranteed that could pay him up to $10 million if he reverts to the type of season Vladdy had for 8 of the past 10 seasons (.315+ avg, 25HRs, 100+ RBIs)
--
How about nine of the last 10 years or any year he didn't have a torn peck.

Vlad's second half was better than Holliday's time in Oakland.

What you are stating is not wrong headed in any way...given the information you provided.

I had not heard of any more set backs for Kelvim...that is too bad. When healthy, I think he has great stuff...and my point is that he would be a bargain if healthy...and a possible option in the bullpen. If health is still a concern, then move on to a younger, healthier player.