Angels sign Gary Matthews Jr

[riverside sluggers]

Angels sign Gary Matthews Jr. for $50 million

Ken Rosenthal / FOXSports.com

Posted: 19 minutes ago

 

In yet another eye-popping free-agent signing, the Angels have reached agreement with center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. on a five-year, $50 million contract, FOXSports.com has learned.

 

The 32-year-old Matthews, who still must pass a physical, is coming off a breakout season in which he batted .313 with 19 homers and 79 RBIs and played stellar defense for the Rangers. He likely will bat leadoff for the Angels and give them increased athleticism in center field, reducing the defensive burden on right fielder Vladimir Guerrero and left fielder Garret Anderson.

 

Prior to last season, Matthews was a career .249 hitter who had played for six teams in seven major-league seasons. But the Dodgers' signing of free-agent center fielder Juan Pierre to a five-year, $45 million deal helped raise the market. Time will tell if the Angels and Dodgers should have pursued short-term stopgaps in center rather than Matthews and Pierre. Three elite center fielders — the Braves' Andruw Jones, Blue Jays' Vernon Wells and Twins' Torii Hunter — are eligible for free agency after next season.

 

The Giants, who also had pursued Matthews, continue to speak with free agent Dave Roberts about their center-field vacancy while mulling Carlos Lee as a replacement for Barry Bonds in left.

 

After over the top signings of Pierre and now Matthews, expect JD Drew's asking price to be $50+ or even $60+ million. That should price himself out of the Sox's range.

[MC Hammer]

And now, JD Drew looks like a genius.

[BSN07]

Ya no kidding, anyone thought it dumb for him to leave 33 million on the table is feeling like a dumbass( myself included)

[TheKilo]

This most likely takes the Angels out of the trade possibilities for Manny.

 

It looks more and more like WMP will be the opening day starter in RF.

[BSN07]

Kilo I was thinking the same thing, but from a different point. With Matthews getting that much I think Drew will price himself out of BOS now and WMP will be starting in RF.

[TheKilo]

Kilo I was thinking the same thing' date=' but from a different point. With Matthews getting that much I think Drew will price himself out of BOS now and WMP will be starting in RF.[/quote']

 

 

I hope the Sox don't commit too much to Drew. I'd like to see him in a Sox uni, but I think we can get by with WMP in right.

[castigs850]

if we have wily mo in right we need a signigicant upgrade somewhere else id say (like center) however i feel bad just dumping coco cause he is an allstar but i just dont think you can take any risk of him not being as good as he actually is cause i dont think sox fan are going to be pleased with another 3rd place finish

[BSN07]

Matthews is 32 and got 5 years. Pierre is a fast slap stick track star pretending to be a CF/ leadoff hitter and he got 5 years. Drew is gonna want much of the same and I don't think The Sox will deal for that long. They might but I doubt it.

[TheKilo]

if we have wily mo in right we need a signigicant upgrade somewhere else id say (like center) however i feel bad just dumping coco cause he is an allstar but i just dont think you can take any risk of him not being as good as he actually is cause i dont think sox fan are going to be pleased with another 3rd place finish

 

 

Upgrade at SS with Lugo...and yes Lugo is an upgrade over AGon.

 

Upgrade the pitching staff and sign Dice.

 

Upgrade the bullpen.

[riverside sluggers]

if we have wily mo in right we need a signigicant upgrade somewhere else id say (like center) however i feel bad just dumping coco cause he is an allstar but i just dont think you can take any risk of him not being as good as he actually is cause i dont think sox fan are going to be pleased with another 3rd place finish

 

Theres no reason for the Sox to upgrade in center. Coco is set to have a rebound of season most are projecting.

 

Realistically we just need a 1 year stop gap-- Boston's top prospect Jacoby Ellsbury is moving fast up the system and will start off in Triple A with a very good chance of getting a spring training invite. He should be up in the bigs by the end of the season. He's basically like Johnny Damon but his arm is lethal stuff. I saw 1 game up in Portland where he threw out runners 3 times!! If Coco were to have a season like most are expecting, he'll become more valuable in trade talks with a tag on him of just 2 years/$10 million

[rician blast]

And now' date=' JD Drew looks like a genius.[/quote']

 

or his agent does. pretty slick move.

 

What's the trickle down effect on Nixon?

[rician blast]

With Hunter, Wells and Jones being FA next year, and likely each costing big $, I'm of the mind that you go with Coco in CF this year, WMP in RF (or WMP and someone else in a platooning situation, although I am not a WMP believer...yet) and hope that the pitching staff can be upgraded enough to remain competetive.

 

I'm not high on signing Drew at $14m or so then hoping the FO can also muster up the dough for one of the top CFs. I know that leaves Ramirez exposed in the 4-hole, so that bat in the 5-hole may have to come in some other manner other than Drew.

[riverside sluggers]

With Hunter, Wells and Jones being FA next year, and likely each costing big $, I'm of the mind that you go with Coco in CF this year, WMP in RF (or WMP and someone else in a platooning situation, although I am not a WMP believer...yet) and hope that the pitching staff can be upgraded enough to remain competetive.

 

I'm not high on signing Drew at $14m or so then hoping the FO can also muster up the dough for one of the top CFs. I know that leaves Ramirez exposed in the 4-hole, so that bat in the 5-hole may have to come in some other manner other than Drew.

 

That would essentiate a trade of the Sox's top prospect

[Rdsxmbnt]

im so sure this necessarily ups JD Drews contract. His primary suiters were the Angels (who just got Matthews) and the Cubs (who just got Soriano) and the Red Sox. If we could somehow sign Drew for 4yr deal in the range of 50-56 million you'd have to think that in this market its a steal.

[Bruce]

Of note: Baseball is broken.

 

Prediction: Vernon Wells signs a 12 year $400 million deal after next season.

[Bosoxwest]

Sarge Sr. was pretty prodcuctive his 32,33,34 yrs, after which back injuries nipped his career. At age 33 he came in 5th in MVP voting. Maybe the Angels are banking on like father, like son.

 

This is kind of a crazy contract when you look at Matthews, but the Angels have so much young, cost-controlled talent, they may have figured they'd overspend early to protect themselves up the middle, then see how the market panned out as the rest of the offseason unfolded.

 

If Matthews doesn't regress and they did absolutely nothing else they would still look pretty to very good to make the playoffs next year. I'd take him over Pierre for sure. Meanwhile Anaheim's made a statement to Boston that they won't overpay for Manny in a trade, protecting themselves there. Given that they had the purse, this deal isn't that insane when you look at the whole picture. In which, yes, one stipulates that baseball is broken.

 

I don't think it impacts the Drew negotiations too greatly. Even if no other team wanted him Boras would say three did, and it would be hard to disprove. He'll get his money.

[TheKilo]

or his agent does. pretty slick move.

 

What's the trickle down effect on Nixon?

 

 

Apparenlty Nixon hasn't received many, if any offers.

[rician blast]

Apparenlty Nixon hasn't received many' date=' if [b']any[/b] offers.

 

well guess what then...don't be surprised if he starts to garner interest from the Sox again. Gee, if they were able to get another bat, say a Nick Johnson to play 1B for instance, ya just might see a platoon situation with WMP and Nixon in RF for far less $ than JD Drew would cost.

[jsinger121]

well guess what then...don't be surprised if he starts to garner interest from the Sox again. Gee' date=' if they were able to get another bat, say a Nick Johnson to play 1B for instance, ya just might see a platoon situation with WMP and Nixon in RF for far less $ than JD Drew would cost.[/quote']

 

I hate to say it but Nixon's days are finished here in Boston. He ain't coming back.

[BSN07]

LAA is gonna regret that signing. But i'm glad they kept him form the sox. I can't believe they gave matthews JR, (whos had one good year and it happened to ben his contract year) Damon type money( I think damon got 5 years and 50 something milion). The GM's have nobody to blame but themselves for prices going so hi. There so worried they won't get the player and some other team will they overpay by millions to get avg. players EX. pierre, matthews all got way too much money.

[jacksonianmarch]

Nixon is going to get a bone thrown his way by an AL team that would love to have him in the OF half of the time and at DH the other half. I could see Trot ending up on the west coast with either Seattle or Oakland. I agree, his days as a Boston dirt dog are done.

[jacksonianmarch]

LAA is gonna regret that signing. But i'm glad they kept him form the sox. I can't believe they gave matthews JR' date=' (whos had one good year and it happened to ben his contract year) Damon type money( I think damon got 5 years and 50 something milion). The GM's have nobody to blame but themselves for prices going so hi. There so worried they won't get the player and some other team will they overpay by millions to get avg. players EX. pierre, matthews all got way too much money.[/quote']

 

agreed. I think the Pierre signing was a much better one. Pierre is younger and has a solid major league track record. Mathews was a minor league journeyman who hit his stride in a contract yr. This will turn into Steve Finley part deux in Anaheim.

[BSN07]

Pierre is still being over payed. He's a track star playing a baseball player on tv! He needs to add something to his arsenal to be worth 9 million a year. Like walks to help his OBP, or something besides his swing at everything, get 200 hits but have .300 something OBP, or his D has got to be better, he won´t beable to hide the fact he can´t play CF that great with his speed forever.

[jacksonianmarch]

agreed. He is still overpayed, but which one is worse? Clearly Mathews.

[TheKilo]

well guess what then...don't be surprised if he starts to garner interest from the Sox again. Gee' date=' if they were able to get another bat, say a Nick Johnson to play 1B for instance, ya just might see a platoon situation with WMP and Nixon in RF for far less $ than JD Drew would cost.[/quote']

 

 

 

If no other team wants Nixon, why would the Red Sox? Why should they settle?

[soxlife92]

We are not going to resign Nixon. That hs to be the bottom line. We've got plenty of better options to choose from and we just don't need him. Expect Nixon to be on the free agent list for a while.

[Ray10]

Man this really sucks. The Sox most likely won't be able to afford J.D Drew. Won't surprise me at all if the Yankees end up with this guy we all know they will pay anything for anyone. Will Mo is a good player but I would much rather have J.D Drew. This really really sucks man.

[example1]

Man this really sucks. The Sox most likely won't be able to afford J.D Drew. Won't surprise me at all if the Yankees end up with this guy we all know they will pay anything for anyone. Will Mo is a good player but I would much rather have J.D Drew. This really really sucks man.

 

Why couldn't they afford Drew? It just seems like they need to sign him so they should. Put the guy on a competitor, pay him a rich sum, promise him the starting gig, whatever. Unless they have something else up their sleeve (a Manny trade, for instance).

[jsinger121]

Man this really sucks. The Sox most likely won't be able to afford J.D Drew. Won't surprise me at all if the Yankees end up with this guy we all know they will pay anything for anyone. Will Mo is a good player but I would much rather have J.D Drew. This really really sucks man.

 

Where would Drew play in NY? Matsui, Damon, Abreu, Melky Cabrera.....JD Drew ain't going to NY.

[BSN07]

Drew in NYY is ridicuclous, unless he is a RF by day and a pitcher by night.