Bobby Abreu Is Disgruntled And Other MLBullets
by Brett Taylor on Feb 22, 2012 6:30 AM CST
in MLB News
The latest from around MLB...
- Outfielder/DH Bobby Abreu isn't too pleased about the crowded Angels' roster, which figures to squeeze him out of regular playing time this year. The outfield currently goes Vernon Wells, Peter Bourjos and Torii Hunter (with top prospect Mike Trout waiting in the wings), and the DH spot will primarily go to one of Mark Trumbo and Kendrys Morales. From Abreu: "I will not be on the bench knowing that I can play. If the Angels don't have a position for me, then the best thing is to trade me. It would be the correct [thing] to do. I won't be able to do nothing sitting in the bench. I want to play, and I believe I can help this team. But if there is no spot for me, then I would prefer to play somewhere different." The problem for Bobby, though: when, for example, Johnny Damon can't find a job for cheap, there isn't going to be much of a trade market for Abreu. The soon-to-be 38-year-old will make $9 million in 2012, the final year of his deal with the Angels. Getting paid $9 million to not work? Doesn't sound so bad.
- Even if the BBWAA wanted to strip Ryan Braun's MVP award, second-place finisher Matt Kemp wouldn't want it. "I feel like that would be by default," the Los Angeles Dodgers' star told ESPN. "I wish I would've won it just by them voting me and me being the MVP. That would be special. But hopefully, I will have the same type of year or even better and win it straight up this year, with us making the playoffs." There was always an argument that Kemp should have won the award anyway, so I'm sure this hasn't been an enjoyable time for him.
- The Mets think Johan Santana, who didn't pitch in 2011 thanks to late 2010 shoulder surgery, will not only be ready to start the 2012 season, but will back to being his old self. Given that Chien-Ming Wang and Mark Prior are the only two other pitchers to have the kind of surgery Santana had, the Mets' optimism should probably be tempered.
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Yu Darvish is in Rangers' camp, throwing dazzling bullpen sessions. The Rangers committed a total of $107.7 million to Darvish over the next six years, so "dazzling" is undoubtedly the Rangers' required baseline.
- The Yankees have added a couple role players, Raul Ibanez on a one-year, $1.1 million deal (with incentives that could push it to about $4 million), and Eric Chavez on a one-year, $900K deal, which also includes incentives. Chavez will be the team's backup at the corner infield spots, and Ibanez - who turns 40 this year - will be the primary DH against righties.
- A *brilliant* read on the iconic ‘Simpsons' episode, Homer at the Bat (the 1992 episode with all the ballplayers), from Deadspin. How did the producers pull off having nine MLB stars in one episode? Who was a jerk? Who was cool? Is Steve Sax better known for being on 'The Simpsons' than, you know, playing baseball?
- Ever want to see all of those bad Spring Training pictures that beat writers Tweet out to the world without a sense of the poor quality or low utility? Ever want to see them subjected to someone's biting wit? Enter Bad Spring Training Twitpics.
Brett Taylor is a Contributor at Bleed Cubbie Blue, and is the Lead Writer at Bleacher Nation.
I love these new MLBulletins
eths - February 22, 2012
me too...nice mix of stuff,
as a Simpson fan I especially enjoyed the Deadspin article…….Thanks Brett!!!!!
cooliogirl47 - February 22, 2012
Thanks, folks.
Brett Taylor - February 22, 2012
Why Sax over Ryno?
He was the early choice but no explanation of why they went with Steve.
SecTaylor - February 22, 2012
I'm guessing because Sax played in Los Angeles and New York.
Al Yellon - February 22, 2012
maybe Ryno refused the offer?
cooliogirl47 - February 22, 2012
maybe his wife thought is was too corny?
El Borto - February 22, 2012
And the Ibanez signing should end the crazy idea
of Soriano to the Yankees. They moved Burnett and signed Ibanez for cheaper than “splitting the difference” with the Cubs on a Soriano/Burnett deal. The Yankees were never going to take Soriano. It only made sense to those that only look at trades as how they will benefit the Cubs.
rlpete - February 22, 2012
As much as people here like to bash Soriano
… at the stages of their respective careers, Soriano is currently a better hitter than Ibanez.
Al Yellon - February 22, 2012
True but
an Ibanez / A Jones/ A-Rod DH rotation for cheaper makes more sense for the Yankees.
rlpete - February 22, 2012
Not sure what happened here
I tried to say True but an Ibanez / A Jones / A-Rod DH rotation for cheaper makes more sense for the Yankees.
rlpete - February 22, 2012
Maybe.
They might have saved more $ by doing a Soriano-for-Burnett deal.
Anyway, it’s all moot.
Al Yellon - February 22, 2012
Which would mean we would have taken on more money?
Why?
Dcr18 - February 22, 2012
It could have been saving $
… if they could have taken Burnett’s deal while the Yankees took Soriano’s.
Al Yellon - February 22, 2012
Of course and that is good for the Cubs.
Soriano to the Yankees made no sense for the Yankees regardless of how much Cubs fans wanted to spin it.
rlpete - February 22, 2012
Which would make no sense for the Yankees.
Soriano is also just as useless to them as Burnett. Soriano wouldn’t have a role on that team other than pinch hitter.
Dcr18 - February 22, 2012
About as useful as the minor leaguers they got for Burnett.
Al Yellon - February 22, 2012
But unless the Cubs were picking up 90% of the Soriano difference
the Yankees are spending less. Cashman said they were looking to save some salary room which they did by getting Pittsburgh to pay for some of Burnett. There was no chance the Yankees would add any significant salary to add Soriano especially since they really wanted another lefty from somewhere.
rlpete - February 22, 2012
Yeah, it was wishful thinking.
Al Yellon - February 22, 2012
If Sori had never been a Yankee, it may have been possible.
But he has, they know his faults, and they traded him away after his umpteenth playoff disaster. He’s been judged not to be a True Yankee. He’s not going to wear pinstripes again.
D98 - February 22, 2012
he's also a better hitter than me
and i bet the cubs would prefer to pay me the league minimum to be on their roster than pay soriano his salary to be on the roster
DartmouthCubsFan - February 22, 2012
But he doesn't hit from the left side, which is what they were looking for.
I think the more interesting question is why the Yankees seemed so focused on Ibanez when Abreu and Damon were also available. I’m not saying any of them is clearly better than the others, but…well…it’s just interesting.
daver - February 22, 2012
I don't know how you can say that.
They were both awful last year. Ibanez was worse. But ibanez’ 2010, at age 38, was as good as Soriano has EVER BEEN.
In fact, ibanez has consistently been better than Sori over the last 3-5 years. And it’s not particularly close.
If I was betting on a return to form from either player—- and I am not
-I’d have to bet on Ibanez. He’s only had the one bad season. Sori has been awful for a while.D98 - February 22, 2012
I don't know how you can say that.
Both players were bad last year. Ibanez was worse. But that was really the first “bad” season ibanez has posted in the last 10, and his 2009, for instance, at age 37, was better than Sori has ever been.
Ibanez has been substantially better over the last 3 years, and the last 5 years. it’s not really that close.
If I had to bet on a return to form from either player— and I am not — it would be ibanez. And that’s not just bc he is moving to Yankee Stadium and DH. Sori has been bad for longer. Ibanez may have some production left in his decline.
D98 - February 22, 2012
Sorry for the double post
Iphone on the el.
D98 - February 22, 2012
Get to see Darvish in person 3/22
Hopefully he is pitching that day or at least throwing somewhere
Hammer - February 22, 2012
His starts are already scheduled?
Al Yellon - February 22, 2012
Just hoping he will get in a game or throw on the side at Goodyear
Hammer - February 22, 2012
I'd definately like to hear your thoughts on this..
or anything you may encounter in ST. I think it would be very interesting to hear your point of view.
KJ24 - February 22, 2012
That is a great Simpson's article, thanks for posting it!
El Borto - February 22, 2012
Abreu is in a tough spot.
And that is the way it goes. 38 year old DH’s really do not have a market. Maybe July time frame he will find a new home.
Yanks signing Ibanez was a a good move. I still think he will bounce back and hit well.
Grockcubs - February 22, 2012
Is it just me or...
does it seem like Abreu’s stroke was never the same after his mammoth display in the home run derby years ago? He was never clutch (ask any Phillies fan), but he hit over .300 consistently and since then only his Yankees at-bats the next year were over .300. He never again hit over 30HR, and although he had some 100-RBI totals, the clogged bases (Dusty’s term) in New York and Anaheim certainly helped. Could be other stuff like age, roid toll and/or his attitude, but the argument could be made.
kentmeister - February 22, 2012
I'd say age and I can't put it past anybody to use some sort of supplements that would take it's toll towards the end of a player's career.
KJ24 - February 22, 2012
He's made a lot of money.
He only has a few years of his life left to rack up baseball statistics. The $9m doesn’t make up for that… not even a little bit.
Also, Trumbo is going to get reps at 3B for the Angels. They could find 4 games per week for Abreu, if Trout doesn’t force their hand, though that might not be enough.
jameslcrockett - February 23, 2012
If he ever plays 3B in an actual game, that will be a disaster.
Al Yellon - February 23, 2012
So where is the pool for
who is worse at 3rd? Cabrera or Trumbo?
At least Cabrera played it even if it was many years and pounds ago.
rlpete - February 23, 2012
Trumbo.
He’s never played it. Ever.
Al Yellon - February 23, 2012
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