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 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim WiretapNews Archive
MLB News
Angels Emerge As Favorite For MannyThe Los Angeles Angels appear to be the likeliest partner if/when the Sox explore dealing unhappy slugger Manny Ramirez, who again has asked out of Boston. Ramirez representative Geno Mato told Sox owner John W. Henry Friday that Ramirez wants to be dealt and will not report to spring training if he remains a member of the Red Sox. The Sox' foremost need is pitching, and any conversation with the Angels is expected to begin with the Sox asking about 22-year-old Ervin Santana, the righthander who went 12-8 with a 4.65 ERA as a rookie. Los Angeles is looking to unload salary, specifically 40-year-old center fielder Steve Finley ($7 million in 2006) and 31-year-old Darin Erstad ($8.5 million). The Sox aren't likely to touch Finley, but they might be willing to absorb Erstad's salary, given that he could play first base or center field. Ramirez, during an August visit to play the Angels, confided in a veteran teammate how much he liked Anaheim. Ramirez remarked that no one bothered him during a visit to a local mall. The teammate explained the lack of fan pestering by telling Ramirez that if he played in Southern California he might be making $20 million a year, but his next-door neighbor would be making $25 million. Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Manny Would Want To Go To Anaheim Or Cleveland If TradedThe Red Sox did throw out the idea of a Manny Ramirez-Carlos Beltran deal in July, but it was on the weekend of the trading deadline after Ramirez had asked to be traded. The Mets rejected the idea, and GMs Omar Minaya and Theo Epstein tried to construct two-, three-, and four-way deals -- none of which worked. "The ironic thing is that by the end of the weekend, Manny said he would not go to the Mets," says Ramirez's agent Greg Genske of Legacy Sports Group. "I know people have speculated about Pedro [Martinez] and his influence, but Manny does not want to be traded to the Mets." And, anyway, the Red Sox say they have not offered the superstar outfielder to the Mets -- or anyone -- as of now. Genske plans to meet with Boston owner John Henry next week in Florida, and after that meeting some determination will be made on whether Ramirez will repeat his July request to be traded, or the team will see what it can get on the market, with the knowledge that as a 10-5 player, Ramirez can veto any deal. If Ramirez does request to be traded, Genske says "his preference would be Anaheim. He also still loves Cleveland, and would go back there." Another possibility would be Arizona, if Boston would take some of the contracts the Diamondbacks are trying to move, including Troy Glaus and Luis Gonzalez. Texas was in play at the deadline. The problem is that if the Red Sox baseball operations had their way, the only way Ramirez would be traded is if they could restock themselves with a young corner outfielder, a center fielder and pitching. Their feeling is that with so much money floating around the industry and so few quality free agents, Ramirez's contract -- three years remaining at a present-day value of slightly more than $17 million -- will not be that bad come spring training. Also, while Ramirez is unpredictable and sometimes had hustle lapses, he has played 150 or more games three straight seasons, bettered in Red Sox history by only Frank Malzone (7), Carl Yastrzemski (5), Jim Rice and Dwight Evans (4 each). Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets ManRam, Delgado Or Hunter Could Come To AnaheimThe Angels will attempt to re-sign catcher Bengie Molina, a mainstay for six years, but they could be outbid by catching-hungry teams with deep pockets, such as the New York Mets, possibly forcing the Angels to turn to highly touted but untested prospect Jeff Mathis to handle their veteran pitching staff in 2006. Erstad could return to center field to replace the struggling Steve Finley and clear the way for a new first baseman ? White Sox slugger Paul Konerko heads the Angels' free-agent wish list, though the position also could be filled from within by Casey Kotchman. The Angels could look to trade for a proven run-producer, with Minnesota center fielder Torii Hunter, Boston left fielder Manny Ramirez and Florida first baseman Carlos Delgado possibly in their sights, or they may give Cuban slugger Kendry Morales a shot at a starting job. And they'll need to fill the bullpen void left by Escobar's return to the rotation. "We have some flexibility, players who can move around, and that's certainly a plus," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "I like the versatility of our club. It will help Bill [Stoneman, Angel general manager] address the offensive side of it." For the first time in Stoneman's six years as GM, the Angels' top winter target will not be a starting pitcher. Bartolo Colon, John Lackey, Escobar and Ervin Santana will return in 2006, and if Byrd isn't back, the Angels have a talented pool of prospects ? Joe Saunders, Jered Weaver, Chris Bootcheck ? to fill out the rotation. "Adding a bat will be the top priority," Stoneman said, "and there's more than one way to do it." Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets No More Halos For Washburn?An Angel career that began when Jarrod Washburn was drafted in the second round out of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 1995 and reached the big leagues for the first time in 1998 probably came to end Sunday night. Washburn will become a free agent after the World Series, and when asked after the Angels' season-ending loss to the White Sox on Sunday night whether he expected to return to Anaheim in 2006, the left-hander responded, "No." There was no bitterness in his voice, though. "I understand that's part of the game," said Washburn, who went 75-57 with a 3.93 earned run average in 193 starts and was the ace of the 2002 team that won the World Series. "I've had a great time as an Angel. I've loved my whole career here. I understand the business side of it, as well. If this is, indeed, the end, I will only think of positive things about my time here." Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Colon Left Off ALCS RosterInjured ace Bartolo Colon was left off the Los Angeles Angels' roster for the AL Championship Series Tuesday and will not pitch against the Chicago White Sox. A 21-game winner during the regular season, Colon left his start Monday night against the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the playoffs after only 23 pitches because of inflammation in his right shoulder. He had been bothered by tightness in his back since early September, and was to be re-evaluated by team doctors on Tuesday before Game 1 of the ALCS. The right-hander was expected to have an MRI on Wednesday in Chicago. "You have to know Bartolo, he's a horse. This guy doesn't complain about anything. When he says something is bothering him, you know it's significant," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Angels Oct 2005 Archive
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