Halos need a boost for World Series run

by Ken Rosenthal

Updated: July 21, 2008, 2:34 AM EST 80 comments

I'm not buying this notion that the Angels' offense is suddenly good enough, even after the team's latest achievement, an impressive three-game sweep of the Red Sox.

One more hitter plus a left-handed reliever would make the Angels the favorites to win the World Series. My suggestion would be a blockbuster with the Braves for first baseman Mark Teixeira and left-hander Will Ohman — slim as the chances of such a deal might be.

The Braves, 6 ½ games back in the NL East, are reluctant to concede, though their position could change if they stumble in their next two series in Florida and Philadelphia. The Angels are reluctant to pursue a rental such as Teixeira, particularly when his agent, Scott Boras, would attempt to pit them against the Mets, Yankees and other clubs in free agency.

Then again, the Angels made a strong bid for Teixeira last July, and they still could use him. Consider the American League rankings in run differential, a statistic that — while not foolproof — is usually a strong indicator of what a team's actual record should be (see table at right).

That's right, according to run differential, the Angels actually should be trailing the A's in the AL West, and their record should be roughly the same as the Twins' and Yankees'.

The Angels are better than that in large part because of their astonishing 38-18 record in games decided by two runs or less — a record built on their overall pitching strength and Francisco Rodriguez's major-league best 40 saves.

Yet, even Rodriguez's performance is somewhat misleading — his strikeout rate is at a career-low, while his walk rate and walks and hits per innings pitched (WHIP) are at career highs.

When the Angels allow Rodriguez to walk as a free agent — which they are certain to do if he sticks to his expected asking price of five years, $75 million — they will cite his peripheral numbers in justifying their decision.

But back to the offense.

The Angels are encouraged that right fielder Vladimir Guerrero has snapped out of his early-season slump, that left fielder Garret Anderson appears poised for a big second half and that third baseman Chone Figgins and second baseman Howie Kendrick finally are healthy.

But if you're Angels general manager Tony Reagins and you're doing your due diligence, you're at least exploring the market for another hitter. Reagins is indeed taking that approach, according to major-league sources.

Still, there are no easy answers.

The best fit for the Angels would be an outfielder such as the Rockies' Matt Holliday or the Pirates' Jason Bay; either would be a significant upgrade over Juan Rivera and Gary Matthews Jr., whose contribution the rest of the way is uncertain due to a slight tear in the ACL of his left knee.

Here's the thing: The Rockies might not trade Holliday or third baseman/first baseman Garrett Atkins, another player the Angels have liked in the past; the Rockies, despite their sorry -69 run differential, are only six games out in the sorry NL West.

Hence, Teixeira.

The Angels lack pitching depth after losing right-hander Kelvim Escobar, most likely for the rest of the season. The Braves, though, wouldn't necessarily want pitching for Teixeira. They would want first baseman Casey Kotchman, who is a favorite of manager Mike Scioscia's and under club control for three more seasons — but no Teixeira.

The Red Sox could not justify trading Kevin Youkilis for Teixeira even if they had doubts about David Ortiz — Youkilis is hitting better than Teixeira this season and is two-plus years away from free agency, as opposed to two months. The offensive difference between Teixeira, a switch-hitter, and Kotchman, a lefty swinger, is far greater — and while Kotchman is excellent defensively, Teixeira is a two-time Gold Glove winner.

An expanded deal might be necessary; the Angels could ask for a prospect or two to go with Teixeira and Ohman, who also is a free agent at the end of the season, and the Braves might want other players along with Kotchman. But what's the worst that could happen if the deal was just Kotchman for Teixeira and Ohman? The Angels would get two draft picks if Teixeira departed, and maybe another for Ohman. Kendry Morales then could take over at first, or the Angels could find a more proven answer. First basemen always are in plentiful supply.

Teixeira is not a perfect solution. There is no perfect solution. But the Angels should not delude themselves into thinking that they're good enough to go deep into the postseason. One more hitter would make them that much more formidable. One more hitter would make them the team to beat.

Maddux: West Coast or bust

The Padres plan to ask right-hander Greg Maddux to reconsider his preference to be traded to a West Coast team only. But Maddux, who has complete no-trade protection, is unlikely to budge.

Maddux's agent, Scott Boras, says the pitcher's desire to stay on the West Coast is "entirely related to his family." Maddux, who is married with two children — Amanda, 14, and Chase, 11 — makes his permanent home in Las Vegas.

The Dodgers, then, loom as the only realistic possibility for Maddux, who has spent his entire career in the National League. The Padres, operating without leverage, would be at a disadvantage in trade discussions.

In truth, the Padres' options are dwindling, anyway. One of Maddux's former clubs, the Cubs, traded for righties Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin. Another of his former teams, the Braves, could end up sellers. The Brewers, who employ Maddux's older brother Mike as pitching coach, traded for CC Sabathia.

The Phillies inquired about Maddux before they acquired Joe Blanton from the A's, but Maddux never would have approved a deal to the East Coast or hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park.

Which way O's?

The Orioles are willing to trade left-hander George Sherrill only if a potential suitor wants to overpay. The team's previous closer, Chris Ray, is recovering from elbow-ligament transplant surgery, and Sherrill is under club control for the next three seasons.

The Angels, one of many teams seeking a left-handed reliever, could be a match — they're deep at shortstop, a position the Orioles have yet to fill since their trade of Miguel Tejada to the Astros last offseason.

Erick Aybar, a player the Orioles could have acquired for Tejada along with All-Star righty Ervin Santana at the '06 deadline, remains the Angels' shortstop of the future. Maicer Izturis, the team's No. 3 hitter of late, also is too valuable for the Angels to move.

The Angels, however, have two other possibilities in the minors — Brandon Wood, whose power potential would appeal to the Orioles, and Sean Rodriguez, another promising offensive player. The problem is, neither is necessarily a shortstop long-term — Wood is playing third base at Class AAA, Rodriguez second.

The Orioles actually could be more active in August than they are in July. Most of their available players figure to clear waivers. Relievers Chad Bradford and Jamie Walker and infielder/DH Aubrey Huff are signed through 2009. Outfielder Jay Payton and first baseman Kevin Millar, both playing on one-year deals, also would be unlikely to be claimed.

Around the horn

Add the Blue Jays' John McDonald to the list of possible shortstop candidates for the Dodgers. Discussions over the Pirates' Jack Wilson and Nationals' Cristian Guzman are at a standstill; the Nationals remain more likely to sign Guzman to a contract extension than trade him. If the Dodgers accepted less offense at short, they could look for more of a slugger at third base. Since June 1, Blake DeWitt has batted .195 with four extra-base hits — all doubles — in 123 at-bats ...

Randy Wolf, a left-handed starter, and Cla Meredith, a right-handed reliever, are the two Padres drawing the most trade interest. Wolf's limited no-trade clause is not an issue; he can be sent to virtually all of the teams that want him without restriction. The Padres also would consider trading third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, but only if they received a young outfielder in return. The team remains unlikely to trade right fielder Brian Giles ...

A's second baseman Mark Ellis would be perfect for the Cardinals, but the A's are unlikely to move him even after making second baseman Jemile Weeks their first-round draft pick and acquiring second basemen Adrian Cardenas and Eric Patterson in trades. Ellis is one of general manager Billy Beane's favorite players, and the A's still want to sign him long-term ...

The Rangers, who probably will not trade designated hitter Milton Bradley unless they receive an overwhelming offer, are getting calls on two of their right-handed hitting outfielders — Marlon Byrd and Nelson Cruz, who has hit 31 home runs in 314 at-bats at Class AAA. Both offer versatility; Byrd can play center, Cruz right ...

The Royals are actively shopping catcher Miguel Olivo and second baseman Mark Grudzielanek. Few teams are in need of a second baseman, but Grudzielanek could at least be a bat off the bench. He has a .753 on-base/slugging percentage in 322 plate appearances, while Ray Durham, acquired by the Brewers on Sunday, had a .799 OPS in 304 PAs with the Giants, albeit while playing in a more difficult hitters' park. Durham is a switch-hitter, Grudzielanek bats from the right side ...

The Mets, White Sox, Dodgers and Brewers have all expressed varying degrees of interest in A's reliever Huston Street. The Mets and White Sox probably do not match up with the A's, and the Dodgers are more focused on their pursuit of a shortstop. The Brewers, who remain in the market for a reliever, already have traded six prospects of varying quality for Sabathia and Durham ...

And finally, Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis was inspired by an exchange that he had with Hall of Famer Ernie Banks at the All-Star Game.

"I like the way you play. You play hard. You really love this game, don't you?" Banks asked Youkilis.

"Yeah, I really do," Youkilis said.

"I can tell," Banks replied.