Knuckle Curve » bobby abreu

Bobby Abreu Inks Deal with Angels

Stephen Kersey — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 05:45:38 +0000

Bobby Abreu, who we had listed as one of the top ten best baseball free agents, recently signed with the Los Angeles Angels. Abreu, who spent the last couple of seasons with the New York Yankees, will add some pop to the middle of the Angels’ lineup.

The deal the Angels gave Abreu is reportedly a one-year contract. The base salary Abreu will receive is $5 million. However, he is able to make $1 million more based on performance bonuses tied to plate appearances.

Last season, Abreu hit .296 with 20 homers and 100 RBI. Those numbers were very similar to the numbers he put up for the Yankees in 2007. From 1998 to the middle of the 2006 season, Abreu played for the Philadelphia Phillies.

When free agency began, many expected Abreu to command a multi-year contract. But with spring training around the corner and the free agent market drying up, Abreu was forced to sign a one-year deal. The Angels will hope that they got a bargain, while Abreu will hope to have a big season and re-enter free agency again next season.

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Top Ten Baseball Free Agents Still Available

Stephen Kersey — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 09:25:51 +0000

1. Manny Ramirez
Could Ramirez be heading to the Giants?

2. Derek Lowe
The Mets are after Lowe.

3. Adam Dunn
Dunn might replace Ramirez in Los Angeles.

4. Milton Bradley
The latest rumors have the Cubs most interested.

5. Oliver Perez
Expect the Mets to retain him.

6. Pat Burrell
The Phillies look to be moving on.

7. Orlando Hudson
Sleeper of the free agent market.

8. Bobby Abreu
Breaking down but still a solid player.

9. Ben Sheets
Risky signing but could reward.

10. Randy Wolf
Could quietly be steal of the offseason.

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Angels Drop Out of Teixeira Sweepstakes

Stephen Kersey — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 05:20:49 +0000

A few days ago, we speculated on where Mark Teixeira will end up. That five-team race appears to be down to four teams after the Los Angeles Angels announced that they have rescinded the offer to Teixeira.

The Angels’ offer is believed to have been an eight-year contract worth at least $160 million. Sources indicate that the Angels didn’t believe they were still in the running and didn’t want to waste time on a lost cause.

Now that the Angels have dropped out, the remaining four teams in the running are the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals and the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox recently said that they were no longer in the running, however many baseball insiders believe that talk from Boston was simply a contract negotiating ploy.

Now that the Angels are out of the running, they could look in a variety of different direction. One option is Manny Ramirez, the former Red Sox who finished last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Other bats they could be looking at include Adam Dunn and Bobby Abreu. If the Angels opt for pitching, one option could be closer Brian Fuentes. Fuentas would make sense since the Angels lost Francisco Rodriguez to the New York Mets earlier in the offseason.

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New York Yankees in Last Place – Solutions?

Stephen Kersey — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:24:20 +0000

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees on Thursday to send the Yankees into last place. The Rays won the game 5-2 behind a strong pitching performance from Scott Kazmir and a two-run homerun by backup catcher Shawn Riggans.

The Yankees are now 20-22 and in last place in the AL East. The Rays, with a record of 24-17, are in first place.

How can the Yankees turn save their season?

1. Get Healthy
The Yankees are dealing with a number of injuries at the moment. Most prominently, the team is without Hall of Fame third baseman Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez has a strained quadriceps that has kept him out of the lineup for the entire month of May. In that time, Rodriguez has only been seen choking in the delivery room. Besides Rodriguez, veteran catcher Jorge Posada and young starter Phil Hughes are also battling injuries. Posada has a shoulder injury, while Hughes has a broken rib.

2. Get Hitting
The Bronx Bombers are more like the Bronx Bunters this year. No player on the team is having that great of a season at the plate. Jason Giambi leads the team with seven homeruns – but he also has a batting average of .184. Veterans like Bobby Abreu and Derek Jeter are having decent but not great seasons. Young players like Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera haven’t lived up to their potential. The Yankees need a hot bat to emerge.

3. Get Pitching Depth
Chien-Ming Wang has been very good for the Yankees this year. Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte have had their ups and downs but overall they have been good enough. The problem is the rest of the rotation is in shambles. The Yankees were hoping that Hughes and Ian Kennedy could be the other two starts, but Hughes is hurt and Kennedy has been ineffective. Whether it’s a trade or a young pitcher stepping up, the Yankees need a more balanced rotation.

4. Get Torre?
While the Yankees are struggling, Joe Torre has the Los Angeles Dodgers at 21-19. Could the Yankees be showing signs of missing Torre? Perhaps. George Steinbrenner and his twin son Hank Steinbrenner won’t give current manager Joe Girardi as much leeway as they gave Torre. If the Yankees don’t turn it around ASAP, Girardi might be sent packing.

Does Joe Girardi Hear Joe Torre’s Footsteps?

Photo: Newscom

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