It’s easy to figure out who the Angels could trade for, but it is a lot harder to figure out which of those players is the right one. So let’s take a quick trip through the Angels’ list of potential trade targets to figure out who they should avoid making a deal for.
…or actually maybe not.
ADAM DUNN
Why the Angels would want him: Dunn is almost always the first name to come up in the Angel hunt for a power bat and he certainly has that. The Nationals don’t need him and he could easily take over at first base and the five-hole for the Halos.
Why the Angels should stay away: The problem here is the “first base” part of the equation. The Angels are already one of the worst fielding teams in baseball and Adam Dunn should have had his fielding privileges revoked years ago as it is. If the Angels could slot him in as a full-time DH, that would be great, but since they aren’t likely to put Hideki Matsui out of his misery anytime soon, Dunn just isn’t a good fit.
DERREK LEE
Why the Angels would want him: Lee is having a down year, but he has big power, a great eye, a solid glove and still has some decent speed left in his legs. Plus, the Cubs don’t seem real attached to him and his expiring deal, so he could probably be had for relatively cheap compared to the other first basemen on the market.
Why the Angels should stay away: Lee was a consistently good-to-great player before this season so one would think he could turn things around, but he has been consistently terrible this season. Lee isn’t having his stats dragged down by one bad month this year, his monthly stat splits have been virtually identical with his OPS hovering around .700 all year long. The last thing the Angels need to fix their offense is another underachieving veteran for them to hope and pray finally turns it around.
PRINCE FIELDER
Why the Angels would want him: Well, let’s see, he’s pretty much the premier slugger in all of baseball and still signed through 2011 fulfilling the Angel requirement that their trade target not be a rental player. If Tony Reagins landed Fielder, all those folks that said Cliff Lee cinched up the AL West for Texas will all assuredly change their tune and say that Fielder guarantees the division title (if not more) for the Halos.
Why the Angels should stay away: I have nothing against Fielder (other that him being a vegan, but that is a conversation for another time), there is just no practical way that the Angels could ever pull off a deal for him. They just don’t have the prospects to make it happen. I seriously doubt that even if they tossed in their three top (arguably) prospects, Hank Conger, Mike Trout and Peter Bourjos, that the Brewers would seriously even consider accepting the offer which is fine because Tony Reagins would never ever make such a lofty offer.
ROY OSWALT
Why the Angels would want him: Because the Angels should not be counting on getting anything out of Scott Kazmir again this season and having a former Cy Young contender replace him would be a heck of a lot better than going with any of the unimpressive Triple-A starting pitchers the Angels have. It certainly helps too that Oswalt is not a rental either, so he’ll be around for awhile.
Why the Angels should stay away: Oswalt is already owed north of $23 million for the rest of this year and next year and now rumors are surfacing that he wants his $16 million option in 2012 picked up if he is going to waive his no-trade clause. That is a whole lot of crazy cheddar for Arte Moreno to be shelling out for a guy who will be 33 by the end of this season, not to mention the bevvy of prospects the Astros will demand in exchange for him.
KYLE FARNSWORTH
Why the Angels would want him: Umm, he throws hard? And he is available? And, ummmmm… I’m out.
Why the Angels should stay away: If you acquire the forever underachieving Farnsworth to make a pennant push, you lose. It is an immutable rule of baseball metaphysics and you can’t argue against it.
KEVIN GREGG
Why the Angels would want him: He is an available closer and a former Angel, plus he wears the same glasses K-Rod wears so that has to count for something.
Why the Angels should stay away: He also issues walks at an alarming rate. Just because he is a closer in title doesn’t mean he is actually good. You’d think that Angels would know that after 1 1/2 seasons of Brian Fuentes. Besides, Angel management should be fully aware of Gregg’s flaws after seeing him flounder in their bullpen for so long.
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