Late Innings

The Bobby Abreu saga is for the most part over:

Free agent outfielder Bobby Abreu moved closer to a deal with the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday morning, as the two sides discussed incentive bonuses that would sweeten his pending one-year contract with the club, a source told ESPN.com.

It’s believed the Angels are offering a one-year deal in the $5 million to $6 million range, while Abreu wants something closer to $8 million. So Angels general manager Tony Reagins and agent Peter Greenberg are trying to negotiate some incentive bonuses that would help bridge the difference.

I think my last three or so posts here poked fun at Abreu, especially how he sat around asking for a multi-year deal in excess of 16MM a year. However he waited too long, since the last 10MM a year deal was given out a few months back.

Abreu is great with his bat, and should stay away from the field. In other words, LA has other “Angels in the Outfield” that can grab a glove. The team still has the albatross of Gary Matthews Jr. around them, but he’s still a much better defender than Abreu. 5MM to 7MM is a fair deal for him (if he’s about 1+ WAR.)

Any ways what we’re seeing now is the market correcting itself. Players are now being paid what they’re worth on the open market. There’s no collusion going on here, the reason why? Demand for corner outfielders is down.

Kudos to Tony Reagins, he’s commandeered a brilliant offseason. And he’ll reap rewards this June when the Amateur Draft comes around, since (Type A free agents) Francisco Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and (Type B free agent) Jon Garland signed with other teams. Now Reagins can go for the hat trick if he can convince Adam Dunn to wear a first baseman’s glove, and get him to sign for 8MM a year in the process.