MLB Rumors: Cliff Lee, Los Angeles Angels Not a Match Made in Heaven
Cliff Lee is the hottest player on the free agent market right now, but that doesn't mean that he and the Los Angeles Angels would be a good fit.
A "mystery team" is said to have made a seven-year offer last night for the starting pitcher, and speculation abounds as to who it was. ESPN that same night also wouldn't disclose their source, but claimed that the Angels had entered the race for Lee.
Could those pieces of news be related?
Angels fans should probably hope not. As strange as it sounds to consider it better to not go after the best pitcher on the market, that's exactly what Los Angeles should do.
Read on to learn why.
Seven-Year Contracts Are Dangerous
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Pitchers aren't exactly the most durable athletes in sports. In fact, they're kind of fragile.
One pitch thrown wrong, one bad warm-up, and Tommy John surgery could be looming around the corner. Plus there's the chance of an unforeseen decline.
Take for example Barry Zito, who was supposed to be the biggest thing since sliced bread in San Francisco. You know the story, so to keep it short, he wasn't.
As great as it is to lock up a fantastic player for seven years, it's fraught with risks.
The money could be a burden that cripples the franchise for quite some time.
Carl Crawford
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While signing Lee would no doubt be a big boost to the Angels from a purely baseball-oriented standpoint, signing Carl Crawford would be even better.
There's a reason after all that he's been the biggest free agent target for the team.
After Jayson Werth signed a seven-year, $126-million deal with the Washington Nationals, one would have to expect that Crawford will get the same type of contract. He may even get a bigger one.
Still though, those type of numbers aren't scaring the Angels away. When asked if the contract necessary to sign Crawford had risen above his comfort level, Tony Reagins, the Angels' general manager, simply said that they hadn't.
Crawford can do it all on the baseball field. He can hit for power, he can hit for average, he can steal bases, and he can play defense.
With the monstrous contracts that both Crawford and Lee will demand, the Angels would be right to choose the former over the latter if given the option.
Rafael Soriano
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Another free agent target for the Angels is former Tampa Bay closer, Rafael Soriano.
It seems as though the Angels like the Rays' old players.
Soriano spent much of his career as a set-up man for the Atlanta Braves, then was moved to Tampa where he was given the chance to shine as the go-to guy in the bullpen.
He didn't disappoint, leading the American League with 45 saves.
Mike Scioscia, the Angels manager, said about Soriano, "I don't see it as a glaring need. There are guys out there who can make us better, but I think there are some other areas to right. The offensive side of our game needs addressing."
Still though, the Angels are in pursuit of the closer, and he could be a better and cheaper alternative to Lee.
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Adrian Beltre
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If the Angels failed to sign Carl Crawford, they would most likely go after Rafael Soriano and Adrian Beltre, a former third baseman for the Boston Red Sox.
Beltre is looking for a deal that lasts five years and is worth around $75-million, meaning that he and Soriano combine would cost about as much as Crawford. And even that is less than the expected price for Cliff Lee.
Last year, Brandon Wood, Kevin Frandsen, and Alberto Callaspo manned third base for the Angels. Beltre would be a huge upgrade over all of them.
Plus, with the huge drop-off in runs scored last year, offense needs to be a priority for the Angels. They only scored 681 times last year after crossing home plate 883 times in 2009.
Starting Rotation
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Adding Cliff Lee would obviously help any team, but it's not a necessity for the Los Angeles Angels.
They already boast one of the better starting rotations in the league.
Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, Ervin Santana, Joel Pineiro, and Scott Kazmir are all firmly entrenched in the starting spots, and there's no real reason to change that.
Weaver was dominant last season, posting a 3.01 ERA with 13 wins and 233 strikeouts.
In his 14 starts for the Angels after he was acquired via trade in the middle of the season, Haren won five games with a 2.87 ERA.
Santana, Pineiro, and Kazmir combined for 36 wins while posting ERAs of 3.92, 3.84 and 5.94 respectively.
There's really not too much need for Lee as his addition would essentially just make a strength even stronger.
Jered Weaver
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Jered Weaver is without a doubt the best pitcher in Los Angeles right now.
In his career with the Angels, he's 64-39 with a 3.55 ERA. He doesn't command too much respect among fans because he isn't the biggest name among pitchers, but he's always been great.
This was especially true last year when he won 13 games with a 3.01 ERA.
But the thing is, Weaver is going to be a free agent in 2013 and he's represented by Scott Boras.
At that point in his career, Weaver will be just 30 years old and absolutely worth re-signing to a lengthy deal.
If the Angels splurge now and sign Lee, there most likely won't be any room left for Weaver on the team.
That can't happen.
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