Angels interested in acquiring Giambi?

by anaconda on May 22, 2007 9:18 AM EDT in New York Yankees News

The Angels' interest in Giambi, who was in a 1-for-26 slump and batting .268 going into last night's game, was before the recent controversy surfaced. It's likely the Angels, who have 30 homers, will wait to see what MLB does before pursuing a deal the Yankees would have to listen to very seriously.

The Angels have utility man Chone Figgins to move as well as backup catcher Jose Molina. And their farm system is loaded with young arms. However, if the Yankees have to eat a sizeable portion of Giambi's salary to make the trade they would want more back for Giambi. As for Giambi, he has a blanket no-trade clause. However, the Angels play 20 minutes from West Covina, where he grew up, and an equal distance from the Orange County beaches Giambi enjoys.

Figgins, who missed the first month of the season with a broken finger, would give the Yankees much-needed speed. The 29-year-old switch hitter can play third, second and in the outfield. Most important, he would push Robinson Cano for playing time at second if Cano's struggles across the first seven weeks continue. Figgins has appeared in 18 games, hitting .108 (7-for-65).

I'd definitely take this rumor with a grain of salt when considering the source. However, I think Cashman would make a deal in a heartbeat if he thought he could move Giambi's contract because he has been looking for a way to weasel out of this commitment for a few years now.

Realistically, though, don't hold your breath.

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Comments

Fuck no

Mg's manlove for Figgins aside, this would be a terrible move. Giambi isn't going to be slumping all year. He has one year left on the deal. I understand if Cashman had wanted to get out of the deal before, but he has one more year left. Might as well finish it out at this point.

That's all probably moot, though, as George King makes this kind of stuff up regularly.

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 22, 2007 9:27 AM EDT reply actions

.108?

Do we really need another backup hitting .108? We've got Nieves and Cairo to fill that role. On the other hand, backup catcher is a huge hole currently. Would the deal be Giambi for both Figgins and Molina? That wouldn't be bad if they don't have to eat the contract.

by SP on May 22, 2007 9:28 AM EDT reply actions

He is an

everyday player, regardless if he plays every position. But he would be great at Billy Ball.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on May 22, 2007 9:33 AM EDT reply actions

Terrible, terrible idea

Giambi is overpaid and an injury risk, but he still has substantial value. Figgins and Molina do not. I wouldn't put any horrible decision past Cashman but I really, really hope this is just another crazy George King bullshit piece.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 22, 2007 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

Value for what? You always seem to want

to ignore the full no-trade clause that limits the available options. He won't allow himself to be traded to Tampa or Texas so the choice is between keeping him for the duration or getting something and unloading someone who is overpriced and taking a space that could be better filled by someone else.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on May 22, 2007 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Value

I meant value to the Yanks, not trade value. I agree with your point that we should just keep him.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 22, 2007 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Who

Who is going to hit better than Giambi?

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 22, 2007 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Saying that Giambi is the best

hitter in baseball is like saying George W. Bush is the greatest president evah. When I hear someone say it, I just back away slowly.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on May 22, 2007 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

No one said best in baseball

But who's going to put up the .900 OPS that Giambi has given us the last two years (he's at .849 right now, slumping)?

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 22, 2007 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

When did I say that?

Dude, that's a gross misinterpretation. I'm saying that the Yanks have no one not currently starting that can hit better than Giambi. It would be a significant dropoff.

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 22, 2007 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

You move immoveable contracts

whenever the opportunity arises. Once he is gone, you get someone else. That is the GM's job. Even Pfisty said in another thread that the problem with the Yanks are all of these unmoveable contracts that limit flexibility. Well the first thing they have to do is get flexible.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on May 22, 2007 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Not at this point

You can't trade one of your best hitters if you have no one to replace him.

Unless you're throwing in the towel. At which point acquiring Figgins and Molina is even stupider.

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 22, 2007 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Never happen

Giambi has a no trade clause....he wants to stay in NY. He wont go anywhere.

by dmercbjj on May 22, 2007 10:31 AM EDT reply actions

Here's an acceptable trade

Giambi and Abreu for Vlad and Shields.

by docgonzo on May 22, 2007 10:33 AM EDT reply actions

Not sure about that

I would make Stoneman throw in K-Rod to even things out. Seriously, lay off the crack pipe.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 22, 2007 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Trade

I would do a Giambi for Brandon Wood, Hank Conger, and Figgins trade, if the Angels take on all or nearly all of Giambi's salary. Scott Shields and prospects would be worth discussing.
But Giambi is too important to this lineup to move, unless we're throwing in the towel for this season. Fortunately, this is a George King article involving a potential move by the non-move king Bill Stoneman. If there's any single reason not to fire Cashman, it cause we could wind up with a Stoneman-esque GM in his place.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 22, 2007 10:54 AM EDT reply actions

I reiterate Powerhouse

Fuck no

Fuck to the NO

by SWa on May 22, 2007 12:05 PM EDT reply actions

If you give

you, they should get more than a bag of peanuts that this trade is.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on May 22, 2007 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

This deal never makes sense

Trading a valuable commodity for two players with minimal value (especially in light of the moolah that the Yanks would have to throw in) never makes sense. Doesn't make sense if they punt on this season or if they are in it to win it.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 22, 2007 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Does that mean that Cashman should not

try to get out of his contract?

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on May 22, 2007 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Tricky question

Honestly, I don't know, but I would say probably not. On the one hand, it would be great not to pay him $47M over the next two years, but if the alternative is to eat a huge chunk of the contract and get back crap in return, I say just swallow hard and pay him to play out the deal hoping that he can stay relatively healthy and productive. If Anaheim would take the whole contract (which is almost impossible to believe) then the trade becomes more attractive.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 22, 2007 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Two years ago, maybe

But he's a productive player with limited time left on his contract. You might as well finish it out than trading him for pennies on the dollar.

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 22, 2007 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually I was talking about his

attempt to void the contract due to the steroid issue. You would not get anything of value in that case either.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on May 22, 2007 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah

I say no to that, too.

As you just said, we get nothing in return.
There's only a year and a half left on the deal
It sets a bad precedent for luring future free agents.

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 22, 2007 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah. They'd have no chance

of landing Barry Bonds next season if they try to pull something like that.

(This is a joke, of course.)

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on May 22, 2007 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Clubhouse guys would be happy

At least they could keep ordering grotesquely oversized baseball caps if Bonds replaced Giambi.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 22, 2007 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I would say no to that

It won't work. Thus, trying it just makes the Yanks look bad and will potentially sour future free agents from dealing with the Yanks.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 22, 2007 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

The Yanks aren't giving up the season and

They woul need another bat to fill Giambi's role...The ANgels aren't trading SHields unless they think he's going south..Isn't SPier hurt? I like FIggins, but if Giambi goes they lose a big power threat even if he is struggling.

It's always easier to get an outfielder than anythinhg else...The Twins sidebar is advertising...

by John Amato on May 22, 2007 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

Plus

He is a help to the lineup even if he isn't hitting that well. Most pitchers are afraid of him because of his good eye. Which causes a lot of havoc, because you either walk him or you try to make too good a pitch a he sends it out. He is a bit of a double threat at the plate.

by yanksfan77 on May 22, 2007 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

it is weird

I guess it's advertising, but not very smart advertising.

by Greenfuzz on May 22, 2007 1:50 PM EDT reply actions

Chone Figgins

This guy would be a plus for the team.

Assets IMO are plenty of stick for a utility guy. (career .279)
speed
plays a lot of positions.
switch hits, I like that

But I'm not willing to give mmore for him than surplus players. So Minky or Phelps, along with Viz or Farny
and one of
Karstens, Rasner, Ohendorf, Chase Wright, Beam, Bean, Sanchez, Veras.

The article says "The Angels have utility man Chone Figgins to move as well as backup catcher Jose Molina." I wonder, is there some reason they want/need to move these guys? More likely the writer thinks they might be available.

If I were Cash I'd make phone calls.

Of course Molina is an upgrade on Nieves, but I see him as valuable enough to be hard to get. He's not near;y as valuable as Figgins.

Probably all dreams.

Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical(Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on May 22, 2007 3:44 PM EDT reply actions

Career averages

.268 (.270 before this season)- guess who?
Granted, he's 3 years older than Chone, but he's not coming off a broken finger.
He's currently playing 1B. And I still can't spell his last name.

by SP on May 22, 2007 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Easy Tiger

Those numbers have dropped dramatically since early in Minky's career. Figgins is overrated but still infinitely more valuable than Minky

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 22, 2007 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Figgins has that pesky quality

that we always seem to lack. Guess that's why I hate the guy so much...

by docgonzo on May 22, 2007 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Mostly true

He hit .283 last year, but his four years before that sucked.

by SP on May 22, 2007 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep

But look at his power numbers from last year (take his slugging and subtract his batting average so you're weeding out the singles and looking at just extra base hits). They were down even from his piss poor 2005.

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 22, 2007 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions

You do this often

and I think it needs to stop.
Batting average is not a useful tool for evaluating a player's offensive skill.
Figgins has a career .725 OPS, Giambi a career .952.
Even if you give Figgins credit for his stolen bases, and don't dock him any for getting caught, it only raises Figgins OPS to .803.
You can't compare them. Even if Anaheim takes all of Giambi's contract, it'd be a steal for them.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 22, 2007 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess that the point is moot now...

but what will Giambi's OPS be once he is off the greenies or once a 25 game suspension is taken into account if he gets popped again?

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on May 23, 2007 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

young players

unless were getting young players i wouldnt do it...i think that giambi is more valuable for playing in the present so if they want to stick to present keep giambi but if they want to play for the future like next year or 09 then try and get young position prospects like brandon wood

by bronxbombers123 on May 22, 2007 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

Giambi

Bag the season,things are only going to get worse if we try a bandaid approach..Trade Giambi for prospects,and throw in Moose also.Spend the rest of this sorry season trying out rookies,esp. ones who can pitch.

by pounder on May 23, 2007 11:43 AM EDT reply actions

Great idea

but for the tricky little problem of your solution being virtually impossible.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 23, 2007 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Not only that,

but it was crappy rookie pitching that dug this hole in the first place because they couldn't pitch 5 innings to save their lives (ie: Igawa, Pasner, Karstens, Chase Wright...etc).

by anaconda on May 23, 2007 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions