The California Angels are clearly not going to be out done by the Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles and Phillies this post season. Today they signed Vladimir Guerrero to a five year contract (contingent on him passing a physical) for a reported $70 million. Guerrero is only twenty-seven years old and was the most talented player on the free agent market.

There is some risk to the deal as Guerrero missed time last year for the first time in his career with back problems. Having watched a bad back end Don Mattingly's great seasons (and his career), it's always something to think about. However, Mattingly's problems were back spasms and not a herniated disc, which can be dealt with.

Guerrero never really received the press he deserved because he played for the Expos and was watched by no one. But the stats in his young career are impressive. Here are his averages for the past six years, and keep in mind that he only played 112 games last year:

Average: .327
OBP: .400
Hits: 195
Homers: 37
RBI: 110
Runs: 99
Doubles: 37
Stolen Bases: 20
Outfield Assists: 13

Vladimir can do it all and now that he will be on natural grass and in a stable environment, he could blossom even further as he is entering the peak years of his career. This is a great pickup for the Angels IF the outfielder is healthy.

The Angels have not been shy this off season and Guerrero caps the signings of Bartolo Colon, Jose Guillen (who had a "coming of age" year last year) and Kelvim Escobar. If all goes as expected, the Angel outfield of Guerrero, Garrett Anderson and Guillen is powerful, athletic and still fairly young.

How about this lineup? Eckstein, Erstad, Guerrero, Anderson, Glaus, Guillen, Salmon, Molina and Adam Kennedy. Whoah! That's a great lineup. The Angels starters? Ramon Ortiz, Bartolo Colon, Jarred Washburn, Kelvim Escobar and then John Lackey or Aaron Sele. The Bullpen? Percival, Weber, Shields and Rodriguez. Wow! On paper, this team becomes the team to beat in the AL West next year.


Leave it to my wife to come up with some players I missed on my Mo Vaughn post:

Mark McGwire: Eleven healthy seasons
Jason Giambi: Coming into his ninth season

Both the above players have had similar knee tendonitis. McGwire's finished his career. What will happen with Giambi? According to my formula, Giambi is coming up on borrowed time.

It was great to read about two old guys finding a home this past week--one, old by baseball standards, and one by any standard. Rafael Palmeiro will bring back his Hall of Fame career to the Baltimore Orioles and Don Zimmer landed with the Devil Rays as an advisor. Good for them and good for baseball!

Speaking of the Orioles and lineups, check this one out: Brian Roberts, Luis Matos, Miguel Tejada, Javy Lopez, Melvin Mora, Jay Gibbons, Rafael Palmeiro, David Segui and Larry Bigbee. That's a great lineup. Now, if they can get Ponson back and get some pitching?