Angels To Sign Abreu

Bobby Abreu might have finally found a home after a long winter in which he couldn’t find the right deal or team. The White Sox tried their luck, but Abreu wasn’t a good fit as he can really only play corner outfield and the White Sox are set there. The Angels, on the other hand, were more interested in a corner outfielder after losing 15-year veteran, Garrett Anderson, to free agency (Anderson played all 15 seasons with the Angels). So even though the Angels’ outfield is a logjam of players, the club decided it was better to have a great player than two or three good players fighting for a spot.

The details of the deal have not been announced, because it is not certain whether or not Abreu is officially an Angel. Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reported that the Angels were likely going to give Abreu a one-year deal.

Regardless of the details, I like the signing. I’ve always been a Bobby Abreu fan—mainly because I get him on my fantasy team and he performs well for me. Many people feel differently about the 34-year old than I do. They point at his drop in power over the last couple of seasons. I point at the fact that a down year for Bobby Abreu is .290, 20 home runs, 100 RBIs, 20 stolen bases and a .370 on base percentage. Not to mention, Abreu can still play a good right field and still has an above average throwing arm.

Over the last eight seasons, Abreu has had over 100 RBIs in seven of those years. He has stolen 22 or more bases for 10 straight seasons. His lowest on base percentage in his entire career (since becoming a full-time starter in 1998) is .369. Who wouldn’t want a player who does everything so well?

Although the news is not official, if it does turn out to be true, the Angels are even more of a contender in my eyes. Abreu will help bring balance to a pre-dominantly right-handed lineup. Not to mention a 3-4-5 combination of Abreu, Vladimir Guerrero, and Torii Hunter is enough to give any pitcher a headache. Props to the Angels for bringing in another player that could help them in their playoff push next season.