BD Hot Stove: Vladdy To Regain Halo? | Baseball Digest

BD Hot Stove: Vladdy To Regain Halo? | Baseball Digest

t’s a bit hard to imagine, but the Los Angeles Times’ Mike DiGiovanna feels that if the Texas Rangers sign Adrian Beltre there is a good chance Vladimir Guerrerowill return to the Los Angeles Angels.

Vlad is not the player he once was – a 5-tool stud that could throw a ball from the right field wall to home plate on the fly, run like the wind, and could hit any pitch out of the park – but he did bounce back with Texas last season. Serving as the team’s primary DH (he played only 18 games in the outfield), Guerrero hit .300, belted 29 home runs, and drove in 115 runs while posting an .841 OPS. His home run total was his highest in two years; the RBI total his higest in three.

The Angels used Hideki Matsui as their DH last season, but parted ways with him when his one year deal expired. Vlad was an extremely popular teammate and fan favorite during his six seasons in Anaheim, but the Angels let him walk after he played in just 100 games in 2009 (He produced 15 HR, 50 RBI, and a career low .794 OPS). Guerrero’s physical ailments- bad feet and knees in particular – have slowed him and affected his play. At 36 years of age (on Feb. 9) he’s a risk the Angels, who lost out on Carl Crawford and apparently Adrian Beltre, may very well be willing to take after finishing 9th among 14 teams in runs scored last season. On the other hand Texas is willing to let Guerrero go after a poor post-season that saw him produce just 6 RBI in the three playoff series.

Rumors, News, and Transactions

Adrian Beltre is indeed getting very close to a six year, $96M deal with the Texas Rangers. That according to team beat writer T.R. Sullivan. The sixth year would reportedly be voided if Beltre doesn’t reach a specified amount of plate appearances in the fifth year.

The Orioles have officially locked up Kevin Gregg with a two year, $10M deal.

The Reds have signed outfielder Jeremy Hermedia to a minor league deal.

The Mariners and infielder Brendan Ryan will not have to go to arbitration after agreeing to a two year, $2.75M contract.

The Giants are talking once again with shortstop Edgar Renteria, who said the team disrespected him in earlier negotations.