Mariners Meet With Zito

[bkrich83]

Re: Mariners Meet With Zito

Yeah, i honestly don't remember what our offer was, but it definitely beat Anaheim's offer. If i remember correctly, even ESPN's player page had Vlad coming to the O's at one point, but in the end, Vlad supposed desire to have a large hispanic community put Anaheim's offer over the top.

That large hispanic community, and the hispanic ownership helped. (Also one reason Bartolo Colon signed). I believe the Orioles came in with a $65 million offer, and the Angels came in with like $70 million. Don't quote me on the numbers. But I remember thinking he was a for sure Oriole at one point.

[rubisco43]

Re: Mariners Meet With Zito

The Angels just so happened to offer the most money to welcome the new regime into Anaheim, to overall increase their attendace and interest. Heck, it worked.

There was even rumors how Vlad didn't want to play in NY, but that was denied by his agent in order to build up his price. Lucky for them, the Arturo came in calling.

Actually, the O's made the largest official offer, which Vlad turned down. Which sucked b/c a few weeks earlier, we landed Tejada. Imagine that 3-4 combo.

[bkrich83]

Re: Mariners Meet With Zito

BK, we can never be sure of the Yanks interest b/c they never made an official offer. I'll admit though, I find it hard to believe that Georgie and Cashman didn't burn the midnight oil trying to figure something out for Vlad.

It backfired on them. Have you seen what Vlad had done to the Yankees in recent years?

[AI_Franchise]

Re: Mariners Meet With Zito

Actually, the O's made the largest official offer, which Vlad turned down. Which sucked b/c a few weeks earlier, we landed Tejada. Imagine that 3-4 combo.

I remember O's were high on Vlad, but I'm not sure if they indeed offered the most loot.

Here's an article in regards to Mets/O's/Halo's
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1704992

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Welcome to Hollywood, Vladimir Guerrero.

In another bold offseason move, the Anaheim Angels landed the biggest star on the free-agent market when they reached agreement with Guerrero, one of baseball's most talented players.

Fantasy Focus
We knew Guerrero was going to sign somewhere, be it Baltimore, the Mets, a dark horse such as the Angels, so on. The question is, did his future home really matter for fantasy purposes? I'd say not really (unless Vlad's new home were Coors, of course). We know Guerrero can hit any pitching, any time, in any situation. In a 2004 draft I participated in a few weeks ago, Guerrero was the No. 5 pick. But based on his achy back last season, and his decreased stolen base production (a paltry nine), I'd say fifth is a little too high a pick. Assume the power is still there -- Guerrero is only 27 -- but watch out for his stolen base numbers. The guy ran whenever he felt like it, swiping 77 bags and getting caught 36 times over the 2001 and '02 seasons. That's not a good percentage at all, and in a pennant race, let's just say he'll see a red light. Plus, stealing bases can't be good for an aching back, and Vlad isn't being paid to steal bases. I liken this to Sammy Sosa putting on the brakes. Look for Vlad to produce runs, but he'll be a lot more Sosa than Carlos Beltran in 2004.
-- Eric Karabell


Anaheim did not disclose terms of the contract, which was to be completed as long as the All-Star outfielder passes a physical.

"Guerrero is coming into L.A., and will be undergoing a physical," Angels general manager Bill Stoneman said Sunday. "We've got a deal contingent on the physical."

Several reports said Guerrero will get a $70 million, five-year contract. He is expected in Los Angeles on Monday, Stoneman said.

A .323 career hitter, Guerrero averaged 37 homers for the Montreal Expos the past six years. He also possesses speed on the bases and one of the game's strongest arms in right field.

The four-time All-Star, who turns 28 next month, was on the disabled list from June 6 to July 21 last season, missing 39 games because of a herniated disc in his back. But he played in 62 of Montreal's final 64 games and finished the year with a .330 batting average, 25 homers and 79 RBI in 112 games.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Guerrero had not played in fewer than 154 games in any full season before last year.

The cash-strapped Expos, owned by the other 29 major league clubs, let him go in December, declining to offer salary arbitration.

The Angels went 77-85 and missed the playoffs last year after winning the World Series in 2002, but they've had a busy -- and expensive -- offseason under new owner Arte Moreno. He bought the team from The Walt Disney Co. last May.

Earlier this offseason, Anaheim signed pitchers Bartolo Colon and Kelvim Escobar, along with outfielder Jose Guillen.

Colon got a $51 million, four-year contract last month after Escobar received an $18.75 million, three-year deal in November.

Guillen signed a $6 million, two-year contract, strengthening an injury-plagued outfield.

Moreno has spent nearly $146 million on the free-agent market during the offseason. The Angels' payroll was around $76 million last season and could top $111 million this year if Anaheim doesn't trade away any high-priced players.

Moreno paid Disney $183.5 million for the team.

The Angels are expected to shift Darin Erstad from the outfield to first base, with Guerrero, Guillen and Garret Anderson providing a trio of power hitters in the outfield.

Guerrero speaks little English, but will join a team with a Spanish-speaking owner and manager, Mike Scioscia, and Dominicans Colon, Guillen, pitcher Ramon Ortiz and coach Alfredo Griffin.

Moreno, a fourth-generation American who is a native of Tucson, Ariz., made a fortune in outdoor advertising. He worked in his parents' print shop in Tucson as a kid and is the first major league controlling owner of Hispanic background.

He said when he bought the Angels that he obviously wanted to reach out to the Mexican-American community in Southern California, "but also to everybody."

The Angels were believed to have entered the bidding for Guerrero only late last week. On Saturday, he turned down a three-year offer from the New York Mets that would have paid him $71 million over five years if he reached incentives.

The Baltimore Orioles also pursued him and were thought to have offered at least $65 million over five years.




Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press

[rubisco43]

Re: Mariners Meet With Zito

I remember O's were high on Vlad, but I'm not sure if they indeed offered the most loot.

Here's an article in regards to Mets/O's/Halo's
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1704992

That's what i remember the initial offer being. but i remember a radio interview that flannegan made about the vlad offer, and he stated that our final offer exceeded that of the angels, but by that point, he'd already unofficially decided to go to anaheim.

[rubisco43]

Re: Mariners Meet With Zito

It backfired on them. Have you seen what Vlad had done to the Yankees in recent years?

Yeah, he was my favorite non-O's when he was with the expos... and the though of him coming to baltimore was amazing... then of course, heartbreaking when he went west.

[bkrich83]

Re: Mariners Meet With Zito

That's what i remember the initial offer being. but i remember a radio interview that flannegan made about the vlad offer, and he stated that our final offer exceeded that of the angels, but by that point, he'd already unofficially decided to go to anaheim.

I think Arte Moreno, being Hispanic, being a Spanish speaker, the Hispanic community in So. Cal, and so many Spanish speakers on the team really sealed the deal for him.

[AI_Franchise]

Re: Mariners Meet With Zito

I think Arte Moreno, being Hispanic, being a Spanish speaker, the Hispanic community in So. Cal, and so many Spanish speakers on the team really sealed the deal for him.

No, everyone knows it's because he wanted to say FY to the Yankees and their phantom offer. C'mon we all know that was the real issue here, well excluding the Yankee fans who like to think otherwise.... What a joke.

[bkrich83]

Re: Mariners Meet With Zito

No, everyone knows it's because he wanted to say FY to the Yankees and their phantom offer. C'mon we all know that was the real issue here, well excluding the Yankee fans who like to think otherwise.... What a joke.

Man, you are a good stalker. That kool-aide is treating you well.

[AI_Franchise]

Re: Mariners Meet With Zito

Man, you are a good stalker.

What can I say, I love your comments. The funny part is that someone who doesn't know better will have no problems believing your stories.

[bkrich83]

Re: Mariners Meet With Zito

What can I say, I love your comments. The funny part is that someone who doesn't know better will have no problems believing your stories.

Irony.

[Stoud]

Re: Mariners Meet With Zito

Well, I guess that's the end of yet another pipe dream! Who knows, maybe we'll get Brian Lawrence and fair pretty well anyways. Either way, just the prospect of getting Zito has made me aware of how close the M's are to being a good team again, at least in my opinion.

I kinda feel bad for Zito going to the Giants, though....gonna be harder to win games in San Fran than it was in Oakland, man. Maybe if they still had Schmidt this would look like a good move, but I'd say that the Giants have even less offense than the M's or the A's. I doubt Zito will be happy with his decision at the end of the year, let alone at the end of his contract -- unless he cares more about team location than winning games...

[rsox]

Re: Mariners Meet With Zito

The Giants may have less offense than Mariners or A's but consider that the Giants offense and the Dodgers offense are basically a mirror image, the Padres offense is poor at best and the Diamondbacks have a young offense and the Rockies...are the Rockies i wouldn't say that it will be tougher to win games in SF than in Oakland. The NL West is as level a playing field as you will ever see in sports, unless one dominant team emerges they will probably all cancel eachother out and the winner of the division will be the team that manages to win 82 games.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Mariners Meet With Zito

The Giants may have less offense than Mariners or A's but consider that the Giants offense and the Dodgers offense are basically a mirror image, the Padres offense is poor at best and the Diamondbacks have a young offense and the Rockies...are the Rockies i wouldn't say that it will be tougher to win games in SF than in Oakland. The NL West is as level a playing field as you will ever see in sports, unless one dominant team emerges they will probably all cancel eachother out and the winner of the division will be the team that manages to win 82 games.

82 games is a little too low, but I don't see anyone in our division winning more than 90.

The Rockies will be the Rockies. I really can't take them seriously even though they're a pest to the Padres.

Arizona has a young talented lineup, but I think their pitching will be their downfall. Especially that bullpen.

The Dodgers are alright in pitching but I don't know how they stack offensively, they're one of the three teams I consider that would win this division by chance.

The Giants rotation is questionable outside of Zito. Their offense even with Bonds is questionable too, but if things go right for them they can take this division too.

The Padres probably have the best pitching in this division, but their offense is as inconsistent as Oliver Perez's starts. Their offense will make or break this team's chances at another division title.

And on a side note, no one from the NL West has gotten pass the divisional round in the playoffs since 2003.

[AI_Franchise]

Re: Mariners Meet With Zito

I really think Zito will thrive in SF. That contract is still without question ludicrous. Zambrano and Johan have to be giddy now..Is Boras their agent too?