INSIDE PITCH
The non-waiver trade deadline passed on Sunday without the Angels making a move. It was a case of simple math, according to general manager Tony Reagins—the potential additions were not worth the subtractions they would have required.
“We didn’t match up with teams in certain situations,” Reagins said Sunday. “We had discussions that were interesting. But when you looked at it overall, what you had to give up to get what was out there, it just didn’t make sense for us as we looked at the whole picture.”
The Angels were linked with Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who seemed to scuttle any potential deal when he did not make it clear he would waive his no-trade rights.
Reagins also shopped around for bullpen depth, but found that to be one of the hottest commodities on this year’s market.
“Really, the asking price for players didn’t go down,” Reagins said. “From what I experienced as we got closer to the deadline, a lot of teams stood firm on what they were looking to get in return.
“There were teams that set their sights on a certain level of either prospects or whatever and didn’t really waver from it.”
Reagins has been able to pull off major trades during the season in each of the last three years. He added first baseman Mark Teixeira before the deadline in 2008, left-handers Scott Kazmir in August 2009, and right-hander Dan Haren and infielder Alberto Callaspo in 2010.
The Kazmir acquisition came in August after he had cleared waivers and Reagins said he thought “there will be some opportunities later on that may materialize where we can still add to the club.”
Players traded now must have cleared waivers before changing teams.
NOTES, QUOTES
• RHP Ervin Santana was named co-Player of the Week in the AL after throwing the third no-hitter in the majors this season last Wednesday in Cleveland. Santana struck out 10 and walked one in the 3-1 victory over the Indians. Santana will make his first start since throwing the no-hitter on Tuesday when the Angels open a homestand against the Minnesota Twins. Santana is 3-0 with a 1.77 ERA (nine earned runs, 45 2/3 innings) over his past six starts.
• OF Mike Trout was returned to Class AA Arkansas on Monday after making just two starts in eight games after OF Peter Bourjos returned from the disabled list. Trout hit .163 (7-for-43) in his first exposure at the big-league level.
• INF/OF Howie Kendrick went 10-for-27 (.370) on the Angels’ 10-game trip to Baltimore, Cleveland and Detroit, and he is batting .319 (61-for- 191) on the road this seasons, fourth in the AL, with seven of his eight home runs. He has hit .277 (44-for-159) at home, with a slugging percentage that drops off from .508 on the road to .377.
• DH Bobby Abreu finished July with a .179 average (15-for-84) after batting .325 (25-for-77) in June. Abreu’s next run will be the 1,400th of his career.
By The Numbers: 3.35—ERA of Angels’ starting pitchers, the lowest in the American League and behind only the Phillies and Giants in the majors.
Quote To Note: “When you’re in this situation, there are times when you think you’re close and there are times when you think things just don’t make a lot of sense. There were a lot times (this year) where there were things that didn’t make a lot of sense.”—Angels GM Tony Reagins, on not making any trades before the non-waiver deadline Sunday.
ROSTER REPORT
Medical Watch:
• RHP Francisco Rodriguez (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 10. He will treat the problem with rest and rehab.
• 1B Kendrys Morales (fractured left ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He was never able to progress to running the bases in workouts, let alone playing in games during spring training or on a rehab assignment. He had a second surgery on his ankle May 26 to address continued discomfort and lack of mobility. Morales, who was transferred to the 60-day DL on July 20, will not play until the 2012 season.
Rotation:
RHP Jered Weaver
RHP Dan Haren
RHP Ervin Santana
RHP Joel Pineiro
RHP Tyler Chatwood
Bullpen:
RHP Jordan Walden (closer)
RHP Fernando Rodney
LHP Scott Downs
RHP Rich Thompson
RHP Bobby Cassevah
LHP Horacio Ramirez
Catchers:
Infielders:
1B Mark Trumbo
2B Howie Kendrick
SS Erick Aybar
3B Alberto Callaspo
INF Maicer Izturis
INF Russell Branyan
Outfielders:
LF Vernon Wells
CF Peter Bourjos
RF Torii Hunter
DH Bobby Abreu