Abreu is amazingly consistant and has been throughout his 13 year career. Though his age is cause for concern on some levels, he does not appear to be slowing down as much as many do at his age. A steady source of power and average throughout his career, Abreu should fit in quite nicely with the existing Angel batting lineup. He is also a steady run producer and scorer as his 100+ in each category over the last two years demonstrate.

Abreu was seeking a longer term deal, but maybe the opportunity to go to a very talented Angels squad changed his mind. It also probably was due to the huge number of veteran left handers still on the market. With names out there like Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey Jr, and Frank Thomas, the market changed quickly.

Abreu enjoyed a number of fine seasons in Houston and is known for being a good locker room player. That is, he is a player that works hard, gets along with the others, and helps out the younger players throughout the year. That type of influence in Los Angeles is sure to be a welcome addition. A team can never have enough veterans around, and especially if they are still highly productive like Abreu.

Abreu spent last season with the New York Yankees, and had a pretty solid season. He hit 20 home runs, and had 100 RBIs as well as scoring 100+ runs. What is truly amazing is that even at the ripe age of 35 Abreu still managed to steal 22 bases. That is no fluke either as Abreu is always in excess of 20 SBs. If he can maintain that pace for the Angels, that will surely help out some of the bats in the Angel lineup.

Abreu will certainly be missed in New York and it is a bit of a puzzle why they did not resign him. The Yankees have a history of signing aging superstars, however, and letting them move on after a year or two. That said, the Angels are surely glad to have him on board with their team. It looks as though the Angels might just be a pretty strong contender if the pitching holds out.

A lack of offense has been the Achilles heel of the Angels for several years now with no one able to protect the potent bat of Vlad Guerrero. Teixeira filled the role beautifully and provided excellent defense at first base. One would think a team with the resources of the Angels would have gone to the extreme to ensure that Teixeira stayed with them. Nevertheless, they failed to improve their initial $160 million offer and, on Saturday, the Angels informed the media that they pulled their offer. Reportedly, Angels owner Arte Moreno felt that Tex’s agent, Scott Boras, was using the Angels to drive up the price. Moreno contends that Tex never had any intention of signing with L.A.

Now what?

Rumors abound that the Angels are actively searching for a new bat. Names associated with the team include Paul Konerko, Joey Votto, Jermaine Dye, Garrett Atkins and free agents Pat Burrell, Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn.

Each trade would cost young pitching, a commodity teams are always hesitant to part with. A top target for potential trade partners would be righthander Nick Adenhart. Trading Adenhart for a declining slugger like Dye or Konerko would be incredibly shortsighted. In fact, the Angels should abandon any trade thoughts and look at the available free agents.

The market for Adam Dunn is as low as it’s ever been. Dunn averages 40 homers and 100 runs batted in a year. He regularly posts on-base percentages over 385. The knock on Dunn is that he strikes out between 180 and 200 times a year. In addition, many in the industry believed Jays general manager J.P. Riciardi’s rant last summer claiming that Dunn was a lazy player who hated baseball. These factors have combined to drive the market for Dunn’s services well below the expected level.

The Angels should offer Dunn a modest three-year deal for about $33 million and bat him behind Vlad Guerrero. Defensively, the Halos can put Dunn at first base and fill the void left by Teixeira.

The loss of Big Tex hurts, but the Angels can keep their offense afloat by deftly moving to sign Adam Dunn. Otherwise, they are looking at another year of sub-par offensive production. With improving teams in Oakland and Texas, that’s not an appealing option.

Red Sox owner John Henry issued a simple statement to the media.

“We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him,” Henry said. “After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.”

So, if we believe this statement, the frontrunners are out of the bidding altogether.

Word is the Red Sox have an offer of eight years and about $180 million on the table. Some writers have speculated that the Los Angeles Angels have a similar offer while the Washington Nationals may be offering 10 years and more than $200 million.

Granted, the Red Sox do not need Mark Teixeira; he’d be a luxury. Moreover, they have an excellent firstbase prospect, Lars Anderson, on the way. But you have to wonder if this is a negotiating ploy by Henry and general manager Theo Epstein. Teixeira would fit into the Boston lineup beautifully and provide insurance in case David Ortiz or J.D. Drew hit the D.L.

Meanwhile, Torii Hunter, the Angels centerfielder, told reporters that Big Tex told him the Angels had blown everyone away in their bid to keep Tex. Being that it’s no secret how much Hunter is lobbying to keep Teixeira, it’s hard to take the statement at face value.

Despite, the media buying the Red Sox’ statement, the belief here is the Red Sox remain the frontrunners. The statement is nothing more than a negotiating ploy. Boston knows it has a solid offer that’s better than or as good as most of the others. They knew making a statement in time for the Friday newpapers would mean maximum coverage of their “bowing out” of the bidding. Their hope is that people keep talking about it all weekend and that the exposure puts pressure on Teixeira to look at what Boston can offer him.

It’s hard to argue that playing with the Red Sox would give Big Tex his best shot at a world championship. Winners of two of the last five World Series, Boston has a great big league team and a tremendous farm system. They are stocked with quality young starting pitchers and have one of the game’s premier closers in Jonathan Papelbon. What gives the Red Sox the advantage in the negotiations is the fact that they don’t need Teixeira. They refuse to portray themselves as a desperate team, because they aren’t. The Angels need Tex far more than Boston does. Essentially, the Red Sox are banking on the fact that their organization can sell itself and that Teixeira will chose the most successful team in baseball as his new home.

Boston is out of the bidding for Big Tex? Don’t bet on it.

Sabathia, a 6’7” lefthander, gives the Bronx Bombers the ace they’ve been looking for. The Yankees sealed the deal by increasing their offer to $161 million over seven years and adding an opt-out clause after the third year. That provides Sabathia with a chance to leave if things don’t work out in New York and, more likely, a chance to extend the deal for more money in 2012.

Meanwhile, the Mets, owners of one of the major’s worst bullpens in 2008, added free agent closer Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez. The Amazins inked Rodriguez to a three-year deal worth about $37 million with a vesting option for a fourth year. Mets GM Omar Minaya didn’t stop there. On Wednesday, he traded Aaron Heilman, Joe Smith, Endy Chavez and three prospects in a three-team deal for Seattle Mariners closer J.J. Putz. Putz and Rodriguez give the Mets a lethal back end of the bullpen.

Some of the more notable names that didn’t sign include sluggers Mark Teixeira and Manny Ramirez and pitchers Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett.

The market for Ramirez is remarkably low. The Dodgers, his former team, don’t seem inclined to offer any more than the two-year deal they have on the table. Ramirez is seeking at least four years and preferably five. Latest word is that the Los Angeles Angels may make a two-year offer worth about $50 million if they lose Teixeira.

Teixeira, on the other hand, has several suitors. The Washington Nationals have reportedly offered $180 million over eight years while the Baltimore Orioles and Angels have offered lucrative five-year contracts. Still, most experts believe “Big Tex” is heading for Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox. No word on a firm offer from Boston is available, but the team has been in contact with Teixeira’s agent, Scott Boras.

AJ Burnett, a hard-throwing but often injured righthander, has offers on the table from the Yankees and the Atlanta Braves. Both deals are for five years and around $85 million. Look for Burnett to be signed to a deal in the next couple days, with the Yankees as the frontrunner.

Lowe has now become the hottest commodity among pitchers with at least five teams – including the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Phillies and Braves – looking into signing him. Lowe is known for his durability and excellent sinking fastball.

Other free agents on the market include Adam Dunn, Raul Ibanez, Randy Wolf and Rafael Furcal.

Dunn, who averages 40 home runs and 180 strikeouts a year, has drawn interest from just a couple teams. Many believe the Washington Nationals will make a strong push to add the slugger to their roster.

Furcal has several teams vying for his services, including the Oakland A’s, Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves.

Ibanez has been linked the Mets, Phillies and Angels, while Wolf has yet to receive any firm offers.

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