MLB - Sports Rumors

Tue Dec 30, 2008 7:27 am EST

Interest in ex-Angel Garret Anderson picks up

By Joe Zedalis

The Oakland A's and Tampa Bay Rays have surfaced in various media outlets as possible destinations for Garret Anderson, the Los Angeles Angels' franchise leader in a variety of offensive categories. The Angels have made no move, it appears, to retain Anderson, re-signing Juan Rivera as his likely replacement in left field with Gary Matthews Jr. and Reggie Willits in support.

Anderson told MLB.com that he would be open to playing right field, where Vladimir Guerrero has been entrenched in Anaheim.

"I'm very comfortable in right, as well as left," said Anderson, the Angels' regular right fielder in 1998. "I'm just waiting to see what's out there."

He has a strong, accurate arm and played high-caliber left field in 2008 while finishing second on the club to Guerrero in RBIs with 84 and batting .293. He's 36 and 632 hits shy of 3,000, which means he probably needs to play at least four more seasons to get there. He said he's agreeable to relocating anywhere, including the East Coast.

Source: MLB.comNew Window

digg delicious
more

142 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. Brook
    1. Posted by Brook Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    just gimme a job, man!
  2. Daniel V
    2. Posted by Daniel V Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:52 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    He's been one of the most underrated hitters of the last 15 years. Shame he couldn't work out something with the Angels since he's been with them since 1990. His power numbers are down since 2004 but still hits for a good average and can still get high teens in homeruns. The Rays would be an interesting team for him to end up, could split time in RF and DH and could use another lefty bat in the middle of their lineup. A good pickup for whoever gets him.
  3. UnKle Rukus
    3. Posted by UnKle Rukus Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    That would be scary if he gets to 3000. That automatically puts you in the HOF, but Garrett anderson in the HOF? He's a very good player, but does anyone honestly he is a HOFer?
  4. MusicalRecall.com
    4. Posted by MusicalRecall.com Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:30 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Just look at his stats with runners on and RISP- they dwarf Tex and Vlad's numbers. He is quiet clutch and class. The Angels made a huge mistake letting him go. I hope the Yankees pick him up for right field. That's what he deserves. HOF- Hell Yes!
  5. w.a.s.p.
    5. Posted by w.a.s.p. Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    A class act. The way the yankees are ruining baseball I'm surprised they haven't "bought" him just to keep other teams from getting him.
  6. faolin_ruadh3
    6. Posted by faolin_ruadh3 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Thank Goodness his lazy a$$ will no longer be in Anaheim. I admit with runners in scoring position he was a good hitter who drove in runs. That was the only thing about Anderson that was worth a damn. He is a terrible left fielder. The man had zero hustle in him. Would never run out a ground ball, just trotted down the base path. Would not dive in the field to get to the ball. Would allow anything hit remotely over his head just go over. It was frustrating to watch him at bat without anyone on base. He made no effort. Even the broadcasters mentioned how much of a lack of hustle he had. Finally the days of lard butt Anderson are over in Anaheim.
  7. TBay Rays
    7. Posted by TBay Rays Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    i love wade boggs, fred lynn and rod carew. what is different from garrett anderson and these three? publicity. boggs had ny and boston. lynn, boston. carew...okay minnesota, but he had much more publicity than anderson. garrett has been hidden on the west coast for the past 18 years! would anyone know who vlad is if he was still an expo? garrett's numbers are as strong as the others mentioned and to top it off, he's a great human being!
  8. jeffutlaw
    8. Posted by jeffutlaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Cubs are looking for a left handed outfielder, suprised they haven't been mentioned in connection.
    By the way, no Yankee rumors yet today.
    It's nice to be reminded there is baseball outside of NYC once in a while!
  9. TBay Rays
    9. Posted by TBay Rays Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    By the way...Rob Deer: I LOVE when the Spankees spend money! That means more money to the Rays when the luxury tax fairy comes around!!! Still doesn't mean they'll win the series or even make the playoffs for that matter. Great players don't make a great team, hence the reasons they haven't won a WS ring in ten years although they've had the highest payroll over that same period. CC can pitch in the NL, but we'll see what he brings to the AL East. He should've stayed in the NL. Burnett won't be able to handle the pressure in NY and will fold like ARod's marriage...what a loser! Tex is an incredible person...I hope NY doesn't ruin him, too. As far as Manny goes, as soon as he would get the first boo in Spankee Park, he'd be railing on them just as quick as he did in Beantown! I'm not saying the Rays will be back in the Series this year, so don't even go there, but you can come down here to wash our mascot, Raymond's jock!
  10. PhillyPhanatic
    10. Posted by PhillyPhanatic Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    He is a class act player, and deserves a shot at 3,000 .... Him and Chili Davis were my favorite players growing up, and it won't happen, but I wish the Phillies would take a good look at Garret Anderson. He would make their team, and clubhouse that much better.
  11. Daniel V
    11. Posted by Daniel V Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:52 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Jeff, I'm curious who you'd rather the Cubs make a run at for that extra OF spot and, as you mentioned, they'd prefer a lefty: Anderson, Abreu, or Bradley?
  12. rob deer
    12. Posted by rob deer Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:30 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Well then you're gonna love it when we throw down $60 million on Manny and win the 2009 WS!!!!!!!!!!!!! When do your best players become free agents? We'd love to have them in the Bronx!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  13. Daniel V
    13. Posted by Daniel V Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:52 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Philly, while Anderson would've been a good Philly LF option, I'm sure you will be happy with Ibanez for what he does numbers wise and he has been for years considered one of the nicest, easy to get along with guys in the clubhouse.
  14. Rickers
    14. Posted by Rickers Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I can say a lot of things about Garrett like he is slow, kind of lazy at times, may seem out of it. However, Garrett totally rules. He is so willing to play next year that he is willing to change positions, move, take less money. Most players say it is my way or the highway. I have huge respect for Garrett and I hope he gets to 3000 hits and goes in the hall. A great citizen that any team would want. Thanks Garrett for everything as an Angel.
  15. jeffutlaw
    15. Posted by jeffutlaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    daniel, personally, i'd like abreu. he's athletic, and takes a walk, would be a good fit in the lineup, in my opinion.
    i know he's a little "wall shy" out there in right, but i think we'd win enough to overcome that. he's a little too expensive looks like for the cubs.
    they seem to be looking mainly at bradley.
  16. Daniel V
    16. Posted by Daniel V Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:52 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I still see the Cubs as the front runner to get Peavy this offseason, with the Braves as the only other real option. It looks more and more like the Padres might hold off until a trade deadline deal cause they seem like they are asking for way too much now and would have a better chance of getting that in a deadline panic deal than over the next 2 months. If I were a Cub fan, I'd settle for an OF of Soriano, Johnson, and Fukudome if it meant an Opening Day rotation of Zambrano, Peavy, Lilly, Dempster, and Harden. Wouldn't be a power packed lineup but definitly a lineup with contact hitters and speed who could produce runs, much like the Angels over the past few years.
  17. jeffutlaw
    17. Posted by jeffutlaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    The lineup as we trotted out last year led the league in avg, runs, obp, so it would still seem solid with the loss of Edmonds, and hopefully a full year of Soriano, so I agree, the offense should be enough.
    Peavy looks like it'll be a midseason deal if at all, so I'd say all bets are off at this point.
    We do need to get a lefty in the lineup for some balance, but if Fontenot plays second and DeRosa right, with a platoon of Johnson./Kosuke in center, that should take care of a good bit of that. We just have to man up in the playoffs, bottom line.
  18. M A
    18. Posted by M A Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:55 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    you give me garrett anderson in the cloch any time over alex rodrigues .hes one of the best with runers in scoring position.and hes going to be in the hall.
  19. scott
    19. Posted by scott Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Daniel, I think what happened is the Angels thought he was a little high priced. Also age and a couple of injuries. He thinks he is still capable of 550 to 600 AB a year and the Angels think otherwise. His power is on the downward slide but he can still hit .290. He will never win a gold glove but he isn't embarrassing himself either. While he seems like he might be slow in the field, he covers a decent amount of ground. I'd still like to see him in left but Angel management probably sees more HR out of Rivera.
    Jeff, I'll hope you guys sign Garret or Abreu. I wouldn't wish Bradley on anybody. The only negative I'd say about Garret is he doesn't walk much.
  20. jd 1
    20. Posted by jd 1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    tbay rays, the Yank won in 2000, and played in 01 in one of the greatest WS ever. But by your convoluted logic I guess thats 10 years. ROLMAO
  21. jeffutlaw
    21. Posted by jeffutlaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Scott, I'm hoping for Abreu, but like I say, he appears a bit out of our price range.
    It seems they are really targeting Bradley, so I'm hoping for the best, but I'd just as soon pass on the headaches and time on the DL.
  22. Tom P
    22. Posted by Tom P Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:16 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    As an Angel fan, I'm pretty pissed off that they unceremoniously let GA go. He should be finishing his career here, not playing for Tampa or Oakland.
    This ranks right up there with them letting Ryan walk. We have GA, who can still produce, and GMJ, who isn't worth the money he's getting, and who won't be ready for openning day. The correct decision would be to release GMJ and eat the contract, and then sign GA to come back and play full time.
    Nice move Arte.....you are slowly losing this fan.
  23. davfied
    23. Posted by davfied Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Jeff,
    Abreu would be a good fit for the Cubbies. Are you sure about no baseball outside of New York?lol
    Scott,
    Are you going to play in the fantasy league?

Sports Rumors

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

More Rumors

Teams

Customize to follow news and rumors on your favorite teams. [ Sign in ]