The Angels landed a centerpiece for their holiday table with the signing of free agent Gary Matthews Jr. on Wednesday. Matthews agreed to a five-year, $50 million deal that includes a partial no-trade clause. In the process, the Angels sidestepped a strong run at Matthews by the Giants and secured a key piece of their offseason agenda. The Dodgers were also in serious Red Sox vs Angels Tickets talks with Matthews until they signed Juan Pierre, also on Wednesday.
The deal still hinges on a physical Red Sox vs Angels Tickets exam that Matthews will take next week, probably Monday. "His ability to be a switch-hitter, his versatility and the ability to lead off and to hit in the middle of the order" is how manager Mike Scioscia Red Sox vs Angels Tickets explained what Matthews brings to the Angels. "I think he is a great fit."
Scioscia added that a lunch at Houston's in Santa Monica, Calif., on Tuesday, where Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen stopped Red Sox vs Angels Tickets by to say hello, didn't hurt. The 32-year-old will take over in center field and provide Gold Glove-caliber defense while adding speed and some power to the top of the order. Matthews will likely lead off, where he hit .313 with 19 homers and 79 RBIs for Texas last season. He also posted a .371 on-base percentage while leading the Rangers with 102 Red Sox vs Angels Tickets runs scored.
Matthews represents an offseason victory for the Angels, a team that has seen its wish list rearranged in the past year. It was first baseman Paul Konerko that spurned a free-agent deal to remain with the White Sox last winter, and this past Red Sox vs Angels Tickets summer, the club couldn't land Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada or then-Brewers outfielder Carlos Lee at the trading deadline.
And until Wednesday, it appeared to be second verse, same as the first, as third baseman Aramis Ramirez re-signed with the Cubs Red Sox vs Angels Tickets free agent infielder/outfielder Alfonso Soriano landed a whopping $136 million deal from the Cubs that easily outdistanced the Angels' offer. They also put in a bid for the negotiating rights to Red Sox vs Angels Tickets Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, only to see the Red Sox came out on top there.
But general manager Bill Stoneman said Matthews ranked as high as any player on their list. "We approached Gary right from the outset. There was a period after he filed for free agency when you couldn't make any offers," Red Sox vs Angels Tickets Stoneman said. "There was a waiting period, but we made him aware right away that we were interested."
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