The Angels’ signing of Albert Pujols last week is easily one of the biggest acquisitions to take place in the history of Major League Baseball. The normally somewhat thrifty Angels pick up the best hitter in baseball as they attempt to catch the Texas Rangers, who have ruled the American League West for the past couple of seasons.
With that signing, there now lies a logjam at first base for the Angels. Pujols becomes the obvious starter at first, with questions now surrounding both young Mark Trumbo and Kendrys Morales.
The Angels have the benefit of being able to put one of those guys in the lineup as a designated hitter. All indications are that it will be Trumbo that finds his way to that spot, though general manager Jerry DiPoto said at the initial press conference that the team had agreed to a deal with Pujols that they could try him out at third base or even in the corner outfield spots.
It’s difficult to imagine a guy with Trumbo’s size, at 6’4″ and 220, manning the hot corner, especially given his limited experience at the spot. The Angels also have Vernon Wells and Torii Hunter at the spots in left and right. Between those two and Peter Bourjos and Mike Trout in center, there isn’t really room for Trumbo, or Morales, to fit in even on days off.
There are still plenty of questions surrounding Kendrys Morales, who may or may not have an ‘s’ at the end of his first name. After a brilliant 2009 campaign, Morales hasn’t been able to get back on the field after destroying his leg celebrating a game-winning home run. There was hope he would be ready for the 2011 season, after sustaining the injury in May of 2010, but his ankle is still not completely recovered.
There was actually plenty of talk that the Halos could just non-tender Morales this winter, meaning he’d hit the open market. That would have presented a nice opportunity for clubs to buy low on him and hope that he can recover and become a sneaky good pickup. But DiPoto said Saturday that the team would tender him a contract.
That doesn’t mean that both Trumbo and Morales will be around, however. They could still seek to trade one of them, and the Cubs should be very interested if they are.
As nice as Trumbo’s bat might be, from a power standpoint, at Wrigley Field, I’d peg Morales as the more likely candidate to be traded. And if the Cubs are going to be in the business of making small moves this winter, a potential deal for Morales would represent something that fits into that mindset.
The Cubs likely wouldn’t have to give up too much to get Morales, given his recent history and the fact that he’s not even completely healthy yet.
If they are able to land him, though, it could pan out to be a brilliant move, if he returns to that 2009 form. If you remember, Morales was tasked with replacing Mark Texeira, who bolted for the Bronx in free agency. Morales put up stellar numbers that year, with a line that featured a .284 average, with 34 big flies, and a WAR that was nearly four, thanks to some solid defense in addition to those strong offensive numbers.
Should the Angels consider dealing Morales, and the Cubs are able to acquire him, he could rake in Wrigley. If he’s healthy. Of course, all this doesn’t really matter if the Angels aren’t willing to deal either of their backup first baseman.
Regardless of their willingness to deal one of Trumbo or Morales, the Cubs should certainly be calling. That is, if they aren’t able to sign Prince Fielder.
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