Angels GM: "No truth" to Dye rumor
The rumor: The Angels are currently interested in trading for outfielder Jermaine Dye of the Chicago White Sox. The response, from Angels General Manager Tony Reagins: "No truth to that rumor."
Reagins said the Angels are not looking for an outfielder at this time and said he has not talked with the White Sox since early December. Even then, he said, that conversation "wasn't regarding any player."
As spring training approaches and the asking price drops on a large supply of remaining free agents, Reagins said he has not approached outfielder Garret Anderson or pitcher Jon Garland to see whether they might now be interested in returning to Anaheim. Garland last month rejected the Angels' offer of salary arbitration, which would have afforded him a one-year contract near his 2008 salary of $12 million. Market trends suggest Garland could make far less in whatever contract he signs for 2009.
The Angels have not ruled out adding another pitcher, Reagins said, but they are projecting the No. 5 starter to come from an in-house group that includes Nick Adenhart, Nick Green, Shane Loux, Dustin Moseley and Anthony Ortega.
"We feel good about our internal candidates," Reagins said.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported Monday that "the Angels are the latest team to express interest in acquiring Jermaine Dye now that the Mark Teixeira ship has set sail to New York." Reagins declined to elaborate on the subject, but another major league source not authorized to discuss trade talks publicly said the Angels did express interest in Dye last month--before they filled an outfield vacancy by re-signing Juan Rivera on Dec. 19. Teixeira agreed to terms with the Yankees on Dec. 23.
The White Sox long have coveted Chone Figgins, but the Angels are unlikely to trade him at this time. The Angels want to preserve the option to move Figgins to left field and play Brandon Wood at third base, but they also want to preserve the option to keep Figgins at third. If the Angels traded Figgins--for Dye or another outfielder--and Wood struggled at third, the Angels are not comfortable with oft-injured Maicer Izturis as their only option to replace Wood.
--Bill Shaikin
Photo: Jermaine Dye hit .292 with 34 homers and 96 RBIs for the White Sox last season. Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Whew!!! Thanks for clearing that up Tony Stoneman...err..I mean Reagins. We need to ensure that we keep all of our prospects so they can hit .200 and play half seasons for years to come!
Posted by: Ryan Thomas | January 13, 2009 at 10:58 PM
Whew, thank goodness for that. Otherwise the Angels would have traded a good but aging outfielder (in Garret Anderson) for a different one in Dye.
Posted by: el swino | January 14, 2009 at 06:41 AM
Great! Now lets get Manny...
Posted by: Mr Anaheim | January 14, 2009 at 12:10 PM