Advertisement

Angels’ interest in pitcher C.J. Wilson is ‘serious’

Share

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto and assistant GM Scott Servais had dinner with the agent for C.J. Wilson on Monday night in Milwaukee, and a source familiar with the team’s thinking said the Angels’ interest in the free-agent left-hander is ‘serious.’

Dipoto acknowledged Friday that he was ‘intrigued’ by Wilson and had reached out to agent Bob Garber but said it was ‘very early in the courting period.’ That courting process appeared to pick up steam on the eve of the GM meetings Monday night, as Dipoto, Servais and Garber were seen dining together at the Pfister Hotel.

Advertisement

Wilson, who played at Fountain Valley High, Santa Ana College and Loyola Marymount, went 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA for the American League-champion Texas Rangers and is considered the top pitcher on the market despite a shaky postseason in which he went 0-3 with a 5.79 earned-run average in three starts.

Wilson, who turns 31 this week, is expected to command a deal in the six-year, $100-million range, and the Rangers, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals have already expressed interest in him.

Dipoto said adding rotation depth behind Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana is among his top priorities this winter, and while he didn’t rule out adding another right-hander, the Angels would love to add a high-quality lefty to the mix.

There is also a chance the Angels could pursue Hiroki Kuroda, the Dodgers right-hander who is also weighing an offer to return to Japan.

ALSO:

Mark Trumbo is runner-up for rookie of the year

Advertisement

Angels hire Hal Morris as new pro scouting director

Angels don’t look like big-ticket spenders in off-season

--Mike DiGiovanna in Milwaukee

Advertisement