Losing 12 of 13 games in the postseason to the Boston Red Sox would cause many teams—especially the New York Yankees—to spend millions of dollars on "marquee" players.
But spending millions of dollars on expensive "marquee" players would mean the organization is acting on emotion. And acting on emotion in sports displays weakness and desperation.
These spending sprees usually results in financial problems or frustration if the team fails.
Teams can make or win the World Series without a bunch of expensive free agents.
The Tampa Bay Rays nearly won it this year and they have a team salary nearly equivalent to the left side of the Yankees infield.
When the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were sent packing once again by the Red Sox, I was just like almost every other irate Angels fan: I wanted the team to start buying the prolific free-agents.
After allowing some time pass and reflecting on LAA General Manager Tony Reagins decisions so far, I have realized that he is handling the offseason the right way.
The man had the audacity to break off negotiations with closer Francisco Rodriguez who is becoming, in my opinion, one of the shakiest closers in the game.
Yes he had 63 saves in 2008--a Major League record--but he is becoming more hittable and rarely provided a save where he would get all three batters out without allowing someone to reach base.
Reagins then inked an All-Star closer in Brian Fuentes who is already at an advantage because few American League hitters have seen first hand his repertoire of pitches.
Add to that the fact that hitters will only face him maybe a couple of times a year and the Angels theoretically have a solid closer for a couple of years.
Also, Reagins extended the outfielder Juan Rivera’s contract for another three years.
Rivera will now have a chance to prove himself and is ultimately a temporary option for an aging Vladimir Guerrero. Given the opportunities, I believe Rivera will not disappoint.
In addition, the decision to halt the pursuit of Teixeira and Manny Ramirez by Reagins could work out in the Angels favor.
Make no mistake about it: it would have been fantastic if the Angels had signed Teixeira.
It was a lot of money though and the Angels would have been committed to Tex for a very long time.
Nobody knows what is going to happen in the next 8 years. Plus there are going to be plenty of other highly-touted and highly-skilled free agents in that span.
Now, Ramirez sounds like it would be a good signing but who knows how he would fit in to the “small ball” mantra the Angels follow.
Not signing these two players allows the Angels to have more financial freedom and maybe even allow them to sign a hitter like Adam Dunn or a former gold glove winner in Doug Mientkiewicz to fill the hole at first.
The Angels could possibly convince Dunn to play first base because they are perennial World Series contenders, even though he has gone on record saying he does not want to.
Also, it was announced today that the Angels signed manager Mike Scioscia to a contract extension through 2018.
Scioscia has been one of the top managers in the game since 2000 with the Angels, leading them to a World Series with in 2002, posting a .551 winning percentage in his 8 seasons.
No only that he has guided the Angels to division titles 4 of the past 5 seasons.
With a solid manager, a dangerous lineup of speedy small ball players, a deep rotation and a solid bullpen, the Angels will remain in contention.
Spending a lot of money on marquee free agents more often than not, results in failure to win the World Series.
Reagins has made the right moves and hopefully the logical business decisions will pay off in the long run for the Angels.
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