This guy is head to LAA

Mariner fans and Ranger fans have something in common, they are both angry that their club’s respective Front Offices didn’t bring home Josh Hamilton. The Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim signed the controversial outfield slugger to a five-year, $125 million deal. This deal roughly ties up $70 million per year into Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton for the next five seasons, while they are only paying their best young player [Mike Trout] $500K per season, yup baseball.

This deal is probably the most laughable thing I have seen because of the fact that it ties roughly $400 million (for five years) into two guys are 32 years old and are bound to begin their declines soon. This move should end up hampering their ability to spend cash down the road on their talented young players; cough, cough, Mike Trout, cough. Also you can’t forget the fact that Hamilton absolutely collapsed during the second half last season and is a good chunk of the reason that the Athletics’ ended up winning the Division Crown.

If I’m a GM looking at signing Hamilton that massive drop-off between the first half and the second half is very concerning to me. His drop in slugging percentage (SLG), on-base percentage (OBP), and on-base plus slugging (OPS) are the most concerning as they show a drop in what Hamilton is known for; and what the Angles just paid him for. If Hamilton doesn’t find a happy medium between his first and second half numbers then the Angles just over paid for an aging outfielder.

And that’s why this deal could be a blessing in disguise for the American League West. As I pointed out in the intro paragraph the Angles are sinking roughly $70 million into two players who are 32 years old and are nearing their twilight seasons. But those aren’t the only aging stars that the Angles have sunk a lot of cash into; they also have CJ Wilson (32), Jared Weaver (30), and Vernon Wells (34) under contract for a the next several years, all with expensive deals. It leaves you wondering how the Angels are going to be able to cope with these players’ declines all happening around the same time AND pay Mike Trout what he deserves when he becomes eligible for arbitration.

In other words the Angles could have ended up damaging their future in an expensive bid to win now. Also here’s some food for thought from Twitter;

Scutaro, Pagan, Affeldt combined make 22 mil/yr and avg 6.7 fWar the past 3 years. Hamiltion 25mil avg 5.6 fWar last 3 years. #smartbaseball

— WazzuCrew11 (@WazzuCrew11) December 13, 2012