Angels sign Juan Rivera- 3 yr/12.75 mil.

by RayOfLight on Dec 19, 2008 4:23 PM EST

Rivera agrees to three-year, $12.75M contract to remain with Angels

Dec. 19, 2008
CBSSports.com wire reports

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Outfielder Juan Rivera decided to stay with the Los Angeles Angels, agreeing Friday to a $12.75 million, three-year contract.

The 30-year-old outfielder hit .246 with 12 homers and 45 RBI in 89 games for the Angels last season, his fourth with the team. All 12 of his homers came in a span of 58 games after July 2. He also was the Angels' top pinch hitter with five hits in 14 at-bats and five RBI, including two game-winners.

Rivera figures to play the outfield and serve as a designated hitter. The Angels are in negotiations to re-sign free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, and they might pursue free-agent outfielder Manny Ramirez should Teixeira sign elsewhere.

Rivera has a .282 batting average with 52 homers and 197 RBI in 333 games in his four years with the Angels. In his career, Rivera is hitting .284 with 72 homers and 278 RBI in 555 games.

He gets $3.25 million next season, $4.25 million in 2010 and $5.25 million in 2011.

Originally signed by the Yankees on April 5, 1996, Rivera played with New York from 2001-03 and the Montreal Expos in 2004, then was traded to the Angels with infielder Maicer Izturis for outfielder Jose Guillen on Nov. 10, 2004.

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/11182080/rss

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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Another team looking for a OF/DH type gone

Another lame player we were targeting gone

Sounds cool.

by joeybw on Dec 19, 2008 4:26 PM EST reply actions

Reds want Hairston, Taveras or Baldelli

Another team that takes another guy who is not one of our top targets? Hope it is true.

by joeybw on Dec 19, 2008 5:50 PM EST reply actions

Say they sign 1 of them

How many teams left to worry about?

I know Rays and Cubs are going after a OF/DH type but who else?

by joeybw on Dec 19, 2008 5:52 PM EST up reply actions

LA?

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 19, 2008 6:33 PM EST up reply actions

I assume you meant Dodgers but either way

I hope they just keep their players, Angels get Tex and Dodgers get Manny. Would work for us.

by joeybw on Dec 19, 2008 6:51 PM EST up reply actions

im actually kinda getting worried that manny signs with the yankees

im not worried that they signed sabathia and burnett since i kinda expected them to do so, but adding a top 10 player suck as manny would put some fear into me

everything Rays,Marlins,Twins and Reds
who needs k-rod for 37 million when you can have d-rod for 50k?
twins sign ty wigginton ASAP!!!!

by RaysOfHope on Dec 19, 2008 11:15 PM EST up reply actions

That defense would be hilarious

Assuming Matsui pretty much has to DH, you have an OF of Manny-Damon-Nady. Plus Jeter and Cano in that middle IF. The Yankees pitchers won’t be very happy.

"And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic..."

by Blicks on Dec 20, 2008 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

is that INF defense as bad as the rays in 2007? or possibly worse?

everything Rays,Marlins,Twins and Reds
who needs k-rod for 37 million when you can have d-rod for 50k?
twins sign ty wigginton ASAP!!!!

by RaysOfHope on Dec 23, 2008 9:08 PM EST up reply actions

I wouldn't mind getting Hairston here.

Not a name we’ve heard mentioned much, but he’d be a good platoon partner for Joyce. Of course, the risk there is that he sucked for years before last year, and he could easily go back to sucking again, but he’s a competent defender, plus he could back up MIF in a pinch. The main issue is that I’m not sure Ben Zobrist doesn’t do the same thing better than he does. IIRC, the stats say his corner outfield defense is actually quite good, and that’s despite him running a number of really bad routes having never played OF before. If he’s practicing outfield defense in the offseason, and he can hit in line with what might be expected based on his minor league numbers, then he might not be a bad option for the righty-half of the platoon, or at least an option.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Dec 19, 2008 7:20 PM EST up reply actions