Source: Abreu, Angels agree to dealComment Email Print Share By Jerry Crasnick
ESPN.com
Archive Bobby Abreu has reached preliminary agreement on a one-year contract with the
Los Angeles Angels, a baseball source said. The Angels expect to announce the contract once Abreu passes a physical exam, which was scheduled for Wednesday, and the team clears a spot on the 40-man roster.
Fantasy: Heavenly Outcome?
The rest of the Angels lineup might benefit more with Bobby Abreu's arrival than Abreu will himself, Tristan Cockcroft writes.
BlogIt's believed that Abreu will make about $5 million in base salary, and there will be additional, undisclosed incentives that would bring the total value closer to the $8 million that Abreu was seeking.
Foxsports.com reported Tuesday -- and two baseball sources confirmed -- that the Angels will make room for Abreu by taking pitcher
Nick Green off the 40-man roster.
The Angels signed outfielder
Juan Rivera to a three-year, $12.75 million deal in December, but the departure of
Mark Teixeira and
Garret Anderson through free agency has left general manager Reagins with the flexibility to add a bat. Abreu, a .300 career hitter in 13 seasons with the
Houston Astros,
Philadelphia Phillies and
New York Yankees, would help upgrade an Angels lineup that ranked 10th in the American League in runs and OPS in 2008.
Abreu's financial aspirations have taken a hit because of the soft economy and surplus of left-handed bats available.
Adam Dunn,
Ken Griffey Jr.,
Jim Edmonds, Anderson and
Luis Gonzalez are among the other veteran lefty hitters still looking for jobs.
It was believed that Abreu was seeking a three-year, $48 million deal after filing for free agency in November.
The Braves have also expressed serious interest in Abreu, but sources said Atlanta's budget is so tight that general manager Frank Wren would have to stretch to give him a $5 million salary.
The
Los Angeles Dodgers,
Cincinnati Reds,
Chicago White Sox and
New York Mets are among the other clubs that have been mentioned in conjunction with Abreu. But none of those teams advanced beyond the exploratory phase.
This year Abreu joined
Barry Bonds and
Rickey Henderson as the only players to amass 200 homers and 300 stolen bases while maintaining a .400 on-base percentage. Abreu is also one of five players with 100 RBIs and 100 runs scored in each of the past two seasons. The others:
Chase Utley,
Adrian Gonzalez,
David Wright and
Alex Rodriguez.
Jerry Crasnick covers Major League Baseball for ESPN.com.Source: Bobby Abreu agrees to deal with Los Angeles Angels - ESPN
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