The BIG TRADE is confirmed.

The first step before a big Thanksgiving announcement?

Update: Cabrera 2008 salary = $9Million, Garland = $12 Million. Both are in their walk year.

I don't know if anyone has seen this yet but Huston Street has been put on the DL with irritation of the ulnar nerve.  This DL stint could be two to three months based on similar injuries to other pitchers.   As if things couldn't get worse in Choaktown they are now going to have to be without their closer to add to the list of injuries.  The Angels are better equipped to deal with their own injuries but they also need to put the A's away NOW.

1.    Brandon Wood, ss
2.    Nick Adenhart, rhp
3.    Erick Aybar, ss
4.    Young-Il Jung, rhp
5.    Stephen Marek, rhp
6.    Hank Conger, c
7.    Jeff Mathis, c
8.    Sean Rodriguez, ss/2b
9.    Sean O'Sullivan, rhp
10.    Tommy Mendoza, rhp

A question on the ranking of Jung at #3:

Q:       Sean from Irvine, CA asks:
What makes Jung No.3 prospect over the likes of Marek and Conger etc without throwing one pro pitch? Is he that good or the Angels system is really that thin? His pitching repertoire doesn't appear to be that amazing to me according to your scouting report either.
 A:     

Alan Matthews: I put my $%#!* on the line a little here, as I'm sure there are a lot of people who saw Jung's ranking and raised a brow. I had the benefit of seeing him pitch in instructional league, and the combination of poise and feel, as well as flashes of above-average secondary stuff and a heavy, lively fastball overwhelmed me. I had a hard time believing he was 17, especially because he is physcially mature, with thick thighs and broad, strong shoulders. It would have been "safer" to slide him in the back of the 10 and wait to see how he performed in his debut, but my objective is to list the top 10 players in the system, in order of impact potential with likelihood of reaching that potential, and I believe Jung is a workhorse No. 2 or 3 starter, and that profile justified his ranking.

Matthews also stated that he doesn't see Dallas as a productive player on a championship team and Matt Brown didn't crack the Halo top 30.  Woody looks like the only real option at 3B that is currently a member of the  organization.

The Angels have agreed to a four year deal with Speier to add a little more quality depth to the pen.  This report is on ESPn.com per Gammons.

This is much better than the last bullpen signing of Mr. Carrasshole.  

to KG and/or Donkey see ya!

300300300300300300300300300300300300300300300300
300300300300300300300300300300300300300300300300

Provide your offseason wishlist.  If you are going to mention players that are currently under contract explain what will need to happen in order for them to end up in LAoA.

Here is my list:

Daisuke Matsuzaka SP Seibu Lions
He will most likely be the prize of the FA market but will come with an impressive price tag.
It is thought that it will $15 to $20 million posting price to earn the right to negotiate with Matsuzaka but the WBC MVP looks like a good gamble.
You can catch some highlights on Youtube the guy is the man.

Vernon Wells CF Toronto
Wells has said he will discuss his future with the Toronto FO this offseason on his future including his FA after the 2007 season.
If he informs them that he would like to move on than the Angles will need to pony up along the lines of Brandon Wood to get the conversation started.
Toronto would also need to allow the Halos the opportunity to negotiate before a deal can be finalized.

Alex Rios CF/RF Toronto
If Wells decides that he will sign an extnesion to stay with the Jays than Rios may become available to help fill their need at SS possibly along the lines of young Mr. Aybar or maybe even Izturis but I would have to believe that Aybar is a much more attractive commodity.
Rios also began his career and at times still plays CF when Wells is out of the line up.

Joe Crede 3B ChiSox
This is an option that many of us have heard about but I am not a huge fan but it would be an upgrade.
It appears that Figgins could be a match but other parts would be necessary.
The downside to Crede is his bad back and his underperformance up until the 2005 playoffs and 2006 regular season. The main upside at this point would be his excellent defense and also a stabilizing force at 3B.
Sox are said to be looking to shed his salaray and give Josh Fields the chance to take the job.

Ray King LHP Colorado
King has an option for 2007 that the Rockies have been rumored to decline making King a FA after this season.
King is a solid but not spectacular lefty for the bullpen who has worked over 80 games a season on multiple occasions.
He would probably be nothing more than a LOOGY pitching in an American League bullpen.

Good news for the Angels as reported by BA in the new draft dish that was made available to subscribers today.

Not only did the Halos come to terms with 9th round pick Nate Boman (LHP) but they also added TWO high profile draft and follows to their watch list:

Jordan Walden (RHP) the 12th round pick and Jason Jarvis (RHP) the 25th round pick both bypassed their commitments to attend JC's and allow the opportunity for the Halos to sign them before the 2007 draft or reenter the 2007 draft.

Walden was considered a first round talent but struggled during his senior season and Jarvis was considered a top five round talent but was thought to have scared clubs off with high bonus demands.

It looks like I will be following Chandler-Gilber Arizona CC and Grayson (Texas) Junior College in 2007 in hopes that Eddie Bane and the Angels can work thier magic and swipe major talent through later-round gambles.

Jones was claimed by a team yesterday off of the waiver wire.  This gives the Braves and the undisclosed team a 48 hour period to work out a trade before the Braves would have to pull Andruw off of waivers to prevent losing him with out compensation.  There was a rumored deal to the Red Sox but the Angels had a waiver claim ahead of the Red Sox.  The deadline is tomorrow at 1 pm.