ANAHEIM ANGELS
Acquired OF-R Alex Ochoa and C-R Sal Fasano from the Brewers for C-L Jorge Fabregas and two PTBNLs. [7/31]
This was an elegant, if low-key, solution to the Angels’ need for some hitting help, depending of course on the likelihood that neither of the PTBNLs are significant prospects. Those odds are pretty low, since the Angels don’t have that many significant prospects in the first place, and they did only get a couple of journeymen. To purge Jorge Fabregas from the roster is a happy development in itself, and beyond that, they get the fourth outfielder they need and a third catcher who makes for a viable option to either of the Molina brothers.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Traded CF-L Kenny Lofton to the Giants for RHP Felix Diaz and LHP Ryan Meaux. [7/28]
Kenny Williams’ strategy with Kenny Lofton wasn’t unsound, at least the initial part of it. Sign a veteran down on his luck for a low price and a one-year contract. If you contend with him, that’s great, you have the financial flexibility to help yourself down the stretch. If you don’t, he’s cheap and therefore interesting to other contenders. If he doesn’t hit, then you didn’t spend all that much money.
ANAHEIM ANGELS
Activated RHP Troy Percival from the DL; optioned RHP Lou Pote to Salt Lake. [7/26]
With Troy Percival back, the Angels are in the happy state of having too many relievers doing well at once, with the additional good fortune that several of them have options. Lou Pote loses out not because he’s pitched badly, but because the current hot hands in the pen are Brendan Donnelly, Scot Shields and Ben Weber, and Al Levine just got back from the DL himself. The last slot in the pen is taken by lone lefty Scott Schoeneweis, at least until Dennis Cook comes back off of the DL. Unless Schoeneweis is made somebody else’s fourth starter, he has to stick around. Cook had been doing well as the pen’s left-hander, and Schoeneweis has not, which creates some impetus to make a deal.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Activated 1B/OF-L Chris Richard from the DL; optioned OF-R Luis Matos to Rochester. [7/24]
Cancelled Richard’s recall/reactivation; announced they would recall 2B-B Brian Roberts from Rochester on Friday. [7/25]
Skip the decisiveness, we’re back in business as Akbar’s House of Waffletastic Indecision.
Chris Richard managed to reinjure himself in his last game in Rochester, so Brian Roberts got a reprieve for blowing his previous opportunity to be recalled by not having his passport handy. That brings us back to the same point we were at before Roberts got sent down, which is that the Orioles will flim-flam their way through their second-base situation, wallowing through a non-choice between Roberts and Jerry Hairston Jr. It could be worse, because it has been–they could keep finding ways to get Luis Lopez into the lineup. Assuming that finishing close to .500 or keeping third place are actual (versus worthwhile) goals, this doesn’t really help realize either of them.
ANAHEIM ANGELS
Placed RHP Al Levine on the 15-day DL (shoulder tendinitis), retroactive to 6/27; recalled RHP John Lackey from Salt Lake. [6/28]
I don’t disagree with the idea of bringing up John Lackey to move into the rotation. Lackey is the organization’s best upper-level prospect, and he’s obviously ready to go.