Like a kid finding socks beneath the brightly colored wrapping paper on Christmas morning, Angels fans once again felt short-changed on Saturday after baseball’s trade deadline passed.
Since 2005, it seems Los Angeles has been in the market for another big bat to bolster their lineup. Only once did they succeed.
In 2008, Tony Reagins made a splash in his first year as general manager when he landed the highly prized Mark Teixeira for first baseman Casey Kotchman and a minor league pitcher.
The move was seen as a bold step, not to make the playoffs, but to get deeper into them.
At the time of the acquisition, the Angels were already 10 games up in the AL West.
This year, they are eight games back of the Texas Rangers, perhaps the reason for their unwillingness to do what it takes to bring another Teixeira into the mix.
Because, although Tex himself was not on the block this year, there was certainly no shortage power-hitting, game-changing names out there, ripe for the plucking.
Before we examine the trades this team could have or should have made, it must be said that one guy is not all that’s missing from the Angels’ lineup.
Bobby Abreu, Hideki Matsui, Juan Rivera, and Jeff Mathis all have to step up at the plate before the Angels can hope to make the playoffs.
Still, the threat of a little pop in the batting order couldn’t hurt.
It also should be noted that Reagins did come through with a big trade before the deadline, swapping Joe Saunders for Dan Haren. He’s a tremendous addition to the rotation and has a career batting average over .300.
Too bad pitchers in the American League don’t hit.
With that, I give you the top five trades the Angels failed to make at the 2010 MLB trade deadline.