Angels Feast on Prime Free Agent

On a day where the theme is giving, the Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim) have gotten into the spirit by giving stud free agent centerfielder Torri "Highlight Reel" Hunter the gravy in the form of a fat 5 year contract estimated to be anywhere from 80 to 90 mil. This is certainly the biggest splash of the offseason so far, especially since nobody saw it coming. Hunter said that even he was surprised to learn just a few days ago that the Angels were interested.

So what does this deal mean? Well, it means that the Angels are by far the best team in the AL West after adding Jon Garland and now Torri Hunter, both in the last week. It means that they're team is now better than they were last year when they won the division. Even if the Angels stop making moves now and go into next season with what they have, they will be extremely tough to beat. But if you think new GM Tony Reagins is about to go cold turkey, think again. The offseason has just begun and already there are rumors that the Angels excess talent will allow them to make a trade with the Marlins for superstar third baseman Miguel Cabrera. Names like Juan Rivera, Reggie Willits, and Casey Kotchman may come up in the coming weeks as likely candidates to be shipped off to hell, I mean Florida, if a Cabrera deal gains momentum.

So the Angels have made the first move. If it would have been the Yankees, the Redsox would be next to land a marquee name. Seattle GM Bill Bavasi needs to, has to, MUST do something soon. We can't wait until the end of the offseason to pick on everyone's leftovers. I don't know what Bavasi is brewing up, but I do know this: If the Angels trade for Miguel Cabrera, hopes of the Mariners being AL West champs in 2008 are as good as gone.