MLB Special – Los Angeles Angels search for a new catcher
The Los Angeles Angels have started preparing for the next Major League Baseball season as their search for a potential new catcher has picked-up extra pace.
Recently, some newspapers have speculated that the Angels’ management is getting more anxious to acquire a catcher for strengthening the roster against tough opponents. Currently the Angels have three catchers Hank Conger, Jeff Mathis and Bobby Wilson in
their 40-man roster but these three struggled last season that impacted the Angels with several bitter defeats.
Not only did these defeats result in sacking of then general manager Tony Reagins but it also alarmed the top executives of the franchise that they must do something special in order to bring more stability in the team next season.
However, the Angels hired a new GM Tony Dipoto and gave him a slightly difficult task to sign a new catcher for the franchise. His experience in MLB is known to everyone and he started working as soon as he was assigned the duty.
On his hiring, the Angels’ owner Arte Moreno said in a statement which reflected the very admiration for Dipoto of Moreno, “At the outset of this process, we felt it was important to find an individual who can evaluate talent, manage our entire baseball
operations system, incorporate analytical thinking and possesses solid communication skills, I believe with the hiring of Jerry we have done just that."
In response to Moreno’s statement, Dipoto also made some commitments for the next five seasons and promised he will try his best to develop a friendly relationship with all the players.
Dipoto said, “What a thrill this is, I am excited and honored to be part of one of the premier franchises in baseball.; it has catapulted the Angels into one of the top organizations in baseball.”
The new assignment of finding a new catcher is a difficult task but Dipoto took it with confidence and huge excitement. According to some reports he has already interviewed with some of the very best catchers from different countries. Some Japanese, Hungarian
and Cuban players are now on the line to be called officially for a team interview but still this news has not been disclosed in the media.
However, one player, the Boston Red Sox catcher Ryan Hanigan is looking as a favourite heading into the Angels’ roster. Though other options are still on the table but having played in the Major League Hanigan somehow is in a more favourable position to
be acquired by the Angels’ management in the next few weeks.
To acquire a new catcher means that the Angels also will trade some of their players. It’s looking obvious now that the trade will involve Jeff Mathis, Hank Conger and Bobby Wilson.
This is also a possibility that the Angels go for a separate trade and purchase one or two players but this is by far speculation since the franchise’s poor financial condition will not let the Angels to purchase a player worth millions. It will be interesting
to see who the Angels get to be their catcher during Spring Training and the all important regular season. The
views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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