The Los Angeles Angels offseason spending spree appears to have come to an end, as general manager Jerry DiPoto told reporters that ‘his team has reached the limits of their payroll flexibility’. According to Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com, this means that any moves the Angels make ‘in the coming months likely would have to come via trades rather than free agency’.
DiPoto told reporters that his club has “addressed the areas we wanted to address coming into the offseason”, noting the Angels “significant level of economic change” from last year. At this point, DiPoto said that the Angels will now have to use “creative ways” if they are to make any other additions to their roster.
Saxon reports that, after signing free agents Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson and LaTroy Hawkins this offseason, the Angels are set to enter 2012 with a payroll in the $160 million range, approximately $20 million higher than last season’s franchise record-setting mark.
While DiPoto’s announcement makes it extremely unlikely that the Angels sign free agent closer Ryan Madson, questions still surround the futures of first basemen Mark Trumbo and Kendrys Morales.
Many expected the addition of Pujols to make Trumbo and Morales expendable this offseason. However, DiPoto has recently said that, at least when it comes to Trumbo, he views the players as assets and not trade chips.
Friday, DiPoto reiterated this sentiment but didn’t entirely shut the door on a future move, noting that the Angels would “have to have a fairly compelling reason” to move either Trumbo or Morales. DiPoto hinted that a trade could still be in the cards by adding “there are scenarios” in which one could envision Trumbo or Morales becoming available.
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