Buzz: Angels soliciting offers for OF Juan Rivera, Byrd Draws Interest
Posted at 1:31 pm:
“The Angels are thought to be dangling OF Juan Rivera as they pursue free-agent OF Jason Bay,” writes Jon Heyman, in a report for SI.com.
The 31–year-old Rivera will earn $4.25 million next season, $5.25 million in 2011, after which he can become a free agent.
He hit .287 with a .332 OBP, 25 HR, 24 doubles and 88 RBI in 138 games for the Angels last season, while playing left and right field.
Last month, Ken Davidoff in Newsday said the Tigers and Angels had been discussed sending OF Curtis Granderson from Detroit to Los Angeles, where he would play left field, meaning the Angels would then look to trade Rivera.
… in October, i asked some friends who are Angels fans about rivera, and they say he has a very strong arm and is better than people think on defense… he plays hard, he has surprising power and he hits left-handed pitching well… but, he can also go in to massive slumps, he comes up with all sorts of bizarre injuries…
Similarly, Heyman says free agent OF Marlon Byrd is drawing interest from the Braves, Cubs and Mariners.
Last month, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com said it is unlikely Byrd will return to the Rangers next season.
According to Sullivan, Rangers GM Jon Daniels spoke with the agent for Byrd, and Daniels told Sullivan that the Rangers are not interested in bringing Byrd back based on what he currently looking for in a contract.
Byrd, 32, hit .283 with a .329 OBP with 20 HR, 43 doubles and 89 RBI in 146 games for Texas last season.
To read more from Heyman, who writes about the market for Matt Holliday, Bay, and Ivan Rodriguez, and whether the Red Sox will pursue Padres 1B Adrian Gonzalez, click here.
