Daver
12-15-2001, 01:52 PM
Of the Erstad trade.
Ken Rosenthal
The Sporting News
BOSTON -- White Sox general manager Ken Williams stood in the lobby of the Boston Sheraton on Tuesday night, trying to contain his excitement. Williams sensed that he was on the verge of a major deal, and though he wouldn't disclose the particulars, he could barely suppress a smile.
Williams was on the verge of a major deal -- righthander Jon Garland, outfielder Chris Singleton and two minor leaguers to the Angels for outfielder Darin Erstad. But the trade collapsed Wednesday night because it was vetoed by Angels ownership, White Sox sources said.
What were the Angels thinking?
Erstad, 28, is virtually certain to depart as a free agent at the end of next season. Garland, 22, is a potential top-of-the-rotation starter. Singleton, 29, is a serviceable center fielder. And the two minor leaguers, presumably mid-level prospects, should only have added to the package's appeal.
Even with Erstad, the Angels won't reach the postseason. They would have been fine with an outfield of Singleton, Tim Salmon and Garrett Anderson. Garland would have joined what already is one of the most talented rotations in the league and remained under the Angels' control for the next five years.
Erstad, meanwhile, would have fulfilled the White Sox's need for a leadoff hitter/center fielder. His combined on-base/slugging percentage (OPS) dropped from .950 in 2000 to .691 last season, but his off-year likely was an aberration. He would have made the White Sox the team to beat in the AL Central.
The moment Disney sells the Angels the better. Ownership rejected a trade that arguably was in its favor, a trade that its general manager, Bill Stoneman, wanted to make. Just call it Chapter 612 in that long-running saga, "Why the Angels have never made it to the World Series
Ken Rosenthal
The Sporting News
BOSTON -- White Sox general manager Ken Williams stood in the lobby of the Boston Sheraton on Tuesday night, trying to contain his excitement. Williams sensed that he was on the verge of a major deal, and though he wouldn't disclose the particulars, he could barely suppress a smile.
Williams was on the verge of a major deal -- righthander Jon Garland, outfielder Chris Singleton and two minor leaguers to the Angels for outfielder Darin Erstad. But the trade collapsed Wednesday night because it was vetoed by Angels ownership, White Sox sources said.
What were the Angels thinking?
Erstad, 28, is virtually certain to depart as a free agent at the end of next season. Garland, 22, is a potential top-of-the-rotation starter. Singleton, 29, is a serviceable center fielder. And the two minor leaguers, presumably mid-level prospects, should only have added to the package's appeal.
Even with Erstad, the Angels won't reach the postseason. They would have been fine with an outfield of Singleton, Tim Salmon and Garrett Anderson. Garland would have joined what already is one of the most talented rotations in the league and remained under the Angels' control for the next five years.
Erstad, meanwhile, would have fulfilled the White Sox's need for a leadoff hitter/center fielder. His combined on-base/slugging percentage (OPS) dropped from .950 in 2000 to .691 last season, but his off-year likely was an aberration. He would have made the White Sox the team to beat in the AL Central.
The moment Disney sells the Angels the better. Ownership rejected a trade that arguably was in its favor, a trade that its general manager, Bill Stoneman, wanted to make. Just call it Chapter 612 in that long-running saga, "Why the Angels have never made it to the World Series