Angels Abreu Signing Next Best Thing after losing Teixeira to the Yankees.

The California Angels desperately needed that one hitter in the middle of their 2009 line-up that knows how to take pitches. The Angeles second half season acquisition of Mark Teixeira in 2008 actually seemed to help the hitters around him adjust to the concept of taking more pitches and being just a bit more selective.

Vladimir Guerrero appeared to benefit greatly from having Teixeira in the line-up last year. Bobby Abreu will probably hit behind Kendry Morales and in front of Vlad, and that is probably the perfect table setting for the Angels. Perhaps the only criticism I have for the Angels is not making a play for an additional year for Abreu beyond the 2009 season.

If Abreu proves a solid addition for the Angels in 2009, the Angels will be stuck a year from now with perhaps nobody who can do what Abreu does when it comes to on base percentage and who can play the outfield. I would have offered Abreu a second year at 8 million with a 1.5 million buyout.

Either way, the Angels are starting to get up in age and they appear to be log jammed in the outfield with over 30 year old players and little room for younger players to get playing time. At least the Angels have been able to use the DH to "rest" their veteran outfielders, a strategy that helped sustain them last year through a myriad of outfield injuries.