The Angels are expected to make an early splash at the winter meetings today when they announce the signing of center fielder Steve Finley to a two-year contract with an option for a third year, a deal that eliminates the Angels from the Carlos Beltran Sweepstakes but leaves them in better position to bolster their rotation.
General Manager Bill Stoneman did not return calls Thursday night, but baseball sources confirmed that Finley, who helped key the Dodgers' National League West title run after July's trade from Arizona, had spurned the Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers to sign with the Angels.
The deal, believed to guarantee the 39-year-old Finley between $15 million and $20 million over two years, will go a long way toward filling the power void left by the departures of left fielder Jose Guillen and third baseman Troy Glaus and should give the Angels one of baseball's most formidable outfields, with Vladimir Guerrero, the American League most valuable player, in right and Garret Anderson in left.
"I think it's a better outfield than we had last year," said Tim Salmon, the Angel veteran who will sit out most of 2005 while recovering from knee and shoulder surgery. "Garret did an admirable job in center, but I think his natural position is left. And offensively, [Finley] gives us one more good solid bat. He still has some sock."
The deal also leaves the Angels in good financial position to pursue such top-notch free-agent pitchers as Carl Pavano, Matt Clement, Russ Ortiz and possibly Pedro Martinez, and to possibly make another run at Arizona ace Randy Johnson, whom the Angels tried to acquire in July.
If the Angels are to keep their 2005 payroll in the $100-million range or less, a target owner Arte Moreno has mentioned on several occasions, they would have about $20 million to allocate to new players this winter. Had they continued to pursue Beltran, who could cost $15 million a year or more, they would have had no more than $5 million left for other players.
By signing Finley, who hit .271 with 36 home runs and 94 runs batted in last season, the Angels will have at least another $10 million to play with, which would be enough to sign just about any of the free-agent pitchers remaining on the market.
"They have holes to fill," said one source familiar with the Angels' thinking. "You don't want to back yourself into a corner with one signing."
