Angels GM Tony Reagins indicated that Bobby Abreu was one of the free agents the team had “targeted” this winter but “we didn’t know if we were going to be able to get anything done.”
That changed last week when Abreu said his agent, Peter Greenberg, called and initiated talks with the Angels in response to the lack of activity on the free agent market.
“It was tough,” Abreu said of waiting around for an offer. “It was my first time to be a free agent. I didn’t know it would be this way. I thought it would be November, December.
“I was looking at something multi-year but I do understand the economy situation everyone is going through. … It was a tough experience for me but, right now, I feel happy to have a job and the opportunity to make the playoffs with such a good team.”
Part 2
The newest Angel, Bobby Abreu, has played right field almost exclusively during the past 11 seasons. The last time he played left was during the 1997 season with the Houston Astros.
But he said he is ready and willing to make the move to left this season.
“That’s one of the things that I liked �" they told me right away they want me in left field because they have Vladdy in right field,” he said.
Abreu said he will have to put in “a lot of extra work” to make the transition.
He also said he does not anticipate playing DH more than “once in awhile.”
Part 3
Count Abreu as another Angel planning to play in the World Baseball Classic.
Abreu is on the Venezuelan roster for the international event this year and said he looks forward to playing again. He spoke with reporters while heading to the airport for a flight back to his native Venezuela (after taking his physical for the Angels in Southern California). He is expected to return to the United States for spring training next Tuesday or Wednesday.
Part 4
Angels GM Tony Reagins deferred any questions about where Bobby Abreu will fit in the Angels’ lineup to manager Mike Scioscia (who is in staff meetings all day in Tempe today). But Abreu clearly anticipates batting in front of Vladimir Guerrero, not behind him.
“I think I’ll like hitting in front of Vladdy,” Abreu said. “He’s one of the great hitters, hits a lot of balls into the gaps, a lot of home runs.
“To me and my type of game specifically, is to be on base and score some runs. I still have my speed.”
“Being in a lineup with Vladdy and Torii Hunter, those guys can drive in some runs. I feel I can do my thing like I’ve been doing my whole career �" get on base, steal some bases, score runs. So I think to be on base for Vladdy and Torii Hunter, we’re going to score some runs.”
Reagins mentioned Abreu’s patient approach at the plate (”he sees a lot of pitches”) and high on-base percentage (.405 for his career) a couple times during the conference call. Clearly, that was an element he and Scioscia felt the Angels’ lineup would be lacking with the departure of Mark Teixeira.
Here is the conference call Audio:
