Angels are stuck with Matthews


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For the kids out there, here's what we're talking about: OMG!!! GMJ? YBS. ;-o

Matthews' signing would be the worst decision in team history except for the fact the Angels once allowed Nolan Ryan to get away. Walt Disney Co.'s choice to dress the players in periwinkle also was more unsightly — literally.

The Angels committed $80 million to Mo Vaughn and then watched him fall into the dugout on opening day. But at least Vaughn hit 69 homers and drove in 225 runs in the two seasons he did play here.

They also invested $18 million in middle reliever Justin Speier and then last season told him to please go away. But at least Speier had one year in which he was a vital piece of the bullpen.

They also thought adding Gary Gaetti was a good idea and then paid him $3 million in 1993 to play for Kansas City and another $3 million in 1994 to play for the Royals. But at least Gaetti didn't attach the initials "HGH" to Angels lore.

So now General Manager Tony Reagins can't talk to anyone, can't go anywhere without dragging along Matthews and that $23 million, which should be paid in pennies to illustrate how heavy the salary hangs on this team's neck.

You want Matt Holliday here? You want Chone Figgins and John Lackey back? You want Arte Moreno to just throw around money like he owns New York? The city, we mean, not just the Yankees.

Sure it's easy to spend Arte's cash, particularly when we aren't Arte. But he didn't make a bunch of money by tossing bunches away, although he is the one who ultimately signed off on Matthews. So what was he thinking — or drinking — that day?

Eventually, the Angels likely will have to give Matthews to another team and pay most, if not all, of the $23 million. This will free them of the player, but not his presence, Matthews remaining an Angel for two days a month — the 1st and 15th.

Just think what $23 million could buy this team right now. That's money that could make Reagins look very smart and Scioscia downright brilliant. Shoot, the Angels could sign LeBron James for a season if they wanted, just, you know, for the heck of it.

Instead, they're left dragging around an outrageously overpriced backup outfielder they don't want and who doesn't want them.

Say this much, at least, for the first time since he became an Angel, Gary Matthews Jr. really is having a major impact.


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