By Joe McDonnell, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter -
San Diego, CA -- Angels' General Manager Jerry Dipoto shot down reports that his team was actively trying to trade lefthanded starter C.J. Wilson,
"We've talked to one team," Dipoto said at Baseball's Winter Meetings in San Diego, CA.. "And they called us. We've not been shopping C.J. at a reduced price to any team.
"He's one of the hardest working players that I've ever seen and I'm sure he'll refocus and pitch well in 2015."
Rumors were rampant in the days leading up to the Winter Meetings that the Halos might make a big splash at baseball's winter showcase--again. Various reports had them in the Max Scherzer, Jon Lester or James Shields sweepstakes. Any one of them would cost the Angels a boatload of money, and to do it they would need rid themselves of Wilson and his remaining 38 million dollars in salary over the next two years. According to Dipoto that's just a bad rumor....
For you fans who think the Angels will get a big name player such as Albert Pujols or Josh Hamilton, think again.
"We're probably going to sign a player before the Winter Meetings are over," the GM said. "But it's going to be a complimentary piece for our team." Dipoto said this off-season will be spent finding players "who fit in with what we're trying to do."
Jerry Dipoto said he's fine with the depth of the pitching staff and that the Angels are a very good team offensively and defensively. So, Halo fans, don't expect a lot of big news from San Diego.
Unless Dipoto and owner Arte Moreno are smoke-screening us like they did before signing Pujols and Hamilton. Stay tuned....
Winter Meetings are usually full of rumors, but the first day has been without a lot of excitement. The usual stuff is being talked about--the Dodgers are trying to trade Matt Kemp and the Padres are making a hard push for the outfielder. The Washington Nationals are still trying to trade Jordan Zimmerman, but would prefer to sign the outstanding righthander to a contract extension according to GM MIke Rizzo. The Angels are shopping C.J. Wilson--just kidding. Supposedly Jon Lester has narrowed his choices to the Giants and Cubs. But insiders say the Dodgers could step in at any minute and grab the lefthander. That's reminiscent of what the Halos did in 2011 when they came in at the last minute and talked Pujols into Anaheim over Miami.....