|
 In a conference call with media, Freese said he got a welcoming
text from Pujols and responded with a reference to the 2011 World
Series: "Remember what we did the last time we played together?
Let's go try to do that again."
Freese didn't think his drop-off in production last season had
anything to do with the pressure of being the "hometown kid."
"Obviously, I'm a little sad closing this chapter, but I'm extremely
pumped about joining the Angels," Freese said. "If it was going to
go down, I wanted it to happen on a team like the Angels."
St. Louis obtained a new starting center fielder in Peter Bourjos,
plus outfield prospect Randal Grichuk. The Cardinals also sent
reliever Fernando Salas to the Angels.
"Overall, we just felt this was a very compelling deal to make,"
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said.
Freese's departure did not come as a surprise.
"I definitely would look myself in the mirror and say, 'Where am I
going to be in March?'" Freese said. "I was ready to go anywhere.
I'm excited to get this going."
The 30-year-old was the MVP of the 2011 NL championship series and
the World Series, setting a major league record with 21 postseason
RBIs and hitting a game-ending, 11th-inning home run in Game 6.
Freese injured his back chasing a foul ball into the stands during
spring training this year and never hit stride. He hit only .179 in
this year's postseason, going 3-for-19 (.158) with no RBIs in the
six-game loss to Boston in the World Series.
"David, growing up in St. Louis, this could not have been the
easiest place to play," Mozeliak said. "I do think he may be looking
forward to a fresh start. This was not an easy year for him."
Freese batted .262 with nine homers and 60 RBIs, a letdown from
career bests of 20 homers, 79 RBIs and a .293 average the previous
year. Freese made $3.15 million and is eligible for salary
arbitration.
"He knows how to drive in the important runs," Angels general
manager Jerry Dipoto said. "That's something that really fits in our
lineup."
The Angels were a match because they need a third baseman and Freese
didn't figure as the long-term solution at third for St. Louis. The
Cardinals will move second baseman Matt Carpenter to third, opening
a position for former top draft pick Kolten Wong.
Wong batted just .153 in 32 games last fall and was picked off first
base to end Game 4 of the World Series against the Red Sox. Mozeliak
said that was just a "snapshot" of Wong, who batted .303 with 20
steals in 21 chances at Triple-A Memphis.
"It gives Wong a clear shot," Mozeliak said. "I think he's going to
hit."
Pujols also played on the 2011 title team before signing a $240
million, 10-year deal with the Angels. Bourjos said Pujols called
him just before the start of a teleconference with St. Louis media
and Bourjos planned to call back later, adding, "I'm going to pick
his brain a little bit more, but I can't wait."
[to top of second column] |
The trade adds about $4 million to the payroll
of the Angels, who have yet to add starting pitching. Jason
Vargas left this week for a $32 million, four-year contract with
Kansas City.
The Angels haven't had an accomplished third baseman since Chone Figgins left after the 2009 — their last postseason
appearance. Their outfield next season is likely to be Josh
Hamiliton in left, Trout in center and Kole Calhoun in right.
Coming off their second World Series appearance in three years,
the Cardinals have shed more than $45 million in payroll with
Chris Carpenter, Carlos Beltran, Jake Westbrook, Rafael Furcal
and Edward Mujica also off the books.
The 28-year-old Salas had 24 saves in 2011, but did not have a
major role in the bullpen the last two years and spent part of
2013 in the minors. He was 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 27 games last
year.
The 26-year-old Bourjos, who bumps Jon Jay to the bench, was
supposed to be the Angels' everyday center fielder last year
after Los Angeles allowed Torii Hunter to leave and traded
Kendrys Morales. Trout was moved to left to accommodate Bourjos,
who is a better fielder.
"We did juggle some things around to make sure he got an
opportunity, and it didn't play out the way we hoped or the way
he hoped," Dipoto said.
Bourjos missed May with a hamstring strain, then broke his
right wrist when he was hit by a pitch in Houston on June 29. He
played just 55 games, said he was "getting real close" to full
strength.
A career .251 hitter with speed, Bourjos stole 41 bases in 54
attempts and was among AL leaders with 11 triples, 17 bunt hits
and 38 infield hits in 2011.
Allen Craig will move to right field next year, making room for
slugger Matt Adams at first base, with Matt Holliday in left
field. Top prospect Oscar Taveras is expected to make the team
but without the pressure of starting in center field.
The 22-year-old Grichuk was the 24th overall selection in the
2009 amateur draft, one ahead of Mike Trout, and starred at
Double-A Arkansas last season. Dipoto said Grichuk likely would
have begun next season at the Triple-A level.
"There's still some growing he needs to do at the plate, but
Randal has the upside to play at the major league level," Dipoto
said. "I hope he ends up a major league player."
Grichuk had 57 extra-base hits, including a team-leading 22
homers that ranked sixth in the Texas League. He batted leadoff
the majority of the time and made two errors in the outfield,
playing center and right field. Grichuk has a .284 average with
61 homers and 259 RBIs in 433 minor league games. [Associated
Press; R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer]
AP Sports Writer Greg
Beacham contributed to this report.
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