So long GMJ

[ZYouL8R]

Report: Matthews, Angels agree to 5-year, $50M dealESPN.com news services


Gary Matthews Jr. is staying in the AL West, but not with the Texas Rangers.


According to a report in the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday, the free-agent center fielder agreed to a five-year, $50 million deal with the Angels.

"The bottom line is everybody's pleased with the deal," Matthews' agent, Scott Leventhal, told the Times. "The fact that Gary has Los Angeles roots, to be able to play for the Angels is an absolute dream come true. He couldn't be happier."

Matthews -- who hit .313 with 19 homers, 79 RBI, 102 runs and 44 doubles and had a .371 on-base percentage last season -- made his decision after a lunch meeting Tuesday with Angels manager Mike Scioscia and GM Bill Stoneman, according to the Times.

"The opportunity to be home and to play for a winning team would be very, very attractive to me," Matthews told the Times on Tuesday. "Being a California guy, to see where the organization came from--a few years ago they weren't drawing well, and now they pack the house every night. The fans really get into it, and it's great to be in that atmosphere."

[46Tbird]

"The opportunity to be home and to play for a winning team would be very, very attractive to me," Matthews told the Times on Tuesday. LMAO.

Best of luck to ya.

Rangers have a history of grooming really great players, but will always - ALWAYS - be a hopelessly mediocre team.

[RyanB]

You knew Tom Hicks wasn't going to spend 10M a year on GMJ. Arte Moreno was going to outspend Hicks from the start, I'm glad Jon Daniels made some contingency plans.

[cool cat]

That seems like a lot of money for a guy his age, and with those numbers. Good for him though.

[Geor!]

You knew Tom Hicks wasn't going to spend 10M a year on GMJ. Arte Moreno was going to outspend Hicks from the start, I'm glad Jon Daniels made some contingency plans.
I don't see how Hicks can build a great team in the Stars but refuses to do so in the Rangers. It's time to say good riddance to that imbecile.

[That_Is_My_El_Camino]

That seems like a lot of money for a guy his age, and with those numbers. Good for him though.It's probably as much, if not more, for what he does in the outfield than for what he does at the plate.

[robs85stang5.0]

wow rangers still have a team and play baseball? i thought they were gone? i heard they suck more balls then a gay guy would? :rolleyes:

[Hollywood]

Ranger fans should be thankful. Angels' just over paid for a guy who's old and has had only one good season. This time next year everyone will be laughing at this deal.

[Hollywood]

wow rangers still have a team and play baseball? i thought they were gone? i heard they suck more balls then a gay guy would? :rolleyes:

But if they were winning i'd bet you'd be first in line to exclaim how you've been a Rangers fan since the beginning. :rolleyes:

[robs85stang5.0]

But if they were winning i'd bet you'd be first in line to exclaim how you've been a Rangers fan since the beginning. :rolleyes:

nah i'm not a fan of the rangers so i dont really care. but one thing for sure is some offered that kind of money hell i'll do it too. :D

[That_Is_My_El_Camino]

Ranger fans should be thankful. Angels' just over paid for a guy who's old and has had only one good season. This time next year everyone will be laughing at this deal.Sure. They (the Rangers) will get/keep the shitty old guys (Stairs, Lee, Millwood, etc.), but they won't keep a halfway decent old guy.

[Hollywood]

Sure. They (the Rangers) will get/keep the shitty old guys (Stairs, Lee, Millwood, etc.), but they won't keep a halfway decent old guy.

Why would you want to pay that much for a guy who's only put together one good season?

[That_Is_My_El_Camino]

I was just noting that Texas seems to like old, washed up guys; if they were going to go with an old guy, why not a halfway decent old guy?

[mustang_marc]

Rangers lost another big bat today. Carlos Lee signed with the Astros for 6yrs/$100 million. Looks like some guys are using Texas on their way to a big pay day. If these guys are getting these kinds of contracts, imagine what Mark Teixeira would get on the open market if he decides to walk next year. On top of that, he's got Scott Boras for an agent.

[def1eppard]

I'm sad, but there's no way he can reproduce that season. If he does, slap me. I'm ready to bring in Dave Roberts for some fucking speed.