Update: Angels, Erick Aybar Agree to Extension

[vladdy#27]

The Angels opened extension talks with the agents for second baseman Howie Kendrick and shortstop Erick Aybar, GM Jerry Dipoto told Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times. Both infielders are entering their final year of arbitration, but Dipoto has interest in keeping them in Anaheim beyond 2012.

“At this point, it’s something we’ve begun to explore and will continue to explore,” Dipoto said. “There is no timetable, but certainly, it’s something we’re interested in pursuing.”

Kendrick, a 28-year-old Reynolds Sports Management client, posted a .285/.338/.464 line with a career-best 18 homers in 2011. MLBTR projects a $5.2MM salary for him in 2012. That's $500K more than Aybar, who comes in at $4.7MM in our projections. SFX represents the 27-year-old Aybar, who posted a .279/.322/.421 line with 30 stolen bases as the Angels' shortstop in 2011.

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[vladdy#27]

I would give Aybar something close to what Alexei Ramirez got, 4 years 32.5M

I would give Kendrick something around 4 years 36M

[GardenGrove]

More than anything I like this because it shows Dipoto is proactive in keeping our good players long term. I don't like Aybar that much, but extending him at a good price would be fine by me. You can do a lot worse at SS than Aybar.

[vladdy#27]

Lack of batting titles aside, Howie Kendrick has developed into a solid homegrown star for the Halos. The 28-year-old is coming off the finest of his six Major League seasons (a career-high 18 homers and a .285/.338/.464 slash line) and with free agency just a season away, the Angels are looking to lock Kendrick up to a multiyear extension. The Angels have certainly not hesitated to spend money this winter, so let's examine how much it might cost them to sign Kendrick for the long term.

Kendrick turns 29 on July 12 and is entering his last year of arbitration eligibility, where MLBTR projects he will earn around $5.2MM for his 2012 contract. Rickie Weeks is a decent comparable; he was about to enter his age-28 season and his final round of arbitration last spring when the Brewers signed him to a four-year, $38.5MM extension that also included an $11.5MM vesting option for 2015 based on plate appearances. A similar vesting option might be preferred by the Angels, given Kendrick's spotty injury history early in his career.

Weeks' value is in his power and his ability to take walks, whereas Kendrick delivers a higher batting average powered by singles and doubles. Despite these different skillsets, Weeks (106 OPS+ through 642 career games) and Kendrick (105 OPS+ through 655 games) delivered almost the same offensive value through the same point in their careers.

Brian Roberts is another second baseman worth including in this comparison. Roberts had a 98 OPS+ through the first 665 games of his career but his offensive value was boosted by 136 career steals and the best single-season performance of the trio --- a .314/.387/.515 campaign in 2005. Roberts avoided his second time through arbitration by signing a $4.2MM contract for 2007 and a month later inked a two-year, $14.3MM extension that covered both his final arb year and his first free-agent year. The Angels will surely want to extend Kendrick for more than just two years, so perhaps Roberts' next extension (a four-year, $40MM deal that runs through 2013) could be the better model.

There are two other factors that weigh against Kendrick. Firstly, he has yet to enjoy the true superstar campaign that Roberts enjoyed in 2005 or Weeks had in 2010; while Kendrick certainly played well in 2011, his .338 BABIP suggests he enjoyed some good luck along the way. Kendrick's career .329 OBP is also a red flag as to whether or not he can still develop the patience necessary to be a real force at the plate.

Secondly, Roberts and Weeks were the clear choice at second base for their respective clubs, whereas Kendrick has to contend with Jean Segura. Segura was rated as the 57th best prospect in baseball by Baseball America prior to the 2011 season and Minor League Ball's John Sickels rated him the third-best prospect in the Angels' system in his most recent rankings. Segura was moved to shortstop in 2011 and, according to Sickels, "adapted well...although I've talked with people who think he'll still end up at 2B." Should L.A. decide that Segura is best served at second, Kendrick could be moved to third base or left field, where his bat won't play nearly as well. With all this said, Segura is still just 21 years old and hasn't played higher than the high Class-A level. When and if the time Segura is ready for the Major Leagues, Kendrick's extension might already be up.

Let's project Kendrick for a four-year deal that covers his last arbitration season and his first four free agent seasons. Kendrick can receive $4.5MM in 2012 (slightly below Matt Swartz's projection but teams usually get a bit of a discount on arb years in multiyear contracts), then $11MM in each of the following three seasons. It all adds up to a four-year, $37.5MM contract that LAA may consider augmenting with a club option year as well.

Would such an extension be worth it for Kendrick? An $11MM average annual value would roughly match what Kendrick would get on the open market next winter if he replicates his 2011 numbers this season. The free agent second base market is usually pretty thin, though the 2013 crop could also see Brandon Phillips and Kelly Johnson available (barring something unforeseen, Robinson Cano and Ian Kinsler will obviously have their options exercised).

Kendrick hasn't made his thoughts about an extension known, but one would think he would enjoy staying with a team that looks poised to contend for years to come. The four-year, $37.5MM offer could very well get it done and give Angels GM Jerry Dipoto yet another notable achievement in his first offseason running the team.

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[vladdy#27]

Angels GM Jerry Dipoto will continue extension talks with the representatives for Erick Aybar but doesn't foresee completing a deal before the start of the season, writes Alden Gonzalez in MLB.com. Working out an extension at some point is still "very much a possibility" but Dipoto doesn't see it happening before Opening Day.

The shortstop, who avoided arbitration with the Halos by agreeing to a one-year, $5.075MM deal, is set to hit the open market after this season. The Angels worked out a four-year, $33.5MM deal with Howie Kendrick last month to cover the 28-year-old's final year of arbitration and first three years of free agency.

I hope Segura is ready for 2013

[vladdy#27]

Angels GM Jerry Dipoto recently said that it's unlikely that the club will work out an extension with Erick Aybar before Opening Day. However, Dipoto acknowledged that it's very much a possibility that the club will work out a new deal with the shortstop. Here's more on Aybar and other notes from around the baseball..

Aybar told reporters that he hopes to remain with the Angels beyond this season, writes Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. The 28-year-old declined to go into details about the kind of deal he’s looking for, but the Halos might not be willing to shell out major money for him with prospect Jean Segura in the fold.

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[vladdy#27]

Things remain quiet between the Angels and shortstop Erick Aybar when it comes to talks on a new deal, writes Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. If they don't work out a new contract with Aybar, the Halos could re-sign veteran Maicer Izturis after this season or turn the keys over to 22-year-old Jean Segura.

If Aybar isnt re-signed Segura needs to be our Opening Day SS in 2013. Izturis cannot be counted on to play everyday

[Suns4ever67]

I wouldn't be surprised if we trade Izturis. He was inquired on earlier this winter. If there is an injury to a contender, I'm sure he will moved. If Cantu makes the team, no reason to keep Izturis around. Cantu can play 1B, 2B, and 3B . . . and if he fails to produce, we have plenty of smurfs in the minors that can fill in.

[vladdy#27]

Fern Cuza, the agent for shortstop Erick Aybar, arrived in Angels camp last night and is expected to meet with GM Jerry Dipoto this week, Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com reports. Cuza will discuss the possibility of a long-term deal for Aybar, who's on track to hit free agency after the 2012 season.

This sounds good

[S.P.]

what would you guys guess? 5/45? 4/40? more? less?

[GardenGrove]

Well Kendrick got 4/33.5 MIL and Figgins got 4/36 MIL. Based on that Aybar I would expect to probably get about 4/32 MIL maybe 30 MIL?

[Suns4ever67]

Well Kendrick got 4/33.5 MIL and Figgins got 4/36 MIL. Based on that Aybar I would expect to probably get about 4/32 MIL maybe 30 MIL?

I'm guessing 4/24, maybe up to 26.

If the Angels sink too much money and time into him, Segura will be blocked from ever coming up from the minors. Also, since we have Kendrick locked up and hitting in the two position, Aybar will either leadoff of move to the back of the lineup. We're grooming Bourjos to leadoff so that makes signing Aybar, who has not been very consistent, not a priority long term.

Figgins got the money because he played 3B and lead off. Not to mention he could play all over the field. He was also rewarded for his years in the organization. He won't get Figgins money Kendrick has more upside still. Aybar is about where he will be talentwise.

[GardenGrove]

I'm guessing 4/24, maybe up to 26.

If the Angels sink too much money and time into him, Segura will be blocked from ever coming up from the minors. Also, since we have Kendrick locked up and hitting in the two position, Aybar will either leadoff of move to the back of the lineup. We're grooming Bourjos to leadoff so that makes signing Aybar, who has not been very consistent, not a priority long term.

Figgins got the money because he played 3B and lead off. Not to mention he could play all over the field. He was also rewarded for his years in the organization. He won't get Figgins money Kendrick has more upside still. Aybar is about where he will be talentwise.

Really good post man. The only reason I say he gets 30 MIL or maybe a little more is the position he plays. While he isn't special on offense, he has an excellent glove and he plays maybe the thinnest position in all of baseball in terms of above average players. He's probably a top 10 SS and so that tied in with his fielding skills should compensate his lack of offense in terms of the salary he gets. I can't imagine him getting less than 30 MIL even with Segura coming up.

[S.P.]

Yeah, I guess I was overpaying him. I was thinking of OCab's contract a few years ago (4/32, i think?) and then adding for inflation.

[GA16Angels]

I know I'll get a lot of hate for this and a lot of responses about how high Aybar's WAR was last year, but I really hope we don't re-sign him after the season or sign him to a long term deal.