Anemic attack has Angels hot for would-be free agent

The Angels were stuck with Reggie Willits as their cleanup hitter in a Game 3, season-ending loss on Sunday. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

World Series Coverage   Monday John Donovan: Rox, Sox built to last Albert Chen: Ellsbury an unlikely hero Joe Sheehan: Scenes, notes from clincher Red Sox celebrate World Series victory Sunday Sox clip Rockies 4-3 to win World Series John Donovan's Report Card for Game 4 Jon Heyman's 15 Greatest Mr. Octobers Lowell takes home Series MVP honors Dynasty in the making for Red Sox? Clock strikes midnight for Rockies' ride Time.com: Red Sox are the new Yankees Saturday Red Sox down Rockies 10-5, take 3-0 lead John Donovan's Report Card for Game 3 Tom Verducci: The Sox are superior John Donovan: The Coors Field factor Jon Heyman: Four keys to Game 3 Friday Melissa Segura: Corpas gets his wish John Donovan: Rockies' lumber slumber Jon Heyman: How the Sox got Beckett Joe Sheehan: Electric night at Fenway Thursday Schilling, bullpen shut down Rockies 2-1 John Donovan's Report Card for Game 2 Tom Verducci's five cuts for Thursday Albert Chen on the Red Sox's bullpen John Donovan: Rockies turn to a rookie Joe Sheehan: Postseason drama lacking Tale of the Tape: Rockies vs. Red Sox World Series Fungoes Joe Lemire on Rockies-Red Sox Schedule/Box Scores Game 1: Red Sox 13, Rockies 1 Game 2: Red Sox 2, Rockies 1 Game 3: Red Sox 10, Rockies 5 Game 4: Red Sox 4, Rockies 3

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• How many chances for Torre?
• Mattingly vs. Girardi debate
• Wedge makes a bad call
• More news and notes

Sources say the just-departed Angels will be strongly in the bidding for Alex Rodriguez if he opts out of his Yankees contract. And that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who's seen the Angels play and notices their lack of anything resembling a cleanup hitter.

I don't believe A-Rod's decision to opt out of the Bronx is the forgone conclusion some have portrayed it to be. But if he does go, the anemic Angels should be near the front of the line.

Although two sources close to the Angels say owner Arte Moreno has sent out some signals that he will "not be breaking any records" in terms of contracts, it still shouldn't surprise anyone if he does make a big play for A-Rod, who's known to be one of his favorite players. Moreno has yet to make good on his longtime promise to make a "major" splash, and last winter he went well beyond where anyone would have thought or expected in his failed efforts to land Alfonso Soriano, bidding close to $120 million for the flawed star who went to the Cubs for $136 million.

It has become increasingly obvious that the Angels don't have the firepower to match a couple of the other top AL teams, and that they are far too reliant on Vladimir Guerrero, whom they signed to a bargain $75 million contract a few winters ago.

Exhibit A at the place formerly known as The Big A was Game 3 of the Division Series, a 9-1 defeat to the Red Sox, who ushered Los Angeles of Anaheim out in an uncontested three-game sweep.

It's a major mistake to count out the Yankees, who have done far better from a business perspective in recent years than they have on the field and certainly have the wherewithal and need. Yet, if A-Rod does opt out, no matter how much he's struggling in these playoffs (he's 2 for 10 after two hits in Game 3 on Sunday night), it's believed interested teams could also include the Red Sox, Giants, Phillies, Mariners, Dodgers and Cubs (if their ownership situation is settled early enough) and possibly even the Mets, though their strength at third base and shortstop make them a long shot. One Mets high-ranking person, when asked about A-Rod, said "everything will be considered." And why not, considering how things ended for them this season?

Things did not end especially well for the Angels, either. Desperate for offense for Game 3, manager Mike Scioscia employed veteran Garret Anderson as his cleanup hitter despite a losing bout with pink eye. And after Anderson's eye effectively shut and he had to be removed, Scioscia had little choice but to replace him with scrawny sparkplug Reggie Willits and employ Willits as his miscast cleanup hitter.

Imagine that: A player with zero career home runs batting cleanup in a playoff game. Meanwhile, Willits' Red Sox counterpart, Manny Ramirez, would go on to hit his second majestic home run in as many games.

Anyway, a sparse Angels lineup, which was already missing Casey Kotchman, who was said to be at a local hospital with an undisclosed non-baseball ailment, turned pathetic. And Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, who deserves to be in the Hall of Fame on his postseason performances alone, made them pay. Once with runners at first and third, Schilling walked Guerrero to load the bases, then jammed Willits on and up-and-in fastball, Willits meekly fouling out to catcher Jason Varitek.

The otherwise well-balanced Angels would be attractive to Rodriguez as an American League team that's a consistent contender with a pipeline of young players, and though it's believed he may have a slight preference to stay near to the East Coast and closer to his Miami home, there's no good reason they wouldn't still be considered a strong suitor. Under Moreno, a marketing genius, the Angels have thrived financially.

Though the bidding for A-Rod will go much higher than the Soriano derby, Moreno may not be deterred. No one thought he'd go anywhere near $100 million for Soriano, and Soriano wasn't close to a perfect fit. What the Angels really need, beyond someone to bat behind Guerrero, is a third baseman.

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