2011 NABL Minor League Draft

[philadelphia]

With the 2010 NABL Minor League Draft heading into August, I find this article from ESPN.com interesting. Interesting in a way that sometimes a sure thing ain't so sure.

Reporting from Arlington, Texas — Angels General Manager Tony Reagins seemed defiant Thursday when asked if the acquisition of Alberto Callaspo would affect struggling third baseman Brandon Wood's future.

"It doesn't affect Brandon's future in any way," Reagins said.

Asked how that was possible, Reagins said, "It doesn't."

That seems hard to imagine considering that Callaspo, 27, will remain under the Angels' control through 2013 and that Maicer Izturis, another player ahead of Wood on the depth chart, is in the first year of a three-year, $10-million contract.

Trading the once highly coveted Wood could help fortify the Angels' roster while allowing a player who is hitting .168 with three home runs and 12 runs batted in to get a fresh start in a lower-pressure environment.

"We're not thinking down that path right now," Reagins said. "We're not going to make any decisions and give up on Brandon Wood. He's been a part of this organization and he's a good player. Hopefully, we can get him going in the right direction."

That could be difficult now that Wood has been relegated to a fourth-string role behind Callaspo, Izturis and Kevin Frandsen. Wood has made six starts in the Angels' 18 games this month, batting .100 with two hits, no extra-base hits and seven strikeouts in 20 at-bats.

Wood said he wanted to remain with the Angels even though he now plays only once or twice a week.

[commish]

Tony Reagins is establishing himself as one of the worst GM's in the majors. He took over a very solid roster and farm system when Bill Stoneman retired and since then hasn't done much with the team except sign Torrii Hunter. He's also signed Gary Matthews Jr, Fernando Rodney, Joel Pineiro, and Hideki Matsui (the latter at the expense of Vladimir Guerrero, who was let go and signed with Texas for the same salary as Matsui received). Now he's trying to not play his hand by making it sound like Wood has any future with the club. Who's he kidding? The kid is hitting .168 and looks totally lost at the plate, and he's also out of options, meaning Reagins can't send him back to AAA and he hasn't warranted a spot on the major league roster. If Reagins could get anything useful for him, he would be a bigger idiot than I already think he is not to take it.