Angels Official Website: Vargas at peace with decision to leave Angels

[AngelsWin.com]

The Angels coveted a steady veteran, and their first priority was to re-sign Jason Vargas, a guy they thought was coming back until he accepted a last-minute four-year, $32 million offer from the eventual American League-champion Royals.

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[disarcina]

Good call by Jason Vargas and probably a good call by the Halos (at least I thought so at the time).

 

Four year deal was a bit much -- Royals offered it, Halos did not.

Vargas is with KC.

 

that's the way it goes -- no hard feelings.

 

I liked Vargas when he was with us -- did what we asked of him and gave us some quality starts.

[JAHV76]

It would have been difficult to give a player a four year contract when he barely pitched a half season in the prior year.

[Sully151]

So what he is saying is he's all good with where he is at compared to where the Angels are. Interesting.

[Guest]

Angels should have given him a qualifying offer though, wtf where they thinking. 

[Angelsfirst]

So what he is saying is he's all good with where he is at compared to where the Angels are. Interesting.

Yeah exactly. No shit Vargas.

[Guest]

Angels should have given him a qualifying offer though, wtf where they thinking. 

This. It would have lowered his market value, he could have taken the offer, or declined it and accepted a multi-year deal with us with us holding a lot more leverage (other teams would not have been eager to offe what the Royals did if they had to give up a draft pick to do it)

 

Had we signed him, all else equal, we'd still be playing baseball now. (bullpen would have been in better shape at the end of the year, and no CJ in the playoffs)

Edited October 26, 2014 by ScottLux

[laagamer]

Breaking News:

Vargas regrets decision. Dislikes playing in the World Series. Reportedly saying "I"m just not clutch enough for  postseason play. It's a move that makes sense." 

[DoubleOffTheWall]

Cant let guys like santana and vargas walk away. And then replace them with blanton and cj wilson.

[Docwaukee]

Cant let guys like santana and vargas walk away. And then replace them with blanton and cj wilson.

then it's good we didn't do that.  

[nate]

Must be hard to find peace when the team you are on is in the World Series.  Good for Vargas to find it there.

[Docwaukee]

Santana and haren were traded/let go and we got wilson. Then a year later we did the blanton thing, where mike took that infamous pic with our 4 new star pitching FA signings. Surely you remember that epic moment

they signed Wilson before the 2012 season and he was part of a Rotation that included Haren and Santana.  That rotation was considered one of the league's best to start the season and failed miserably.  To the point that Greinke was acquired.  Santana was arguably the worst starting pitcher in baseball that year and had a 13mil option.  Tough to justify spending that on a guy capable of being that kind of pitcher.  Haren also had an option year left and was below average in 2012 with declining velocity.  

 

Vargas actually replaced one of them, and Blanton/Hansen filled out the rest of the rotation in 2013.  Wilson had a very nice season last year.  

 

This year, Vargas and the rest were replaced by Santiago, Skaggs, Richards and Shoemaker.  Helping lead the team to 98 wins.

 

They turned over the entire bullpen and rotation in a season with very good results.  

 

Your recollection of who replaced who is a little spotty.  

Edited October 26, 2014 by Dochalo

[DoubleOffTheWall]

they signed Wilson before the 2012 season and he was part of a Rotation that included Haren and Santana. That rotation was considered one of the league's best to start the season and failed miserably. To the point that Greinke was acquired. Santana was arguably the worst starting pitcher in baseball that year and had a 13mil option. Tough to justify spending that on a guy capable of being that kind of pitcher. Haren also had an option year left and was below average in 2012 with declining velocity.

Vargas actually replaced one of them, and Blanton/Hansen filled out the rest of the rotation in 2013. Wilson had a very nice season last year.

This year, Vargas and the rest were replaced by Santiago, Skaggs, Richards and Shoemaker. Helping lead the team to 98 wins.

They turned over the entire bullpen and rotation in a season with very good results.

Your recollection of who replaced who is a little spotty.

You are right my friend, my bad. I was out of the US 2012-13 so I didnt keep up or watch the team much those years.

The two things that sting are that Vargas is pretty solid, and that Angels management even tried that patch work job of Hansen, Blanton, madson and the other guy (dont remember his name).

[Brandon]

Had we signed him, all else equal, we'd still be playing baseball now.

It all makes sense now.

It wasn't the offense under performing, it was because we didn't have Vargas that we are out of the playoffs.

[Adam]

lol

[Brent Maguire]

This. It would have lowered his market value, he could have taken the offer, or declined it and accepted a multi-year deal with us with us holding a lot more leverage (other teams would not have been eager to offe what the Royals did if they had to give up a draft pick to do it)

 

Had we signed him, all else equal, we'd still be playing baseball now. (bullpen would have been in better shape at the end of the year, and no CJ in the playoffs)

We lost in the ALDS because our offense sucked. Having a league average starter pitch in Game 3 was not the reason why the Angels were eliminated. 

[nate]

If CJ Wilson is league average then I am average height.

[Jay]

So Vargas is ok with winning the AL pennant and getting a start in the World Series.  Good to know.

[nate]

Yeah exactly.  It is amazing he can find peace under such brutal circumstances.