Angels sign Jose Guillen to 2 year deal

Guillen agrees to two-year contract with Angels

December 19, 2003

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Jose Guillen will be the Anaheim Angels' right fielder next season, which means that Tim Salmon could become a full-time designated hitter.

But before anyone gets the idea that supplanting Salmon has given Guillen a big head, it should be noted that the Angels cap he donned during his news conference Friday at Edison Field was a couple sizes too small.

Guillen agreed to a $6 million, two-year contract with the Angels, bolstering an injury-plagued outfield that ruined the Angels' chances of repeating as World Series champions.

``The depth that he'll give us with the opportunity to go out there and play every day, and the production that he'll give us, is something that's going to be very important to our club,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``We're definitely excited about the direction this can move our club.''

Guillen played for Arizona and Cincinnati in 2002, and split time last season with the Reds and Oakland, hitting .311 with 31 homers and 86 RBIs.

Guillen was so happy about coming to terms with the Angels, he announced the deal last Tuesday in his native Dominican Republic before the Angels had a chance to give him his physical and make it official.

``This is the beginning of my new career, and I'm going to prove to everyone the kind of player I am,'' said Guillen, who went 5-for-11 against Boston in the playoffs despite playing with a broken hamate bone in his left hand that required surgery on Oct. 8.

``Sometimes you have to play in pain and give it everything you've got. The hand is perfect now, and I can't wait to go to spring training. I want to show people that I'm an everyday player I think I showed that last year,'' Guillen said.

The Angels are Guillen's sixth major league team -- not counting the Colorado Rockies, who granted him his unconditional release after five minor league games with Colorado Springs. The move came after the Rockies acquired outfielders Gabe Kapler and Jay Payton in trades.

Guillen has been plagued by injuries during his seven years in the major leagues. He began the 2000 season on the disabled list because of tendinitis in his right shoulder. He was on the DL three different times in 2001 because of a sprained left knee. During his rehab stint in the minors, he was suspended for 10 games after using a corked bat.

His last full big league campaign was 1998, when he drove in 84 runs and had 16 outfield assists.

``That's part of the package that Jose brings,'' Scioscia said. ``He's not just going to be an offensive force, but he's going to do in right field what we're going to need to give us the defensive continuity to support our pitchers. He has the kind of arm that can intimidate runners and shut down a team's aggressiveness going from first to third.''

Guillen, who turns 28 in May, will make $2.2 million the first year and $3.5 million the second with a $4 million club option for 2006 with a $300,000 buyout.

``Jose's going to get the opportunity to go out there and show us what he can do,'' Scioscia said. ``If it ends up being 140 games, it's 140 games. If it ends up being 155 games, it's 155 games.

``It's tough for us to put a number on how many games he's going to play, but I think it's safe to say that he's going to be out there virtually every day. We know what he can produce when he plays every day, and he produced terrific numbers last year.''

As far as Salmon is concerned, Scioscia said the 11-year veteran has accepted his new role. He eased into it out of necessity last year because of a knee injury that ended DH Brad Fullmer's season in May, and always repeated the company line when asked about it despite being quietly irritated by the mere mention of the subject.

``It's a move that Tim knew was going to come, so he's prepared for it,'' Scioscia said. ``With Jose coming in, it really gives us the opportunity to DH Tim much more than he has in the past, and it's going to make us a stronger club.

``We're going to keep him in touch with the outfield, too, just for depth and versatility,'' Scioscia added. ``He knows at this stage of his career what the expectations are from him offensively, and DH-ing is going to help us get the offensive production we need from Tim Salmon. It's something that's going to help the team -- and Tim's a team player.''