Who's on first?

So every year when you pay your first baseman, who gets it?

All $22 million of it.

(That's some foreshadowing right there folks)

Mark Teixeira:
Positives: The guy rakes. I'm not sure I need to go into detail about just how good of a hitter this guy is, but he's damn good. He's usually good for 40 doubles, 33 HR's, 110 RBI's, 75 walks. Something that impressed me - last season he walked the most in his career (97) and actually struck out less than he walked (93) for the first time in his career. So it's possible he's still getting better. He's also a ridiculously good first baseman, having won two gold gloves. He probably would have won one in the AL again this year had he been there all season. He'll be 29 in April next season.
Negatives: If you can find one...The only two things that are remotely negative: he's slower than molasses, if I may borrow a phrase from my father, and this may have been his peak. He was 28 this season which is about the year a lot of hitters peak. Yes, he did have that ridiculous 144 RBI season with Texas a few years ago, but he was actually better this year since he did what he did in pitcher's parks.
Contract: He's a free agent. And he's a Boras client. BOOOOOOOO! Even if this was his peak year, this guy's going to be good for awhile longer. He was hurt a little bit last year with Texas, but other than that, he's healthy. He's a switch hitter who plays great defense. He's patient. I have a feeling he's going to wind up getting 6 - 8 years at $20 - 23 million per year. That's Yankee territory. But with the salaries that are coming off the Angels books, I think it's worth it for them to sign him. Give him 7 years at $22 million. Vladdy is still good, but he's getting past his prime. Having Teix in the lineup could help keep Vlad going since he won't need to be Superman all the time. I am all for the Angels breaking the bank to get this guy signed.

Robb Quinlan:
Positives: His name starts with a "Q". He can hit lefties fairly well. He can "play" multiple positions, by which I mean Scioscia puts him at multiple positions and watches him struggle with his range and terrible hands. He is cheap though.
Negatives: He's not very good at baseball.
Contract: He's a decent bench guy to have around because he is somewhat versatile, even if he doesn't play any of those positions well. If he's dirt cheap, keep him around. If not, find a young guy who's decent but not going to turn into an everyday player and put him in this role.

Kendry Morales:
Positives: He's a switch hitter. He has good pop, better than Kotchman had at this stage. Most of this is from reports, since I haven't seen the guy play all that much, but his defense is supposed to be solid, but unspectacular. He's versatile - he actually played corner outfield positions in Cuba.
Negatives: He doesn't walk and is somewhat prone to striking out. He isn't actually that young (he'll be 26 next season) and hasn't played a full year in the majors.
Contract: The Angels have him locked up through 2010. I gotta believe, one way or another, Morales will be with a MLB team next season whether it's with the Angels or they trade him.

Others:
Any others are pretty much going to be free agents. From my vantage point, if the Angels don't get Teixeira, there aren't many options that are going to be more valuable than Morales. There are better players, but they'll all be pretty expensive. Here are some possibles anyway:
Jason Giambi: Assuming the Yanks buy him out. Terrible defender - probably should be a DH. Still has some pop and walks. I would hate to see him in an Angel uniform.
Sean Casey: Slower than slow. Has virtually no power left. Would be cheap.
Nomar Garciaparra: Ummm, no thanks.
Richie Sexson: ....that was a joke.
Adam Dunn: He's not really a first baseman, but he's not really a left fielder either. There's no way he could be worse at first base. This would be our second best option if we can't sign Tex. The guy hits 40 HR's a year. He walks a 120 times a year. Sure he strikes out a lot, but I'll put up with that for the extra power.

Outlook:
Really, we have to sign Teixeira. There's no one on the FA market who does all the things he does. Hits for power. Takes walks. Hits for average. Plays great defense. The Yankees are going to come after him, and from what I've heard, he doesn't seem like he fell in love with playing on the Angels or anything. So it's going to take close to $200 million to get him signed. I don't know what the Angels limits are, but that's got to be pretty close. I just don't know if 8 years, $175 million will be enough to overcome the Yankees' offer.

But man, we HAVE to sign this guy.