Center fielder
The Angels finished in second place in the American League West for the 2006 season, missing the postseason for the first time since . While a disappointing development for the franchise, the 2006 campaign was the Angels' third straight season with a winning record, a first in club history. Owner Arte Moreno vowed that the club would make "major" changes during the offseason, a comment that generated talk in trades or free agent signings of players such as Carlos Lee, Miguel Tejada, Aramis Ramírez or perhaps even Alex Rodriguez. Center fielder Gary Matthews, Jr. signed a 5-year, $50-million contract in a deal.