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The 2005 American League West Division champion Angels are a group many years in the making. The core of the team was built through the amateur draft over the last 15 years under Mike Port (1984-1991), Dan O'Brien and Whitey Herzog (1991-1994), Bill Bavasi (1994-1999) and Bill Stoneman (1999-present), with an impressive number of high draft picks who lived up to their potential.
In addition, over the last several seasons, Stoneman has supplemented liberally -- and successfully -- with free agents. Some, like Vladimir Guerrero, have been big-bucks, high-profile acquisitions. Others, like Brendan Donnelly, were Minor League discoveries other GMs overlooked. So, while the Halos might have fewer transactions and frantic deadline trades than other teams, Stoneman's sustainable approach to team-building has clearly paid dividends for the Angels, who have now made the playoffs in three of the last four seasons.
1990 • LF Garret Anderson: Selected in the fourth round of the First-Year Player Draft 1993 • C Bengie Molina: Signed as an amateur free agent 1995 • 1B Darin Erstad: Selected in the first round (first pick overall) of the First-Year Player Draft• SP Jarrod Washburn: Selected in the second round of the First-Year Player Draft
1996
• RP Greg Jones: Selected in the 42nd round of the First-Year Player Draft 1997 • RP Scot Shields: Selected in the 38th round of the First-Year Player Draft 1998 • RP Francisco Rodriguez: Signed as an amateur free agent 1999 • SP John Lackey: Selected in the second round of the First-Year Player Draft• OF Jeff DaVanon: Traded from Oakland with Elvin Nana (Minors) and Nathan Haynes (Minors) for Omar Olivares and Randy Velarde
• RP Joel Peralta: Signed as a Minor League free agent
• 3B Robb Quinlan: Selected in the 10th round of the First-Year Player Draft 2000 • 2B Adam Kennedy: Traded from St. Louis with Kent Bottenfield for Jim Edmonds
• SP Ervin Santana: Signed as an amateur free agent
2001
• IF-OF Chone Figgins: Traded from Colorado for Kimera Bartee• RP Brendan Donnelly: Signed as a Minor League free agent
• 1B Casey Kotchman: Selected in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft
• C Jeff Mathis: Drafted in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft
• C Jose Molina: Signed as a Minor League free agent
• 3B Dallas McPherson: Selected in the second round of the First-Year Player Draft 2002 • SP Joe Saunders: Selected in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft
2003
• RP Kevin Gregg: Signed as a Minor League free agent 2004 • SP Bartolo Colon: Signed as a free agent• SP-RP Kelvim Escobar: Signed as a free agent
• OF Vladimir Guerrero: Signed as a free agent
• C Josh Paul: Signed as a Minor League free agent
• OF Curtis Pride: Signed as a Minor League free agent
• IF Zach Sorensen: Signed as a Minor League free agent
2005
• SP Paul Byrd: Signed as a free agent
• SS Orlando Cabrera: Signed as a free agent
• RP Jason Christiansen: Traded from San Francisco for Dusty Bergman (Minors) and Ronny Ray (Minors)
• IF Maicer Izturis: Traded from Washington with Juan Rivera for Jose Guillen
• CF Steve Finley: Signed as a free agent
• OF Juan Rivera: Traded from Washington with Maicer Izturis for Jose Guillen
• RP Esteban Yan: Signed as a free agent
Mark Thoma is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
