Deals drive the fans batty

Gary Matthews Jr. puts together one quality season in his seven-year, eight-team, journeyman career and the Angels lock him up for five seasons?

Matthews had never hit higher than .275 -- until last year (.313). Matthews had never hit more than 17 homers in a season, until last year (19). Matthews had never driven in more than 55 runs in a season, until last year (78). Doesn’t anyone see a pattern here?

Let’s hope there’s more to come from this off-season for the Angels. The two strikes (Soriano and Ramirez) were bad enough, but this signing is more like a one-out popup to the catcher with the bases loaded and the score tied -- painful.

BRUCE BATTLE

Santa Clarita

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It figures that the Angels would announce the signing of reliever Justin Speier just hours before the Cubs -- the Cubs! -- announce their own acquisition of this winter’s biggest prize, Alfonso Soriano.

No surprise that Bill Stoneman gets upstaged and outdone, even by Jim Hendry, who, unlike Stoneman, is dealing with a tight-fisted owner. No surprise that he chooses to bolster the bullpen, the one area where the Angels are set.

ELI STOKOLS

Irvine

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So far the best off-season move for the Angels has been Frank Thomas leaving Oakland for Toronto.

RICK VAN KIRK

Irvine

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OK, so Juan Pierre isn’t Alfonso Soriano or even J.D. Drew when comparing the pop in their bats. But at least the real Dodgers fans will appreciate cheering for someone who’s not a malcontent or an unfriendly “ghost.” Instead, he’ll be in the lineup every day, and whatever happens, we’ll know he’s working his tail off to win and earn his salary.

Speaking of which, is there anyone still complaining that Rafael Furcal is overpaid?

PAUL TORRES

Altadena

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My daughter is a senior in college majoring in economics. When I heard the Dodgers had signed Juan Pierre for five years at nearly $9 million a year, I asked her to pose this question to her professor: “In 2006 dollars, what does $45 million buy?”

Her answer? “Nothing!”

RON YUKELSON

San Luis Obispo

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How many Los Angeles Times reporters and editors will have to be let go to make up the $136 million Tribune has agreed to pay Alfonso Soriano to play for the Cubs?

DAN AVEY

Studio City