Brad Fullmer ruptured the patella tendon in his right knee while running to first base in the eighth inning of the Angels' game against Seattle last night. He will undergo surgery to repair the injury sometime soon, which will put him out for the season. Fullmer was hitting .306 with a .387 OBP and .500 SLG on 63 H, 9 2B, 2 3B, and 9 HR with a 26:31 BB:K and 5/9 SB% in 206 AB, so his loss represents a sizeable blow to an Anaheim offense already struggling to stay with the middle of the pack in runs scored.

The Angels trail the Mariners by 13.5 games and would miss the wildcard by 7.5 games if the season ended today. Their competition doesn't appear likely to fade significantly, and even prior to Fullmer's injury, Anaheim didn't seem poised for a push at the playoffs. Consequently, I don't believe they should expend substantial resources to procure a replacement for Fullmer. However, Jeremy Giambi may be available for a minimal price. Giambi has floundered while receiving inconsistent playing time in Boston, but if given Fullmer's job, he easily could rebound.