Orange County Register

Lyle Spencer responds to reader questions over at the Angels’ Web site, and his answers should dampen any hopes that the Angels are going to resemble the Yankees this offseason:

“I have my doubts that any of their three big names in free agency — John Lackey, Chone Figgins and Vladimir Guerrero — will be back. …  don’t see the Angels signing any infielders — they’re loaded there — or catchers, relievers or outfielders. If they go after a free agent, it would likely be a starting pitcher drawing considerably less attention (and money) than Lackey.”

Spencer also notes that “I don’t think anybody knows where this is headed,” so who knows. But Bill Plunkett commented here recently that he thinks that the Angels will decrease payroll slightly, which makes Spencer’s scenario seem the likeliest one. They have about $14 million to spend to keep payroll the same. You can play with the numbers all you want, but if they truly do decrease payroll — and especially if they bring back Darren Oliver — they’d be limited to options like Ben Sheets, Jon Garland, Jason Marquis … and maybe enough left over for a second-tier DH. Or Figgins and nothing else.

And remember: The Angels made their big offseason move already — they just did it a few months early. If Scott Kazmir were a free agent right now, he’d probably be one of the 5 most attractive options.

Some Wednesday gossip:

• Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman says the Mets and Phillies are “competing with Angels for versatile Chone Figgins.” The Phillies just declined their option on Pedro Feliz, and have an opening at third base. They arguably have room at the top of their order, too, as Jimmy Rollins has been somewhat miscast as a low-OBP, good-power leadoff hitter. The Mets might see Figgins filling a corner outfield hole, or second base. They have David Wright locked in at third. Luis Castillo is coming off a pretty good year at second, though he is the subject of trade rumors.

• Japanese media have some Tony Reagins comments about Hideki Matsui:

“At this point we’ve been watching him for a long time. When I ask ‘can he play the outfield and keep runners from advancing?’ the response I get is ‘of course’. He can’t go every day, but he can play defense.”

• The Angels’ apparent disinterest in John Lackey may hurt his sales pitch around the league, Joel Sherman writes:

That moved a rival executive to say, “What do the Angels know about John Lackey that we all don’t?” An AL GM said, “The Angels have the money to keep Lackey and they are not pushing to do it. To me that is a red flag.”

Reagins disputed the premise. And Ken Rosenthal says the Angels are still pursuing him.

Some rumors for a Tuesday morning:

• White Sox GM Kenny Williams says his team is looking for “that ideal leadoff guy,” but he also says he won’t pursue Chone Figgins. “We don’t have that kind of money.”

• Jon Heyman of SI says the Mets “seem concerned enough about Lackey’s past arm issues to keep them away.”

• Eight of 20 baseball executives polled by Jerry Crasnick say the Yankees will land Lackey. Three said he would stay with the Angels. Estimates of the size of his deal ranged from three years and $36 million (or, about what the Angels offered in the spring) to six years and $100 million (or, about what Lackey reportedly is shooting for).