Before we say goodbye to 2008 — a year that saw the Rays in the World Series and the Broncos fire Mike
Shanahan – let’s look at a matter I had hoped would be settled before we said hello to 2009:
John Lackey’s next Angels contract.
If you’re still wondering what Arte Moreno is going to do with the money he didn’t spend on Mark Teixeira or Francisco Rodriguez or Garret Anderson, look no farther than the big Texan right-hander’s upcoming contract extension.
On Oct. 29, the Angels picked up their $9 million option on Lackey for 2009. He would be eligible for free agency after the season ends.
From 2006-08, Lackey worked on a three-year, $17.1 million deal signed after his breakout, 14-5, 3.44 ERA season of 2005. He made $7 million in 2008, when he went 12-5, 3.75 in 24 starts — he missed about nine because of a strained right triceps muscle. Lackey had never before missed a start because of injury since joining the Angels rotation in the summer of 2002.
On Dec. 13, right-hander A.J. Burnett, who had opted out of his final two seasons of a five-year free-agent deal with Toronto, agreed to terms with the New York Yankees on a five-year, $82.5 million contract. He will be paid $16.5 million per season and has a full no-trade clause.
Unlike Lackey, Burnett has had several injury problems, including Tommy John surgery that cost him nearly all of 2003, the year the Marlins beat the Yankees in the World Series behind Josh Beckett and Brad Penny, who are both now with the Red Sox. But I digress.
Lackey turned 30 in October. Burnett will be 32 on Jan. 3. Let’s compare their career numbers:
W-L ERA GS IP SO WHiP
Lackey 91-63 3.81 206 1324 1062 1.31
Burnett 87-76 3.81 211 1376 1278 1.29
Yes, they are very close. My evaluation says advantage Lackey, because I place a high value on victories by starting pitchers. So does the Hall of Fame. It’s tough to argue with plus 28 in decisions. Burnett has more strikeouts, which I appreciate, and a smidge better WHiP. Lackey being almost two years younger and much healthier more than makes up for that edge.
What’s Lackey worth? To me, more than Burnett. I hope he doesn’t have to go to free agency to find out. Folks who turn down Moreno extension offers have a way leaving Anaheim.
ESPN’s Jayson Stark reported last month that Lackey has told friends he is confident of having his new deal in place by Opening Day. It has also been reported Lackey would monitor the Angels moves as far as offensive players before considering an extension. That work appears for now to be incomplete.
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Archive for the 'John Lackey' Tag
What is John Lackey worth?
December 31st, 2008, 6:41 am by Earl Bloom, staff writerTeixeira to Orioles unlikely, and other ramblings …
December 17th, 2008, 12:59 pm by Earl Bloom, staff writerJust a few random thoughts on a rainy day waiting for Mark Teixeira to decide between the Angels, Red Sox and Nationals (that’s what ESPN’s talented and hardworking Buster Olney says):
– The Rafael Furcal Saga deserves a good host, so I nominate Howie Mandel (pictured) of “Deal or No Deal.” First Furcal is an Athletic, then he’s a Brave again, no wait he might still be a Dodger. Anybody got Orlando Cabrera’s phone number?
– I’m really not worried about John Lackey pitching in the World Baseball Classic. I am never worried when John Lackey is pitching anywhere at any time for anyone unless I own or have a rooting interest in the team he is pitching against. Thus I am glad Texas is part of the United States, for this instance, and for Nolan Ryan and the San Antonio Spurs.
– I hope Chris Bootcheck does sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates because I believe he’s a better pitcher than most of their staff, and I hope he is healthy and gets the opportunity for regular work that the Angels’ quality depth rarely allowed him here.
– I appreciate Angels GM Tony Reagins saying that right now there’s only a slim chance of his club signing Manny Ramirez. It could’ve been a lot worse. He could’ve said fat chance.
Orioles-Teixeira update: Baltimore now says it can be flexible and its initial seven-year offer to Teixeira wasn’t necessarily the last.
Angels’ dream rotation: Sabathia, Peavy, Lackey, Santana, Saunders
November 28th, 2008, 8:55 am by Earl Bloom, staff writerWhat if the Angels would sign CC Sabathia and trade for Jake Peavy and combine those two former Cy 
Young Award winners with three All-Stars already on the Anaheim premises: John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders?
That super rotation of five, all 30 or under, was proposed this week by Lyle Spencer of mlb.com.
It would cost the Angels a ton of money, including a deserved new Lackey contract, and it would also cost young starter Jered Weaver and some of the franchise’s big-league ready prospects. Padres manager and former Angels pitching coach Bud Black (pictured, with Peavy) would likely pick the right ones for San Diego’s purposes.
Peavy has $63 million coming the next four seasons, and the Angels would likely have to get in the ballpark of the Yankees’ six-year, $140 million offer to Sabathia to land the big left-hander. Newsday is reporting the Yankees are considering raising their offer in light of the Angels’ involvement with Sabathia.
If the Angels do take this dream rotation direction, forget about acquiring a big bat.
But what a rotation!
You would have to go way back to find a rotation like that, perhaps all the way to the four-man rotation days of say the 1970 Baltimore Orioles, who won 108 games and a World Series despite a team batting average of .257. Mike Cuellar and Dave McNally each won 24 games and Hall of Famer Jim Palmer won 20. The lineup included a pair of Hall of Famers in Brooks Robinson and Frank Robinson. Also seeing time with that club were a pair of 21-year-olds who had nice careers with the Angels: Bobby Grich and Don Baylor.
Among five-man rotations, the Mets had some pretty awesome ones in the 70s anchored by Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman — but nothing like the proposed Angels quintet.
I have known Lyle Spencer for more than 30 years, and he has always had the ability to propose bold concepts — and in a way that makes sense. This is one of those.
You can hear the arguments already, how the Angels would struggle to score runs. But Mike Scioscia’s managerial style has always been National League and with starters like those, not so many runs would be needed.
And a rotation headed by two Cy Young winners plus Lackey just might be able to finally silence those great Red Sox lineups in a postseason series.
Sabathia has struggled in postseason play, but with that rotation, he likely would not have to pitch on three days rest to get his team into the playoffs and could go in fresh and strong.
Shortstop Khalil Greene might or might not be part of a Peavy package. He is coming off a horrible 2008 but his previous four Padres seasons offer a whole lot more punch than anyone the Angels have run out there recently.
Just another scenario to consider; probably unlikely, but boy, the possibilities …
Vlad and Lackey will be back; Garret may not
October 28th, 2008, 12:13 pm by Brian PerdueThe Angels have exercised their 2009 options on pitcher Jon Lackey and slugger Vladimir Guerrero, beat writer Bill Plunkett has confirmed. But they declined their option on Garret Anderson.
Lackey, 30, will receive $9 million while Guerrero, 32, will earn $15 million.
Angels lose Game 4
October 6th, 2008, 9:27 am by JEFF MILLER, OCREGISTER.COMBOSTON - There it is, Halo fans, the headline that doubles as a dead-line.
No need to even watch tonight. Enjoy a fine, quiet evening with the family instead.
Can’t see the Angels winning Game 4 at Fenway Park. No way.
History says John Lackey won’t be good, his near no-hitter here in the regular season notwithstanding. There is just too much evidence pointing the other way.
The bullpen is gassed after Game 3 and this inconsistent offense isn’t likely to find 16 hits again.
Red Sox 5, Angels 1. Dustin Pedroia finally comes through and Boston advances.
The Angels fly back to Anaheim. Alone.
Which Lackey will it be in Game 4?
October 6th, 2008, 8:48 am by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COMBOSTON - The Angels expressed confidence in having John Lackey take the mound in another potential elimination game tonight at Fenway Park.
“They’re up 2-1 but we’ve got our horse on the mound tomorrow,” Angels reliever Scot Shields said. “(Red Sox starter Jon) Lester pitched a great game in Game 1 but we like our chances.
“I know he (Lackey) was the biggest fan out there, hoping to get another chance at them.”
But Lackey’s history against the Red Sox - and at Fenway Park - is not great.
Bay hammers Red Sox into lead, 2-1
October 1st, 2008, 8:56 pm by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COMNope, Jason Bay is not Manny Ramirez.
Ramirez probably would have dove for Torii Hunter’s sinking line drive in the third inning. Wouldn’t have caught it. But would have dove for it and probably wound up sitting on it.
Bay let it fall in front of him for an RBI single and a 1-0 Angels lead.
That lead only lasted long enough for Bay (acquired by the Red Sox when they traded Ramirez in July) to clobber a two-run home run off John Lackey in the sixth inning to give the Red Sox the lead.
The Manny-esque drive cleared both bullpens and reached the seats in the left-field pavilion.
Lackey, Santana tuneups? Angels not worried
September 30th, 2008, 6:40 am by BILL PLUNKETT, OCREGISTER.COM
The Angels have confidently lined John Lackey and Ervin Santana up to start Games 1 and 2 against the Boston Red Sox — and Games 4 and 5 if the American League Division Series goes that far.
But neither Lackey nor Santana had an auspicious end to the regular season. Lackey had the worst start of his career Friday (10 runs on 12 hits in 2 2/3 innings) and Santana was only a little better Saturday (eight runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings) with questions about the Rangers stealing signs.
Neither Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher nor manager Mike Scioscia is worried by that.
“I look at the track record of the whole season and the way they’ve pitched,” Butcher said. “I’m not making any excuses. Every time you go out there, you want to be at your best but sometimes it doesn’t happen. As long as their arms are healthy, their velocity is fine, I’m not concerned.
“I’ve never been a believer that you can turn it on and off like a switch. But I know they’ll be ready when it’s time to take the ball in the playoffs.”
Scioscia echoed Butcher’s assessment of the final pre-playoff tune-ups, saying both Lackey’s and Santana’s “stuff still looked good” but they ran up against a Rangers’ lineup that “was not very forgiving” when they made mistakes.
“I think if their velocity was down and they struggled making their pitches, then you’d be concerned,” Scioscia said. “But that wasn’t the case.”
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