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John Lackey

Lackey Not Impressed With Angels’ Extension Efforts

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MLB.com's Lyle Spencer talked to Angels starter John Lackey about the pitcher's ongoing extension talks.  Lackey said, "They're not trying very hard."  Lackey's agent submitted a proposal earlier this week, presumably above A.J. Burnett's $82.5MM over five years.

If Lackey and the Halos don't hammer something out, he'll presumably be the top free agent starter on the free agent market after the season.

Lackey, Angels Continue Extension Talks

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John Lackey's agent, Steve Hilliard, met with Angels GM Tony Reagins last week, presumably to discuss a contract extension.  Lackey will be eligible for free agency after this season.  (Information courtesy of Bill Shaikin with the L.A. Times).

"It's early," Lackey said Tuesday. "I'm supposed to hear something back this week. We'll see. I'm not worrying too much about it. I'm just trying to handle my business."

The 30-year-old Lackey is believed to be seeking a deal in the five year, $80MM territory.  He went 12-5 with a 3.75 ERA last season and will be the most highly coveted free agent starter if he hits the open market.

Heyman On Contracts, Loretta, Indians, Lackey

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up…

  • Heyman writes in praise of White Sox GM Ken Williams, who says, "People don’t really understand our way, our method."
  • Heyman names his top 13 contracts, from an agent point of view.  Barry Meister appears twice, with Edgar Renteria and Kyle Farnsworth.  Scott Shapiro and Barry Praver get two mentions (Willy Taveras and Juan Cruz), and Scott Boras has three (Derek Lowe, Mark Teixeira, and Willie Bloomquist).
  • Heyman writes of "talk at Dodgers camp" about possible Yankee interest in Mark Loretta (you may recall their consideration of him as a first base candidate in 2007).  Loretta would have to consent to a trade, and keep in mind Brian Cashman’s comments yesterday.
  • The Indians may have sufficient depth in young position players to make a trade for pitching.
  • Heyman speaks of optimism for an extension for Angels ace John Lackey, since the team was able to hammer out his ’06 contract with agent Steve Hilliard.

Heyman On Pudge, Pedro, Catalanotto

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up; let’s take a look.

  • Heyman says Oakland’s "win now" mandate this winter came from owner Lewis Wolff.
  • The Astros and Marlins are interested in Ivan Rodriguez, "no matter what they say publicly."
  • Heyman says Pedro Martinez is "talking up a Dodgers reunion."  So far, there’s been no indication the Dodgers are entertaining it.
  • Edgar Renteria’s agent was initially asking for a three or four-year deal.
  • It’s no surprise that Frank Catalanotto is available, but the $6MM owed to him is an obvious impediment.
  • According to Heyman, Andruw Jones told Rangers brass he’s flexible on the March 20th decision date in his contract.
  • Heyman describes the Josh Hamilton extension talks as "just getting going" and believe the John Lackey discussions have only been preliminary.

John Lackey Extension Talks Ongoing

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SATURDAY, 10:19pm: DiGiovanna is thinking about five years, $80MM for a possible Lackey extension.  Lackey wouldn’t reveal much about the status of the talks, in his quotes to Bill Plunkett of the O.C. Register.

FRIDAY, 8:43pm: According to Giovanna, Lackey is believed to be seeking a deal in the five-year, $75MM range.

FRIDAY, 4:35pm: Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times says Angels GM Tony Reagins is meeting with Lackey’s agent Steve Hilliard today.

WEDNESDAY: Let’s recap what’s gone on with Angels starter John Lackey since the season ended.

  • In October, Lackey confirmed that he’d wait to see the Angels’ offensive plans before re-signing.  Later that month the Halos exercised his ’09 option.
  • In January, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports was unsure the Angels would be willing to offer Lackey A.J. Burnett money (five years, $82.5MM).
  • The two sides had not had substantive contract talks as of February 18th, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times.  Lackey said "it’s kind of on them" and said that while he’s receptive to staying he values the right to check out free agency.

Today, MLB.com’s Lyle Spencer learned that extension talks are ongoing between the Angels and Lackey’s agent.  Lackey noted that "the top guys still got theirs" on the free agent market.  He knows he’d be the best available free agent starter after the season, but will allow extension discussions to continue until Opening Day.

Angels Hope To Start Lackey Extension Talks

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According to Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times, the Angels plan to contact John Lackey’s agent to initiate negotiations soon on a long-term extension.  Lackey is eligible for free agency after the season. 

The pitcher would like to get something done before the season if it’s going to happen.  He’s open to re-signing but finds free agency alluring as well.  Lackey surely realizes he’d be the best available free agent starter with a strong ’09.

Rosenthal On Lackey, Dunn, Young, Isringhausen

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Here’s a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal.

  • John Lackey is due up for extension talks with the Angels, as he’ll be eligible for free agency after the ’09 season.  He’d easily be the best available starter.  Rosenthal says talks with the Angels should occur before the beginning of the season, but the Halos may not be willing to offer A.J. Burnett money (five years, $82.5MM).  In November, Jayson Stark said Lackey had been telling friends he expects to have an extension by Opening Day.  That came after Lackey’s confirmation he’d wait to see the Angels’ offensive plans before re-signing.
  • The Braves paid $60MM for Derek Lowe, though no one else made a comparable offer.  This is a testament to Scott Boras (and perhaps the Braves’ desperation), though Boras has more challenging work ahead in Manny Ramirez and Jason Varitek.
  • The Red Sox have shown interest in Adam Dunn, one rival exec tells Rosenthal.  Rosenthal considers the possibility a longshot – "a square peg in a round hole."  The Sox could always make a midseason deal if their offense isn’t cutting it.
  • A Rangers official put Michael Young’s chances of being with the team on Opening Day at at least 90%.  The Rangers aren’t interested in moving Ian Kinsler to left field and Young to second base.
  • Rosenthal believes Xavier Nady is likely to garner Type A status when he becomes a free agent after the ’09 season, but half of the equation (his 2009 stats) is missing.
  • Jason Isringhausen is considering four teams, and he’d have a shot to close for those clubs.  The Dodgers aren’t terribly interested, while the Cardinals and Tigers are possibilities.
  • Should the Mets sign Andy Pettitte as well as Randy Wolf or Oliver Perez?  One rival exec suggested the idea.
  • The Astros apparently made a three-year, $28.5MM offer to Wolf before pulling it back.  Looks like he’ll be settling for less.
  • Rosenthal says a Rangers trade for Jermaine Dye is "not happening."  They’ll go with Hank Blalock’s left-handed offense rather than sign an aging veteran.  Blalock is headed into a contract year.
  • If Todd Helton has a healthy spring, the Rockies could shop Garrett Atkins.
  • The Red Sox and D’Backs are not close to a deal involving catcher Miguel Montero.  Arizona will need to add a capable backup catcher if they do find a deal for Montero.

C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Wednesday

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6:19pm: It sounds like Sabathia’s agent Greg Genske is shutting things down for the weekend.  He didn’t reveal anything new to Brewers GM Doug Melvin.  Adam McCalvy also notes that the Brewers will offer Sabathia arbitration, a procedural move.

12:49pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman talked to Yankees people who believe the Angels leaked interest in Sabathia to reduce Tex’s demands.  Those people also believe the Halos will limit their offer to the $100-120MM range.  Other factors: Tex makes more sense for the Angels, Arte Moreno loves him, and signing Sabathia could reduce the chances of extending John Lackey.

Nonetheless, Heyman agrees with a rival executive that the Angels are quite serious about Sabathia.

8:51am: The big news yesterday was the L.A. Times report stating that the Angels "are in discussions with C.C. Sabathia and could offer him a contract that approaches the $140 million bid extended to him by the Yankees." 

Ken Davidoff wrote this morning that the Yankees are reluctant to raise their offer to Sabathia, even if it means he signs with the Halos.  Davidoff says the Yanks would step up their efforts for A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe if they lose Sabathia.

Meanwhile Dan Graziano says Yankees officials scoffed at the idea of the Angels turning their attention to Sabathia.  Those officials believe it’s a ploy to get Mark Teixeira to drop his demands.  Danny Knobler, however, believes the Angels have already moved on from Teixeira.  He says the Angels have long-term concerns about Tex’s knee.

Stark’s Latest: Putz, Manny, Lackey, Ibanez

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Let’s take a look at the latest column from ESPN’s Jayson Stark.

  • Stark does the math and finds 15 potentially available closers versus six clubs in the market for one.  Should result in a few bargains or teams holding on to their surpluses.
  • The Mets don’t seem willing to extend to four years for Francisco Rodriguez.  Stark says J.J. Putz would become the Mets’ top closer target if he’s made available.  MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone wrote a few days ago that the Mets are likely to trade for a reliever with closing experience before attempting to sign one.
  • J.P. Ricciardi quote: "We won’t be involved with Manny."  Ricciardi last month: "He’s on our radar, but maybe not on our radar like some people will report."
  • Despite reports to the contrary, Stark talked to a rival executive who says Jake Peavy made it "onto [the Angels’] radar pretty hard."  Stark speculates that Peavy could fit if the Halos sign Mark Teixeira.
  • It seems likely that the Angels will put out an offer to Teixeira with a deadline, and then either sign him or move on.
  • John Lackey’s been telling friends he expects to have an extension with the Angels by Opening Day.  Lackey indicated last month he’d wait to see the Halos’ offensive plans before re-signing.
  • Stark suspects the Players Union might be OK with C.C. Sabathia turning down a larger offer from the Yankees if he still signed for more than Johan Santana’s $23MM per year.  I don’t really see why Sabathia would worry about the union in any regard.
  • The Dodgers inquired on the asking price of Jason Varitek, with the idea of moving Russell Martin to third base in mind.  They balked at Scott Boras’ demand for Tek, however.
  • Curt Schilling is "more likely than ever" to attempt a late June or early July comeback.
  • Tons of teams have expressed some degree of interest in Raul Ibanez: the Mets, Phillies, Cubs, Cardinals, Nationals, Braves, Royals, Rays, Blue Jays, Rangers, Angels, and Mariners.  Some interesting new ones in there.
  • The Phillies never made a two-year, $21MM offer to Pat Burrell.  Will the Phils at least offer him arbitration?  The rumored offer was questionable from Day 1, as Paul Hagen said Burrell "reportedly turned down a two-year, $22MM offer" but didn’t reference a specific report.
  • Stark believes that the Brewers were not thrilled with the Yankees’ "overbid" for C.C. Sabathia, and therefore would prefer not to trade Mike Cameron to them.  Dan Graziano wrote yesterday about the Yanks’ conversations for Cameron.
  • Roy Oswalt wants the Astros to sign Ben Sheets, but the price tag may be too high.  Stark has the following names on their radar: Randy Wolf, Mike Hampton, Freddy Garcia, Paul Byrd, and maybe Pedro Martinez.  Is Drayton McLane willing to bring Andy Pettitte back?  GM Ed Wade seemed interested in his chat yesterday, saying, "We’ll have to see what develops down the road."

Odds and Ends: Myers, Crede, Giants

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Links for Wednesday…

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