Angels Get Ready For A Busy Off Season

The Angels will have some decisions to make this off-season regarding at least three of their players.  The Angels hold options on Garret Anderson, Vlad Guerrero, and John Lackey for the 2009 season.

John Lackey - $9M club option ($0.5M buyout)
Guerrero and Lackey's option are pretty much no-brainers, as they both will most likely be exercised.  The Angels may attempt to sign both players to extensions rather than exercise a one-year option, with the higher priority being Lackey.  Lackey will be 30 years old on opening day of 2009, and is in the midst of his prime as the leader of the Angels' pitching staff.  Although he started the 2008 season on the disabled list, this was the first time he had missed any time due to injury and there appeared to be no lingering effects of his forearm strain the rest of the season.  Locking up Lackey for another three or four years at the right price seems like it'd be something the Angels would do, as it would avoid possibly losing the pitcher to free agency, but Lackey has stated he wants to wait to see what moves the Angels make to improve their offense before signing an extension to stay in Anaheim.  Apparently he's pissed about the Angels' poor post-season performance.

Vlad Guerrero - $15M club option ($3M buyout)
Guerrero is definitely entering the declining years of his career and is no longer one of the top-tier players, but that's not to say he couldn't have one or two big years left in his body.  He's still a very good, if not a great player at times, but the decline of his offensive numbers and the questionable health of his knees have taken the 32 year old Guerrero from one of the top 3 players in the majors to an above average player.  Over the last 5 seasons, Guerrero's slugging percentage has decreased each year from .598 in 2004 to a career low (since playing full-time) .521 in 2008.  Not picking up Guerrero's option, is well, not an option for the Angels and even negotiating an extension for an additional 2-3 years is probably in the Angels' best interest.

Garret Anderson - $14M club option ($3M buyout)
Garret Anderson is in a different situation than Lackey or Guerrero.  Anderson's $14 million option is above the 36 year-old's value, so his days as an Angel may be over if he's unwilling to sign for a lot less.  Anderson still has value as a fourth outfielder / DH, but the Angels could use that $14M for more productive player(s).

Angels Free Agents:
In order to receive any compensatory draft picks for losing a free agent, the Angels must offer arbitration to their eligible free agents (here's an explanation of the free agent compensation rule).  The Angels will most likely offer arbitration to all of their free agent players, with the exception of Juan Rivera who will not net the Angels a draft pick if he signs with another team.  Teixeira and Rodriguez will for sure decline arbitration and will test the free agent market.

Mark Teixeira - Type A
It's not going to be easy for the Angels to re-sign Teixeira, as he's most likely going to the highest bidder.

Francisco Rodriguez - Type A
K-Rod's days as the Angels' closer are probably over unless he's willing to sign for less than market value to stay in Anaheim.  The rumors of a 4-5 year deal in the range of $14M to $15M are, in my opinion, is too much for a one-inning pitcher.

Jon Garland - Type B
Garland did a good job as the #5 pitcher in the Angels' rotation, but he's expected to sign for at least the $12M he earned in 2008.  Some club should be willing to sign him for that amount, but it doesn't seem like it'll be the Angels.  If the Angels offer Garland arbitration and he accepts, Garland would likely receive a small raise over his 2008 salary to return to the Angels rotation.

Juan Rivera - None
The 30 year-old outfielder saw his value increase when he took over for the struggling Gary Matthews Jr., but his production went down towards the end of the season and so did his value.  He will most likely sign with another team, one willing to play him full-time.

Darren Oliver - Type A
Oliver is in the strange position as he probably pitched too well for his own good.  I've read Oliver will be classified as a type A free agent meaning any team that signs him would have to give up a first round draft pick.  Oliver is 38 years-old and will probably not find too many offers from other teams.  I can see the Angels offering him arbitration and then doing a one-year deal in the range of $3M-$4M, with an option for a second year. This might be the best offer Oliver will see.

Daily Notes:

• It seems Jake Peavy likes Anaheim - well, what isn't there to like?  The San Diego Padres are exploring the possibility of trading their stud pitcher this winter and it could become the same scenario as last winter when the Twins were looking to trade Johan Santana.  Santana eventually went to the Mets for outfielder Carlos Gomez and 3 minor league pitchers and the Padres could expect at least that much in a deal for their #1 starter.  Peavy lives north of San Diego and his agent, Barry Axelrod stated, “the ability or opportunity to win is very important to Jake, and hopefully some sort of coincidence with his and his family's lifestyle.”  Peavy cares where he plays and holds a full no-trade clause (as did Santana) and he has told the Padres he'd be willing to waive his NTC only if he were traded to another National League team or...the Angels.  Axelrod acknowledged that the Angels are one AL club that would draw extra consideration.  Not only is Peavy one of the best pitchers in the majors, he is signed to a relative bargain contract that would pay him $11 million, $15 million, $16 million and $17 million over the next four years, plus a $22 million option in 2013 ($4M buy-out), and he's just 27 years-old (in May).
• Not a whole lot going on until after the World Series is over and players become free agents.  There are a few trade rumors floating around.  One has the Angels interested in Florida's Dan Uggla.  According to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times:
  
  "The Angels could move Figgins to left field, if they do not bring Anderson back. They have considered whether to compensate for the loss of Teixeira's big bat by installing Brandon Wood in the infield, trying to trade for infielder Dan Uggla of the Florida Marlins, or both."
  
  There would have to be a lot of things settled before the Angels would start looking at a deal like this.