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.

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