Matthews to take a bite of the Big Apple!

It was never Gary Matthews Jr.'s fault the Angels over payed for him.  Bill Stoneman always had a way of signing talent that never lived up to the expectations of the Halo Faithful.  Does anyone remember when the Angels front office went out and signed a fat, aging first baseman... Cecil Fielder.  Then attempted to right the ship by signing a fatter more aged first baseman... Mo Vaughn.  In that situation, it didn't work out.  Well Stoneman signed GMJ for far more money than he should have.  With numbers that may have been inflated with banned substances.  Tony Reagins attempted to right the signing of his former mentor Stoneman.  And he did, because Torii Hunter was great.  But what to do with Stoneman's little mistake.

The idea so far had been to play him as a 4th Man.  He would come in when needed.  And he was overpaid, but he did his job and with few complaints.  He looked great with Hunter was out with injury.  But GMJ wanted out.  And said so at the end of the season.

"I don't expect to be back; it's time to move on," Matthews said. "I'm ready to play for an organization that wants me to play every day. This organization has other plans, and that's OK."

And when many of the Angel faithful saw Matthews heading for Atlanta, Reagins managed to send Matthews to the New York Mets, got a choice reliever in Brian Stokes, and it only cost the Angels $21MM!  The price was high, but it was the only option the Angels had.  Matthews got what he wanted, out of the franchise.  The Angels got what they wanted, the ability to keep another AAA on the depth chart, be it Peter Bourjos, Chris Pettit, or Terry Evans. And even managed to strengthen one of the few weakness the Angels of 2009 had. Good move for Matthews, but a better move for the Angel's Front Office. So long Matthews!

Who will be our new Lackey?

I got this Mike! This is mine!
--John Lackey

Those were the last words I saw out of John Lackey's mouth. And I said it right their that this was the last time that Lackey would pitch for the Angels. It really to come to much a surprise when John Lackey filed for free agency. Had the season ended with a World Series Ring, Lackey probably would have still tested the market. And when he declined arbitration, I was assuming that Lackey would make his way to a NL East team. I was thinking the Mets.

And it has been fairly well documented on this site and others, I have a hate for the Boston Red Sox that is matched by no other team. I do not hate the Rangers, the Dodgers, or even the Yankees as much as I hate the Red Sox. But never would I have thought when John Lackey wanted AJ Burnet money, that John Henry would be the one signing the check.

I was nearly relieved when the Yankees came to terms with Andy Pettitte and started to believe the Halosphere of thinking the Angels actually had a chance to re-sign Lackey with the 5 Year 60MM deal. Well I was wrong.

Big John Lackey is now a member of the Boston Red Sox rotation and figures to slot in as a #3 starter for the Red Sox. I'm kind of surprised that Lackey would go to the Red Sox, I know this is a business, but its the Red Sox. The bane of the Halos Post Season in 2004, 2007, and 2008, was all but exercised in 2009 until the post-season. John Lackey who pitched a terrific post-season is now heading to Boston. And maybe just maybe all the demons of the past haven't been exercised. I'm not really happy for Lackey at all, his money isn't deserved. Boston overpaid for him and in two years they will know it. Enjoy the Chowder, bad weather and worse women. Enjoy the front porch in Left Field, where the AL East best will be putting your curve balls. Thanks for the memories!

The Ace who says Neigh-- to Arbitratoin

In a move that surprised no one, the Angels offer of arbitration was refused by both John Lackey and Chone Figgins. The Diamond Aces said goodbye to Figgins when it was announced he had signed a deal with the Seattle Mariners. It might not be too long before the Angels say goodbye to John Lackey as well. It is rumored that he is looking for a five-year, $82.5MM deal, which is comparable to what AJ Burnet got. Obviously their needs to be a suitor to pay that amount of money. The Yankees certainly overspent on Burnet, but it doesn't look like they will be making that same offer to Lackey. Burnet's closest suitor was the Atlanta Braves who offered four-years, 60MM. Surely the Angels would pay 15MM a year for 4 to 5 years for Lackey. But that probably will not be enough to get a deal done with Lackey. There are some rumors that the Mets might be interested in Lackey. If the Mets do decided to sign John Lackey, the Angels would then receive a compensatory picks from the Mets. Most likely their 2nd Round pick, because their 1st Round pick would be protected. There is sill a chance that Lackey will return to Anaheim, however anything can happen. We'll just have to wait and see.

Do you think the Mets will sign Lackey? Where do you think John Lackey will sign? Please leave a comment.