Lackey Leaves, Angels Burned By Hot Stove
The Angels have lost their ace to a playoff rival, and now have some hard choices to make.
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The Angels ace starter, John Lackey, appears headed to Boston — the team that knocked the Angels out of the playoffs last year. That came on the same day a replacement the Angels had their eye on got moved elsewhere, with Seattle getting much better out of the deal.
The Angels have been burned by baseball’s hot stove.
There is some good news: The Angels have reached a deal with slugger Hideki Matsui, the Yankees' World Series MVP. Matsui would serve as the team's DH. But the offensive addition doesn't make up for the damage losing Lackey would inflict on the team's starting rotation.
Multiple reports have Lackey taking a physical for the Boston Red Sox Monday morning, traditionally a precursor to a deal being signed (the rumor is five years at $85 million). If he signs as expected, this would be a big blow to an impressive Angels pitching staff that was the key to making the playoffs last season.
Lackey was 11-8 last season for Los Angeles, but the record belies how well he pitched — he had a 3.83 ERA, averaging just nine hits, two walks and seven strikeouts per nine innings of work. Lackey has been consistently good for years, having had double-digit wins for seven straight years and having the second the best overall ERA in baseball since 2005 (behind the Yankees' CC Sabathia).
Lackey in Boston gives the Red Sox an intimidating rotation with Josh Becket and Jon Lester. The Angels couldn’t get past the Red Sox pitching in the playoffs before they added Lackey.
But things get worse. Last week, Angels third baseman Chone Figgins signed with division rival Seattle. Lackey and Figgins were the two remaining players on the roster from Angels 2002 World Series Championship (Lackey won the deciding game seven of that series as a rookie).
The Angels had been in the running to get another ace, Toronto’s Roy Halladay, but reports are Monday that he will be traded to Philadelphia. What’s worse for Los Angeles is as part of the deal Seattle will pick up Cliff Lee, the Phillies best playoff pitcher last season.
So the Angels lose their ace pitcher, their starting third baseman, and add in that Vladimir Guerrero is almost certain to leave via free agency and things look a little bleek. Pile on top of that Seattle getting said third baseman and a top-flight ace and Angels fans should feel a little ill.
The Halo’s off-season does have a silver lining as the team has reached a one-year deal with Matsui. Matsui, 35, will take over as designated hitter and become the bat that replaces Guerrero.
Even with that, the Angles today are a worse team than the one that ended last season. They have four other solid starting pitchers — Jered Weaver, Scott Kazmir, Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana — but Lackey was the big ace, and there are no more of those on the market. They will be playing a prospect at third base in Brandon Wood.
The Angels have some serious challenges ahead if they want to be as good as last year. Or beat the now-improved Red Sox.
