CHICAGO — The Red Sox (Jason Bay) and the Cardinals (Matt Holliday) have prioritized keeping their star left fielders. However, the Angels’ interest in retaining the top starter on the market, John Lackey, is far more tepid.
In fact, the Angels’ attitude toward Lackey is similar to the one they displayed last offseason when it came to Francisco Rodriguez: They have made underwhelming offers that seem more designed to push one of their own toward the door.
That moved a rival executive to say, “What do the Angels know about John Lackey that we all don’t?” An AL GM said, “The Angels have the money to keep Lackey and they are not pushing to do it. To me that is a red flag.”
Angels GM Tony Reagins said his club has interest in keeping Lackey, but “this is not a vacuum. We have to make smart decisions [on an overall payroll].”
Reagins also said he thought that even if Lackey were not back, a rotation with Jered Weaver, Joe Saunders, Scott Kazmir and Ervin Santana “would be one of the best in the AL.”
Reagins denied what several scouts had said, that the recently signed Bobby Abreu and free agent Chone Figgins were the priorities, and Lackey and Vlad Guerrero were on the back burner. But the early read is that the Angels are not working particularly hard to retain their ace.
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As for Bay, his agents are not even attending the GM Meetings, with one, Joe Urbon, saying by phone, “[Bay] has intangible elements, having proved he can play in Boston and play well in the AL East.”
Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said, “We would love to have him back under the right circumstances.”
The right circumstances are keeping Bay to no more than a four-year contract, probably in the $60 million range.
Urbon, without ever mentioning Holliday, called his client “the most complete player available,” citing offense, defense, baserunning and those intangibles. Urbon said Bay’s zero errors, combined with an AL-high 15 assists for a left fielder, speak to his defense.
However, advanced metrics frown on Bay’s defense — especially in comparison to Holliday’s — and several teams have noted Bay’s poor defense and that he is currently protected by playing in front of the Green Monster. And, interestingly, Epstein mentioned the need for his team “to improve on defense.”
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The Cardinals have needs at third and in the rotation, especially because they think Joel Pineiro will leave. But St. Louis GM John Mozeliak said waiting for Holliday to make a decision will not bring “paralysis” to all decision-making.
Scott Boras habitually takes his best clients late into the offseason to extract all bids and gain a clear gauge of the market. But Mozeliak said he felt there would be “opportunities” for other items they like even if Holliday takes to late December or early January to make a decision.
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In an attempt to win the NL title for a third straight year, the Phillies want to address third base (but probably not at the top of the market with Chone Figgins), add rotation depth (though Phillies officials say it is folly to associate them again with Roy Halladay), find a late-inning reliever with closing experience to provide insurance for Brad Lidge and re-sign Chan Ho Park.
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Giants officials say their budget will be at $90 million, making it unlikely they can play at the top of the market for either Bay or Holliday, though they have been viewed within the industry as a likely suitor.
Either way, the Giants need offense, and feel that with the versatility of Pablo Sandoval (first or third) and the recently re-signed Freddy Sanchez (second or third), they can add just about anywhere.
The Giants also want to re-sign Brad Penny to a one-year deal and would love to have Bengie Molina back on a one-year deal to mentor top prospect Buster Posey. But the Giants believe the Mets will offer Molina a multi-year contract.