JakeYonkel wrote:They must REALLY want Lowell out of town. Paying 3/4 of his salary! That's absurd!
Lowell for $3M is a good deal for the Rangers. And Ramirez can become their backup next year when Varitek goes. Good trade for both sides really. But this means that Boston is probably going to grab Adrian Beltre now.
They also might be working a deal with SD for Adrian Gonzalez and moving Youkilis back to 3rd.
The talk here is that after Lowell criticized management for the way they handle rain outs/delays that they have wanted him out regardless of what they got in return and that he has been aggressively shopped to just about every GM that will pick up the phone.
Nah. That has about as much truth to it as Nomah thinking Lucchino had his phone bugged. Lowell was moved because after his hip surgery he had no more range. I knew the 4 year deal was a bad idea. Lowell took less money and less years to stay in Boston. The deal is when having him makes him a liability, it's time to say goodbye.
The speak coming out of the Winter Meetings right now is Bay is gone. Rosenthal has said that Boston made a second offer, but it has been rejected since another mystery team has offered more.
2010 is a restructuring year. I think they'll pick up someone like Cameron and go with a platoon in the OF to shore up the defense. Go with a defense-first minded team. The only problem with that is were still stuck with Ellsbury, who in 2009 UZR and other related metrics had him as the worst CF in baseball.
The FA market is too thin. They could go after Holliday who will command a contract in the 7/100 range, remember Bora$ is his agent though. Or they could stand pat until next season, and be out bid by NY when Crawford hits Free Agency.
killeverything wrote:The speak coming out of the Winter Meetings right now is Bay is gone. Rosenthal has said that Boston made a second offer, but it has been rejected since another mystery team has offered more.
I saw last night that Bay had rejected 4yr/60mil (wasn't that the first offer?) and the Mets had offered 4yr/65mil or so.
bonedog wrote:I let Facedown get the better of me
bonedog wrote:My first kid will be born when I am 47.
killeverything wrote:The speak coming out of the Winter Meetings right now is Bay is gone. Rosenthal has said that Boston made a second offer, but it has been rejected since another mystery team has offered more.
I saw last night that Bay had rejected 4yr/60mil (wasn't that the first offer?) and the Mets had offered 4yr/65mil or so.
Fuck I hope it's not NY. If he signs there, Boston doesn't get a top draft pick, since their's is protected. I'm not sure how it works with that, but Bay being a type A Free Agent they would get a team's #1 with whoever signs him. Except for the Mets. Fuck that.
It just doesn't seem accurate. The Sox wouldn't offer the same deal that had already been rejected (unless Bay was out of options) and 5mil more doesn't seem that it would take the Sox out of the running. Something isn't right.
bonedog wrote:I let Facedown get the better of me
bonedog wrote:My first kid will be born when I am 47.
I know he's typically a blowhard and top notch jackass, but Dan Shaughnessy kinda makes sense in this article from last week...at least for Sox fans.
From Boston.com 12/10/09
Sox have a bridge to sell us Fans shouldn’t buy this approach Storm the gates of Fenway Park. Cancel your NESN package. Stick your head out the window and say, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!’’
Do not buy the bill of goods the Red Sox are selling.
John Henry and Theo Epstein are preparing you for the Big Slide. While they continue to raise ticket prices and drain every dollar out of Fenway, they are telling you to put your expectations on the shelf. No more “championship-driven’’ campaign for your Red Sox. The Sox are building a “bridge’’ for the future. They are giving up on competing with those big, bad Yankees.
What a joke. First we had Sarah Palin’s Bridge to Nowhere. Then we had Bob Kraft donating thousands to Deval Patrick in an obvious (thus far, failed) effort to get the government to pay for a $9 million bridge to connect a couple of his parking lots. Now it’s Theo selling his bridge between championship seasons.
Please. Sounds to me like a bridge over troubled waters.
In an e-mail to the Globe’s Amalie Benjamin last month Henry explained that the Sox might not be as good this year, writing, “Those reali ties are a function of available talent and age-related transitioning once again, as we did prior to 2007.’’
Tuesday at the winter meetings in Indianapolis, Epstein hammered at the same theme with “we’re kind of in a bridge period. We still think that if we push some of the right buttons, we can be competitive at the very highest levels for the next two years. But we don’t want to compromise too much of the future for that competitiveness during the bridge period.’’
Translation: Don’t expect us to make any big deals. We don’t want to spend any more money on payroll. We’ve already blown enough on the likes of Matt Clement, Edgar Renteria, Julio Lugo, J.D. Drew, Daisuke Matsuzaka, John Smoltz, and Brad Penny. Let the Yankees spend the money. We’re not going to compete with them anymore.
So keep ponying up the dough for those Fenway tours and wait for our “kids.’’ You’re gonna love Jose Iglesias, Ryan Kalish, Ryan Westmoreland, Casey Kelly, and Lars Anderson, but they are a couple of years away.
Just like Juan Bustabad was always a couple of years away.
I’m not buying. The Sox have the dough to sign Matt Holliday or Jason Bay. Just like they had the money to bag Mark Teixeira last winter. But they keep getting beaten by the Yankees and then they cry about it.
Stop. It’s hideous of the Sox and their fans to complain about the Yankees buying championships. Sure, the Yanks can afford Teixeira, CC Sabathia, and A.J. Burnett, just like the Sox were able to afford Matsuzaka and Drew. The Sox got Curt Schilling and Victor Martinez the same way the Yankees got Curtis Granderson this week. The Sox are not the Pirates. They are not the Brewers or the A’s. The Sox are Haves, not Have-Nots. Like the Yankees, the Sox are happy to raid the rosters of teams that can’t afford high-priced talent.
Oh, and last time I checked the Yankees developed Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, Phil Hughes, and Joba Chamberlain. They developed the players they traded in the deal that brought Granderson.
Nothing is more pathetic than the Red Sox crying about the Yankees - unless it’s Henry crying about revenue sharing. Henry loved commissioner Bud Selig when Uncle Bud delivered the team to him in the bag job sale of 2002. Here we are seven years later and Henry is doing something the Yankees never did; he’s complaining about his luxury tax money going to the Royals and the Pirates.
The Yankees blew past the Red Sox in 2009 and New York just got better. Granderson is an All-Star leadoff hitter, a defensive artist in center field, and a 30-home run guy in his prime. Meanwhile, the Sox are standing still and holding the line on their four-year offer for Bay. If Bay winds up in New York, Anaheim, or Seattle, the Sox are going to have to deal with Scott Boras for Holliday. Or do nothing and remind us that the kids will be available to help in 2012.
It’s nice that Theo has a passion for player development, but asking fans to take a year off is outrageous. Henry is a billionaire and the Sox are making bundles of money. If you don’t believe that, call their partners at Ace Ticket and try to score a few tickets.
Red Sox fans love their team unconditionally. For eight seasons, Henry and Co. returned the love, rebuilding Fenway and overtaking/embarrassing the Yankees.
Now the Yankees are back on top and it feels like the Sox - happy with their trendy, ever-filled ballpark - are giving up. The ballpark is done (thanks for helping, Janet Marie Smith, now take a hike) and the championships have been won. Loyal fans can keep coming to Fenway and singing “Sweet Caroline’’. Just don’t expect the Sox to compete with the Yankees this winter or next season.
Facedown wrote:It just doesn't seem accurate. The Sox wouldn't offer the same deal that had already been rejected (unless Bay was out of options) and 5mil more doesn't seem that it would take the Sox out of the running. Something isn't right.
They set their price and they won't go past it. Rumors circultating state that Bay is seeking a 6 year deal, at 20 million per.
According to Ken Rosenthal the Mighty Red Sox are close to signing Lackey. He just took a physical for the team, and the reports are that he's nearing a deal.
This could mean many things. It could set up a precursor to Buchholz for Gonzalez. It also could keep the MFY out of the Halladay hunt, since the main reason they were in it ( much like Santana ) was to keep him out of Boston.
A rotation of Lester, Beckett, Matsuzaka, Lackey and Buchholz/Wakefield is pretty fucking tough. Better than what the MFY has right now. Although that big ass bat is still missing.
My buddy at ESPN radio in Atlantic City reporting tentative huge deal...Phillies get Halladay, Cliff Lee to Seattle. Don't know rest of particulars, will post when I get more.
HeavyMetalZombie666 wrote:Of course your asshole is going to be sore when you volunteer for an asspounding and not set any boundaries at all.
WhiteHouseSubsAC wrote:My buddy at ESPN radio in Atlantic City reporting tentative huge deal...Phillies get Halladay, Cliff Lee to Seattle. Don't know rest of particulars, will post when I get more.
So far it's Halladay to the Phils, Lee to the Mariners and the Jays getting prospects.
Must be some great prospects if that's all they're getting.
bonedog wrote:I let Facedown get the better of me
bonedog wrote:My first kid will be born when I am 47.
All-Star pitcher Roy Halladay, who has been a regular subject of trade talk since before last July's deadline, is headed to the Philadelphia Phillies, SI.com is reporting.
Halladay
Halladay
According to the report, Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee is likely headed to the Seattle Mariners as part of a three-team trade.
Halladay was entering the final year of his Toronto contract.
The Phillies tried to acquire Halladay last season, but couldn't agree to terms with the Toronto Blue Jays. They then dealt for Lee instead.
Halladay, 32, is 148-76 lifetime with a 3.43 ERA. He won the 2003 Cy Young Award and finished in the top five in the Cy Young voting four other times.
Halladay went 17-10 with a 2.79 ERA in 32 starts for Toronto last season. He threw 239 innings and led the league with nine complete games.
Lee, who was acquired from the Indians on July 29 for four minor leaguers, quickly became Philadelphia's ace. Lee posted a 3.39 ERA in 12 starts for the Phillies and then went 4-0 with a 1.56 mark in five postseason outings, including 2-0 in the World Series.
Lee, the 2008 AL Cy Young winner with Cleveland, will make $8 million in 2010 and then be eligible for free agency.
HeavyMetalZombie666 wrote:Of course your asshole is going to be sore when you volunteer for an asspounding and not set any boundaries at all.
Wow. It's keeps him out of the AL East, continues to let Philly fuck the Mets, and sets them up with one of....if not the best starter in Baseball. The NL just got a hell of a lot tougher.
At first I was like, "FUUUUUUUUUCK" when I heard about Halladay going to the Phils. But Cliff Lee going to Seattle kinda lessens the blow. IMO, Lee is the better of the two. But that one-two punch, plus Hamels, would've been SICK. Whew.
Odd deal. Halladay is better than Lee but not by all that much. Would be one thing if they took a run with both but this just doesn't make them much better, if any. Seattle, with Lee and Felix, (also Figgins) took a big step forward. If they pick up Bay and some spare parts they will be looking strong in the West with a fading Angels team.
Nice move for Boston. Lackey is a better risk than the likes of Smoltz and Penny etc. even if he has an issue at some point. Finally making a move while not trying to look like a genius. Looks like they are picking up Mike Cameron as well. Downgrade from Bay, but he's not worth his asking price or for that matter, what Boston already reportedly offered him.
Yankees seem willing to let Matsui walk on the cheap. Interesting. I'll miss that guy if he goes.
Yeah, the Cameron signing is kinda irrelevant, IMO. Not a game changer. But I guess they're saying FU to Jason Bay's demands and not in the running for Matt Holliday, so Cameron's a defensive-minded stopgap for 2 years with a little power.
As far as Matsui to the Angels, I'm puzzled by this one. If the deal is really for $6.5M as they say, I don't see how the Yankees let him get away. It's half of what he made this past year. Unless they're REALLY not crazy about his knees and know something we all don't. Matsui for that cost is a good value though. I'd actually kinda like to see the Yankees sign Vlad.
Sheep_Mafia wrote:Odd deal. Halladay is better than Lee but not by all that much. Would be one thing if they took a run with both but this just doesn't make them much better, if any. Seattle, with Lee and Felix, (also Figgins) took a big step forward. If they pick up Bay and some spare parts they will be looking strong in the West with a fading Angels team.
Nice move for Boston. Lackey is a better risk than the likes of Smoltz and Penny etc. even if he has an issue at some point. Finally making a move while not trying to look like a genius. Looks like they are picking up Mike Cameron as well. Downgrade from Bay, but he's not worth his asking price or for that matter, what Boston already reportedly offered him.
Yankees seem willing to let Matsui walk on the cheap. Interesting. I'll miss that guy if he goes.
Seattle has a good team, they just need some offense. Bay want's to go there, since he lives there. Adding his bat in that cavernous LF is against the foundation the team is built on. His RA with his -9 defense, I believe outweighs his Runs and RBI. I want to say I've seen the numbers crunched before with that evidence. If not maybe I'll do it. I need to get back into that.
The reported deal with Cameron is 2 years. I think the plan is to have him platoon with Hermida, if Bay or Holliday can't be signed. There's all kinds of talk about going a defense/pitching heavy team this year. Maybe they want Cameron to help Jacoby get a better read on balls. I think they're going to rely on what they have offensively right now. Which means they'll lose by 3-2 instead of 5-2. We shall see. I'm content with a 95 win team and a trip to the Playoffs.
With Matsui I can understand the saddness some of y'all feel. I do agree they should've let him go though. He's well on his way to becoming a full-time DH, which is where Posada is heading too. He had a career year last year, as did Traitor. It's highly likely he'll regress to the mean this upcoming season. The dude can still hit. I think that the MFY should try to re-sign Traitor. The problem is they want a two year deal, Bora$ want's four.
As a Mighty Red Sox fan, I'm happy that we'll see Matsui less with Anaheim. There was no one in the MFY's line-up that scared me more than him. Need a big hit? Matsui's your man. Being shutdown at Fenway? Don't worry Matsui leads off next inning.
Sheep_Mafia wrote:Odd deal. Halladay is better than Lee but not by all that much. Would be one thing if they took a run with both but this just doesn't make them much better, if any. Seattle, with Lee and Felix, (also Figgins) took a big step forward. If they pick up Bay and some spare parts they will be looking strong in the West with a fading Angels team.
Nice move for Boston. Lackey is a better risk than the likes of Smoltz and Penny etc. even if he has an issue at some point. Finally making a move while not trying to look like a genius. Looks like they are picking up Mike Cameron as well. Downgrade from Bay, but he's not worth his asking price or for that matter, what Boston already reportedly offered him.
Yankees seem willing to let Matsui walk on the cheap. Interesting. I'll miss that guy if he goes.
Seattle has a good team, they just need some offense. Bay want's to go there, since he lives there. Adding his bat in that cavernous LF is against the foundation the team is built on. His RA with his -9 defense, I believe outweighs his Runs and RBI. I want to say I've seen the numbers crunched before with that evidence. If not maybe I'll do it. I need to get back into that.
The reported deal with Cameron is 2 years. I think the plan is to have him platoon with Hermida, if Bay or Holliday can't be signed. There's all kinds of talk about going a defense/pitching heavy team this year. Maybe they want Cameron to help Jacoby get a better read on balls. I think they're going to rely on what they have offensively right now. Which means they'll lose by 3-2 instead of 5-2. We shall see. I'm content with a 95 win team and a trip to the Playoffs.
With Matsui I can understand the saddness some of y'all feel. I do agree they should've let him go though. He's well on his way to becoming a full-time DH, which is where Posada is heading too. He had a career year last year, as did Traitor. It's highly likely he'll regress to the mean this upcoming season. The dude can still hit. I think that the MFY should try to re-sign Traitor. The problem is they want a two year deal, Bora$ want's four.
As a Mighty Red Sox fan, I'm happy that we'll see Matsui less with Anaheim. There was no one in the MFY's line-up that scared me more than him. Need a big hit? Matsui's your man. Being shutdown at Fenway? Don't worry Matsui leads off next inning.
Captain Clutch my ass.
Yankees are still the class of the AL East. Enjoy 2nd place.
Sheep_Mafia wrote:Odd deal. Halladay is better than Lee but not by all that much. Would be one thing if they took a run with both but this just doesn't make them much better, if any. Seattle, with Lee and Felix, (also Figgins) took a big step forward. If they pick up Bay and some spare parts they will be looking strong in the West with a fading Angels team.
Nice move for Boston. Lackey is a better risk than the likes of Smoltz and Penny etc. even if he has an issue at some point. Finally making a move while not trying to look like a genius. Looks like they are picking up Mike Cameron as well. Downgrade from Bay, but he's not worth his asking price or for that matter, what Boston already reportedly offered him.
Yankees seem willing to let Matsui walk on the cheap. Interesting. I'll miss that guy if he goes.
Seattle has a good team, they just need some offense. Bay want's to go there, since he lives there. Adding his bat in that cavernous LF is against the foundation the team is built on. His RA with his -9 defense, I believe outweighs his Runs and RBI. I want to say I've seen the numbers crunched before with that evidence. If not maybe I'll do it. I need to get back into that.
The reported deal with Cameron is 2 years. I think the plan is to have him platoon with Hermida, if Bay or Holliday can't be signed. There's all kinds of talk about going a defense/pitching heavy team this year. Maybe they want Cameron to help Jacoby get a better read on balls. I think they're going to rely on what they have offensively right now. Which means they'll lose by 3-2 instead of 5-2. We shall see. I'm content with a 95 win team and a trip to the Playoffs.
With Matsui I can understand the saddness some of y'all feel. I do agree they should've let him go though. He's well on his way to becoming a full-time DH, which is where Posada is heading too. He had a career year last year, as did Traitor. It's highly likely he'll regress to the mean this upcoming season. The dude can still hit. I think that the MFY should try to re-sign Traitor. The problem is they want a two year deal, Bora$ want's four.
As a Mighty Red Sox fan, I'm happy that we'll see Matsui less with Anaheim. There was no one in the MFY's line-up that scared me more than him. Need a big hit? Matsui's your man. Being shutdown at Fenway? Don't worry Matsui leads off next inning.
Captain Clutch my ass.
Yankees are still the class of the AL East. Enjoy 2nd place.
Hey, second to the last time we enjoyed second place behind NY, we gave you the biggest bitchslap in history. One that took half a billion dollars to overcome.
Lackey to the Red Sox seems like the first good acquisition of the winter for the team.
Cameron?
I can only hope he is a piece of trade bait for a bigger deal.
We can not get rid of the bats of Bay and Lowell, and not add power hitters.
I would guess that at least one power hitter will be coming to take Lowells spot in the infield.
Now for the weakest hitting outfield in baseball.
Cameron - Ellsbury - Drew.
....and for a team that plays at Fenway Park no less.
The bigger question in my mind.....what the fuck did the Sox do to piss off Jason Bay....he had a career year, fans loved him..
...I know he wants a fifth year, but it seems like it may be more than that.....feelings may have been hurt and he just dont wanna come back.
bang wrote:Lackey to the Red Sox seems like the first good acquisition of the winter for the team.
Cameron?
I can only hope he is a piece of trade bait for a bigger deal.
We can not get rid of the bats of Bay and Lowell, and not add power hitters.
I would guess that at least one power hitter will be coming to take Lowells spot in the infield.
Now for the weakest hitting outfield in baseball.
Cameron - Ellsbury - Drew.
....and for a team that plays at Fenway Park no less.
The bigger question in my mind.....what the fuck did the Sox do to piss off Jason Bay....he had a career year, fans loved him..
...I know he wants a fifth year, but it seems like it may be more than that.....feelings may have been hurt and he just dont wanna come back.
I think that Cameron is added because he can still hit decently, but more along the lines for his defense. With the additions of late ( Scutaro excluded ) the team is gearing towards defense. Especially with trying to bring in Beltre to man third.
Offensively they're not anemic, but there is no Manny / Ortiz. Now it's Teixeira / Arod as the big 3-4. I like the Lackey addition, especially if they extend Beckett. That sets up a very good pitching core for a while. Which gives them the ability to obtain a big bat at the trade deadline or now. Buchholz is sticking out like a sore thumb currently. I wouldn't be surprised ( although I'm hoping they hold onto him ) to see him moved for Cabrera or Gonzalez ( Gonzalez has made it known he wants to be traded to Boston ).
As for Bay I don't know what, if anything has happened. I know he desires more years than they were willing to give. Plus it's his first time hitting Free Agency. He had a career year, and will get a big payday. I can't hate on the guy for wanting to cash in.
bang wrote:Lackey to the Red Sox seems like the first good acquisition of the winter for the team.
Cameron?
I can only hope he is a piece of trade bait for a bigger deal.
We can not get rid of the bats of Bay and Lowell, and not add power hitters.
I would guess that at least one power hitter will be coming to take Lowells spot in the infield.
Now for the weakest hitting outfield in baseball.
Cameron - Ellsbury - Drew.
....and for a team that plays at Fenway Park no less.
The bigger question in my mind.....what the fuck did the Sox do to piss off Jason Bay....he had a career year, fans loved him..
...I know he wants a fifth year, but it seems like it may be more than that.....feelings may have been hurt and he just dont wanna come back.
I think that Cameron is added because he can still hit decently, but more along the lines for his defense. With the additions of late ( Scutaro excluded ) the team is gearing towards defense. Especially with trying to bring in Beltre to man third.
Offensively they're not anemic, but there is no Manny / Ortiz. Now it's Teixeira / Arod as the big 3-4. I like the Lackey addition, especially if they extend Beckett. That sets up a very good pitching core for a while. Which gives them the ability to obtain a big bat at the trade deadline or now. Buchholz is sticking out like a sore thumb currently. I wouldn't be surprised ( although I'm hoping they hold onto him ) to see him moved for Cabrera or Gonzalez ( Gonzalez has made it known he wants to be traded to Boston ).
As for Bay I don't know what, if anything has happened. I know he desires more years than they were willing to give. Plus it's his first time hitting Free Agency. He had a career year, and will get a big payday. I can't hate on the guy for wanting to cash in.
Fuck it, I still miss Manny.
I think Lackey will be good.
But I can't help thinking that signing him the same day as Cameron is kind of a smoke screen to try and candy coat the bitter pill that is "Jason Bay not coming back to Boston."
Oh yeah, and the latest word is the Yankees have started talking seriously to Bay's agent about signing him.
bang wrote:Lackey to the Red Sox seems like the first good acquisition of the winter for the team.
Cameron?
I can only hope he is a piece of trade bait for a bigger deal.
We can not get rid of the bats of Bay and Lowell, and not add power hitters.
I would guess that at least one power hitter will be coming to take Lowells spot in the infield.
Now for the weakest hitting outfield in baseball.
Cameron - Ellsbury - Drew.
....and for a team that plays at Fenway Park no less.
The bigger question in my mind.....what the fuck did the Sox do to piss off Jason Bay....he had a career year, fans loved him..
...I know he wants a fifth year, but it seems like it may be more than that.....feelings may have been hurt and he just dont wanna come back.
I think that Cameron is added because he can still hit decently, but more along the lines for his defense. With the additions of late ( Scutaro excluded ) the team is gearing towards defense. Especially with trying to bring in Beltre to man third.
Offensively they're not anemic, but there is no Manny / Ortiz. Now it's Teixeira / Arod as the big 3-4. I like the Lackey addition, especially if they extend Beckett. That sets up a very good pitching core for a while. Which gives them the ability to obtain a big bat at the trade deadline or now. Buchholz is sticking out like a sore thumb currently. I wouldn't be surprised ( although I'm hoping they hold onto him ) to see him moved for Cabrera or Gonzalez ( Gonzalez has made it known he wants to be traded to Boston ).
As for Bay I don't know what, if anything has happened. I know he desires more years than they were willing to give. Plus it's his first time hitting Free Agency. He had a career year, and will get a big payday. I can't hate on the guy for wanting to cash in.
Fuck it, I still miss Manny.
I think Lackey will be good.
But I can't help thinking that signing him the same day as Cameron is kind of a smoke screen to try and candy coat the bitter pill that is "Jason Bay not coming back to Boston."
Oh yeah, and the latest word is the Yankees have started talking seriously to Bay's agent about signing him.
Let em'. I haven't heard that, but I'm not surprised. I think NY would be better served by getting Traitor or someone on a one year deal, and then going after Crawford next season. which I thought was the plan.
I think it's absurd to think that Boston is done with Bay completely. Cameron will have to be platooned with someone. I just the think the FO has set their price and won't get into a bidding war. Especially with Holliday being represented by Boras. Think about this. If Boston refuses to bid on a big Boras client, that kind of fucks him from getting a massive bidding war ( with his notorious mystery teams ). You can't say well "mystery team" will give him this. Who? It's not NY, it's not Boston. That fucks him. I like it.
*edit*
I read that the MFY have expressed interest in Bay, although no offer was made, just opened talks.
That would be awesome. Jason Bay's defense in that massive LF? His slugging in that massive LF? They would have to get him for a four to five year deal. That would be one too many DHs playing fielding positions by then. Plus I think it would bring me great joy to watch Bay try to hit Buchholz's curveball. Yes, that pleases me.
I'm guessing the deciding factor for Lackey was the fifth year. I'm pretty sure the Angels weren't going to go beyond four years for him, which I think is good. Signing pitchers to five or six year deals is always a big risk. I'll miss having him on the Angels for sure, but I'm still glad they didn't go five for him.
I kinda like the pickup of Matsui. I think Vlad is on a rapid decline. His bat speed just isn't there and he can't catch up to and drive those bad pitches he used to mash out of the park. He can't play the OF any more so that makes him a DH only, and with his likely power decline, I don't think he's even a good option there. I love the dude and was glad to have him on the team, but I think it is time for him to move on.
I'm slightly worried about Seattle and will be a little more so if they pick up Bay. A 1-2 rotation of Hernandez/Lee is incredible. If their offense gets better, they will be dangerous.
