Hey, What's Going on Angels?

photo from: www.obsessedwithsports.com

Story By - Mary Clausen

March 21.  If you guessed that John Lackey isn't very happy, you guessed right! He's frustrated with the pace that  his contract extension negotiations are going. He recently expressed regarding that pace, "They're not trying very hard."  He's very happy playing for the Angels and he would like to stay, but he has put himself into a salary "category" that the Angels need to meet and everything is moving along too slowly. 

With the recent large contracts that were signed in New York for Burnett (five years-$82.5 million) and Sabathia (seven years-$171 million), he is talking about wanting something that falls in the middle of those big New York deals.  Lackey's four-year, $27 million contract expires after the 2009 season. It is believed that Lackey is now looking for a five-year $90 million contract at that time.  If he would make it to free agency, he could be the top pitcher on the market.   He has a good career record of 91-63 and 3.81 earned-run average in six-plus seasons.

Lackey is not really interested in giving the Angels a home-town discount either.  He said "They got one of those on my last contract.  My performance has outweighed my last contract. . .This is kind of my turn.  They've had control of my contract for six years.  Now they have  to convince me."

The Angels General Manager Tony Reagins did not say anything exciting was going with John's agent, Steve Hilliard.  He said "There are no updates. It's really unchanged. We like John.  We'd like him to be in our organization long-term.  We'll see where that ends up."

John has given the Angels a deadline of the April 6 Season Opener for a decision.  He commented that he doesn't want to deal with it during the season because that is for  "winning and not handling business."