The Angels have exercised 30-year old righty starting pitcher John Lackey’s option for the 2009 season valued at $9 million bucks. That is a bargain as many pitchers not in Lackey’s league make more money that he does. Lackey pitched in 24 games (all starts) for the Angels last season and he was 12-5 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Lackey has now pitched in 207 games (206 starts) for the Angels and he is 91-63 with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. This was another smart move by the Angels as Lackey is one of the best pitchers in the American League.

The Angels have exercised their 2009 option for Vladimir Guerrero valued at $15 million bucks. The 32-year old righty swinging outfielder played in 143 games for the Angels in 2008 at he was 164 for 541 (.303 avg, .886 OPS) with 85 runs scored, 27 homers and 91 RBIs. Guerrero has been the best player on the Angels since he arrived 5 years ago as a free agent. Guerrero has played in 746 games for the Angels and he is 921 for 2,854 (.323 avg) with 485 runs scored, 158 homers, 566 RBIs and 50 stolen bases. This was a very smart move for the Angels as Guerrero is still one of the best right fielders in all of baseball.

The Angels have declined 36-year old lefty swinging outfielder Garret Anderson’s $14 million dollar option for the 2009 season making him a free agent. The Angels might try to bring Anderson back at a discounted price but he still has life in his bat so some team might give him a good chunk of change. Anderson played in 145 games for the Angels last year and he was 163 for 557 (.293 avg, .758 OPS) with 66 runs scored, 15 homers, 84 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Anderson is one of the best players in Angels’ history so it would be a shame to watch him leave. Anderson has played in 2,031 games in his career with the Angels and he is 2,368 for 7,989 (.296 avg, .796 OPS) with 1,024 runs scored, 272 homers, 1,292 RBIs and 78 stolen bases.

34-year old switch hitting outfielder Gary Matthews will miss 4-6 months after having surgery to repair a patella tendon in his knee. Matthews played in 127 games for the Angels last season and he was 103 for 426 (.242 avg, .676 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 8 homers, 46 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Matthews has been a huge disappointment so far in his time in L.A. but he’s almost impossible to trade because of the contract the Angels gave him. In his two years with the Angels, Matthews has played in 267 games in which he is 233 for 942 (.247 avg) with 132 runs scored, 26 homers, 118 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. Matthews better start playing better soon or his butt will be nailed to the bench starting in 2009.

The Angels have outrighted 26-year old righty reliever Darren O’Day to AAA making him a free agent. O’Day pitched in 30 games (0 starts) for the Angels last season as a rookie and he was 0-1 with a 4.57 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. The Angels won’t likely miss O’Day much in the future as they have youngsters they like better than him in the minor league system.