Vladimir Guerrero
Rumors

Name: Matt Holliday
Age: 29
Position: OF
Current Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Current Contract: 08:$9.5M, 09:$13M

Performance: Since being traded to St. Louis from the As in the middle of the 2009 season, Holliday has been a major component of the Cardinals offense. With St. Louis Holliday hit 359/419/604 (BA/OBP/SLG) with 13HRs, and 55RBI in just 63 games. Holliday is mostly known for his tremendous performance in Colorado from 2004-2008 before he was traded to the As.  However, while with Oakland, Holliday struggled hitting 286/378/454 with 11HR and 54RBI in 93 games.  Which Holliday will his new team be getting?

Outlook: Two years younger than the other premiere outfielder available, Jason Bay, Holliday is likely the #1 free agent available this off season.  His contract is likely to impact that of Bay and possibly players like Bobby Abreu, Vladimir Guerrero and even John Lackey.  The big question is how to evaluate his difficult 93 games in the American League vs. the extremely productive 63 games in the National League.  Hitting behind Albert Pujols certainly helps, but is the issue more of an AL vs. NL thing.  Will AL teams be scared off by Holliday's AL stats?  Either way, Holliday figures to get a multi-year contract averaging $18M to $20M per year.

Suitors: Cardinals, Giants, Mets, Braves, Angles, Red Sox, Yankees.

Prediction: Definitely an NL team, look for the Giants to make a surprise signing.

Free agent slugger Matt Holliday

Name: John Lackey
Age: 31
Position: RHP
Current Team: Los Angeles Angles
Current Contract: 06:$3.01M, 07:$5.5M, 08:$7M, 09:$9M

Performance: Undoubtedly, Lackey posted his best season in 2007 when he finished 3rd in the Cy Young voting and had his lone All-Star appearance.  Lackey posted a 3.01 ERA that season along with a 1.21 WHIP and 179?K in 224 IP.  Since then, Lackey's numbers haven't been quite as impressive (3.80 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 269K in 339 IP), but he's still been a very solid pitcher in the American League.

Outlook: Lackey is unquestionably the best pitcher available on the free agent market this off-season.  He is considered the cream of the free agent class along with Jason Bay and Matt Holliday.  His numbers are comparable to that of the Yankees AJ Burnett, who signed for five years and $82.5M last off season.  The Angels are certainly interested in keeping their ace right hander, but at $16.5M per season, they may not be able to when they may also need to pay the likes of Vladimir Guerrero, Bobby Abreu and Chone Figgins.

Suitors: Angels, Mets, Rangers, Braves, Phillies.

Prediction: The Mets need to make a splash after a frustrating season.

John Lackey of the Los Angeles Angels

Below is a list of right fielders that are eligible for free agency for the 2010 season, their age, current team, current contract and whether the player falls into a Type A or Type B free agent compensation status.

Free agent catchers
Free agent first basemen
Free agent second basemen
Free agent third basemen
Free agent shortstops
Free agent left fielders
Free agent center fielders
Free agent starting pitchers
Free agent middle relievers
Free agent closers

Jermaine Dye, 36, White Sox - 08:$9.5M, 09:$11.5M (Type A)
Brian Giles, 39, Padres - 06-08:$9M annually, 09:$9M club option ($3M buyout) (Type B)
Vladimir Guerrero, 34, Angels - 04:$10M, 05:$11.5M, 06:$12.5M, 07:$13.5M, 08:$14.5M, 09:$15M club option ($3M buyout) (Type A)
Eric Hinske, 32, Yankees - 09:$1.5M
Geoff Jenkins, 35, Phillies - 08:$5M, 09:$6.75M, 10:$7.5M mutual option ($1.25M buyout)
Gabe Kapler, 34, Rays - Signed a one year, $1.05M contract for 2010
Austin Kearns, 30, Nationals - 07:$3.5M, 08:$5M, 09:$8M
Jason Michaels, 34, Astros - 09:$750K
Xavier Nady, 31, Yankees - 09:$56.55M (Type B)
Randy Winn, 36, Giants - 07:$4M, 08:$8M, 09:$8.25M (Type B)

Bobby Abreu while playing with the Venezulan National Team

The Los Angeles Angels have exercised their 2009 option on Vladimir Guerrero and John Lackey, but have declined their 2009 option on Garrett Anderson. Guerrero will make $15M, Lackey will make $9M while Anderson was bought out of the option for $3M making him a free agent. Anderson is largely expected to resign with the Angels, but for less than the $14M option.

Anderson's friends informed the Los Angeles Times  that he prefers to stay in LA, but Angels general manager is not sure whether they can get him the number of at bats he may be looking for.  Seems reasonable to assume that the Angels would look to platoon Anderson in some capacity if he were to return.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were eliminated from the 2008 post-season last night by the Boston Red Sox and Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times writes that the team faces many difficult decisions to make going into the 2009 season.

1. Does the team make a run at slugger Mark Teixeira who will be a free agent and has not indicated that Los Angeles (or anywhere) is his first choice.
2. Frank Rodriguez has made it clear that he'd like to stay in LA ("No doubt about it. This has been my family for 10 years. I would love to stay here.") he's also expected to ask for a $15M per year contract.  Are the Angels ready to spend that kind of money on a closer?
3. Will the team pick up long time veteran Garret Anderson's 2009 option, $14M for 2009, or buy him out at $3M?
4. If Teixeira is not retained, do they trade for Marlins infielder Dan Uggla?  The Marlins have a number of arbitration eligible players and likely will not be able to retain all of them, so they'll be looking to move someone.
5. Should the team look into contract extensions for Vladimir Guerrero and John Lackey?  Lackey did not hesitate when asked if how the Angels retool their offense for 2009 will impact his decision to sign an extension with the Angels: "Yes"

Ken Rosenthal's latest column:

• The Angels are likely to pick up Vladimir Guerrero's 2009 option, but will they extend the 32 year old slugger beyond that? 
• Garrett Anderson's 2009 option is not likely to be picked up, but the team will try to retain his services for a smaller contract.
• The Angels will also inquire about a contract extension fo John Lackey who's $9M 2009 option will also likely be picked up.
• Robinson Cano has been rumored as significant trade bait going into the 2009 offseason as the Yankees look to improve their pitching.  The figure to sign a top line starter like CC Sabathia, but will likely need to trade Cano for another starter.
• It is possible that the Padres' Jake Peavy could be traded this off season, but probably not until after Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Derek Lowe sign their contracts. 
• The Diamondbacks will look to trade Eric Byrnes during the 2009 off season.

Here's Jon Heyman's latest:

• The Angels are rumored to be interested in joining the CC Sabathia sweepstakes this off season. Sabathia has been rumored to prefer California as a destination, if possible. The if possible always refers to the amount of money in his deal. The Angels have plenty of pitching already with John Lackey, Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana, Jered Weaver, Jon Garland and Kelvim Escobar possibly returning from injury next year, but general manager Tony Reagans has shown that having a plethora of talent at a position is not a reason that will stop him from going after a free agent. Last year, Reagans signed Torii Hunter despite having a full starting outfield already. Garland is also a free agent next year and it seems unlikely that the Angels would sign both Sabathia and Garland.
• The Angels will be very busy this off season as both first baseman Mark Teixeira and closer Francisco Rodriguez will be high profile free agents. Concensus seems to be that Angels owner Arte Moreno will not bid on both Sabathia and Teixeira.
• The Angels are, however, expected to pick up Vladimir Guerrero's 2009 option.
• Hank Steinbrenner wants to establish an advisory committee to evalute the Yankees poor 2008 season. This is certainly not a vote of confidence for Brian Cashman who responded to the comments here. Cashman's contract is up at the end of the season.
• Heyman talks about the challenging off season for the Marlins. 

Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman gives us his thoughts on how the options for some high priced big names will play out.

• The Mets have to pick up the option on Carlos Delgado ($16M vesting, $12M club)
• Jason Giambi gets bought out by the Yankeees for $5M ($21M option)
• White Sox general manager Kenny Williams lets Ken Griffey Jr. go for $4M ($16M option)
• Picking up Vladimir Guerrero for $15M is an easy call
• While $14M for Garrett Anderson is too much ($3M buyout)
• Is it even worth discussing whether the Yankees will buy out Carl Pavano for $1.95M ($13M option)
• Edgar Renteria didn't hate Boston, he hates the American League. Tigers easily buy him out for $3M ($12M option)
• Injury concerns are strong, but for $12M the Braves bring John Smoltz back.
• Mike Cameron has his 25-game drug suspension behing him and for $10M for 2009, the Brewers will have him back ($750K buyout)
• At $9M per year, the Angeles would surely keep John Lackey around indefinitely, if they could ($500K buyout)
• Much like Smolty, injuries are a concern with Brad Penny, but the Dodgers keep the pitcher for $9.25M ($2M buyout)
• Carl Crawford, despite his injury, is an easy call at $8.25M for 2009. Especially with a $2.5M buyout.