According to an article by Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, a recent survey polled 20 MLB executives (general managers, assistant GMs, etc.) on a number of topics, including where they believe free agent pitcher John Lackey will sign. They also revealed their thoughts on the possible length and dollar amount of his contract.
Of the 20 executives who were polled, the majority believe his new area code will be 718. However, will that be in the Bronx or in Queens?
Only three executives believe he will return to the Angels, while four think the Mets will sign him and eight believe the Yankees will buy him at wholesale price.
Lackey is originally from Abilene, TX. That makes it quite surprising that the Rangers and Astros weren’t seen as potential suitors for his services.
As for the years and dollars being bandied about, the executives believe that it could take as little as three years and $36 million (although this was an anonymous poll, I’ll bet you Oliver Perez’s sombrero that I know which GM thought Lackey would find that deal to be reasonable. Ollie’s Money Ain’t Reasonable!)
Other GMs thought it would take as much as six years and $100 million to sign Lackey. I don’t think the Mets would go that high for Lackey as far as years go. I do believe they would sign him for that average annual value. They’d probably have to offer a minimum of four years and quite possibly five to get Lackey to come to Flushing.
It may take an A.J. Burnett-type deal (five years, $82 million), but Lackey is worth it. He is as consistent as they come and he will be coming to the National League, where he will not have to face a DH. Although he has begun each of the past two seasons on the DL, he has recovered well from each injury.
Of course, his intangibles also make him an attractive commodity. He is a fierce competitor and his tenacity on the mound is matched by few. One pitcher who could match his grit and determination is Johan Santana. Imagine if Santana and Lackey were able to start 40% of the games in 2010. The Phillies would have to pray for more three-run homers because they surely wouldn’t be able to match that one-two punch on the mound.
If executives think John Lackey will be a New Yorker next year, Omar has to go all out for him the way he went all out for Johan Santana. He can’t let the Yankees scoop him up. They added an ace and a solid #2 pitcher last year in CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett and they helped lead the team to a World Championship.
If Sabathia could be swayed to sign with the Yankees instead of with a team in his home state of California, then why can’t the Mets do the same with Lackey? He is a native Texan, but if Omar can pony up the cash for this stud, he must rope him in.
Lackey would have to change his uniform number (his #41 is kind of reserved for a wine connoisseur. I think his initials are GTS.), but perhaps with a few extra numbers on his contract, he can put a new one on his back.
Now pitching for the New York Mets, John Lackey! I expect to hear that at Citi Field in 2010 and in the years following next season. Are you listening, Omar? You better be if you want to be at Citi Field in the years following 2010 as well.
Ollie was pre-Madoff. If Lackey is coming to NY then he will be a Yankee. Blame Omar all you want but there fact is the Mets are broke and won’t be spending this offseason. That’s why they like Wolf and Overbay.
PETE, I’M GUESSING U STOPPED READING ABOUT OUR METS LAST JULY. BTW THE HUGE MAIDOFF LOSS CXLAIMS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED AS BOGUS. PERHAPS AS SOME REPORT THEY ACTUALL MADE MONEY INSTEAD OF LOSING IT. THIS’LL BE LIKE JFK ASSASSINATION, MANY CONFILCTING REPORTS; NEVER ANY REAL TRUTH.
I read almost daily. Often enough to know why you type in CAPS. You have been a Mets fan long enough to know that the “Yankees” style spending only started at around the time Madoff was making 10-20% profit on returns. After the ride ended so did the spending. Coincidence? I think not. After the scandal broke. The only dollars spent have been 500K to Sheffield and 500K to Pelfrey. Whatever profit was made from Madoff might have to be returned. Also, knowing that they wont be making the same ROI, we are back to the days of “Coupons”. Follow all the moves carefully and you will see that every decision has been a cost cutting one. Even the rumored Castillo/Overbay trade. The Wilpons are slick. That is why they didn’t fire Omar. They are going to pin the “non-signing” of free agents on him. Let’s Go Mets!
PETE, UNFORTUNATLY U DON’T READ THE RIGHT THINGS, AT LEAST REGARDING NYM PAYROLL HISTORY, I WAS SUPRISED TO LEARN THE FOLLOWING & I’M CERTAIN ALL OF OUR FELLOW DENIZENS WILL BE ALSO AS IT PORTRAYS A VERY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE RE. WILPON LARGESSE
TO VERIFY GO TO:
http://content.usatoday.com/SPORTS/BASEBALL/SALARIES/TOTALPAYROLL.ASPX?YEAR=2009
YEAR NYM PAYROLL MLB RANK NL RANK
2009 149M 2 1
2008 138M 2 1
2007 115M 2 1
2006 101M 5 1
2005 101M 3 1
2004 97M 4 1
2003 117M 2 1
2002 95M 6 2
2001 94M 4 2
2000 80M 6 3
1999 71M 6 2
1998 48M 9 3
1997 30M 16 8
1996 23M 21 12
1995 24M 24 11
1994 29M 17 8
1993 38M 5 2
1992* 44M 1* 1*
1991 33M 4 2
1990 29M 2 1
1989 20M 3 2
1988 15M 4 1
SUPRISED? I WAS! ESPECIALLY WITH BEING HIGHEST PAYROLL IN MLB IN 1992. 44M IMAGINE THAT? THERE WAS 1 OR 2 OTHER YRS WHERE WE SURPASSED THE PINSTRIPERS(CANDYSTRIPERS?) IN PAYROLL, I FIGURED WE MAY HAVE A CEDABILITY ISSUE WITH THAT ONE WHICH IS WHY I’VE INCLUDED THE USA TODAY SOURCE I USED. OVER THE PAST 21 YEARS THE METS HAVE HAD THE HIGHEST PAYROLL IN THE NL 10 TIMES. MORE THAN ANY OTHER NL FRANCHISE. IF I RECALL CORERECTLY, THE PHILLIES WEREN’T #1 ONCE.
If his area code is 718, it won’t be the bloody Bronx–Bkly-Queens, Baby!
Lackey comes to NY I think he will be a yankee as well. U watch, the Mets will not spend on big,top tier FA’s, if they do anything, it will be a SP via trade like Halliday or something. U watch they will trade Luis Castillo for like Milton Bradley or something to play LF, then sign Orlando Hudson to play 2b, they will sign Pudge to C for like 1 million or something, they will sign Troy Glaus for a million to be the right handed compliment to Murphy, maybe even create a open competition for 1b. They sign Biemel for 2m. They sign Randy Wolf for like 3 yrs for say 8 mil or something. So lets see…
Reyes-SS, Hudson-2b, Beltran-CF, Wright-3b, Bradley-LF, Franceour-RF, Murphy/Glaus-1b, Pudge-C
Rotation-Santana, Wolf, Perez, Pelfrey and Maine
Bullpen-K-rod, Biemel, Parnell, Stokes, Felicano, Figueroura
Boy…….if that is the team come spring, they better trade for Roy Halliday before the Phillies get him, especially if the Mets expect to sell tickets.
718 is a Brooklyn-Queens area code!
Make Lackey a Met. Beg, borrow, steal…crazy to miss this chance!
ANTHONY, CAN U PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT BASIS U ARE USING FOR THIS PHILLIES HIGH SPENDING PARANOIA? LAST BIG F/A THEY INKED WAS THOME & THAT WAS IN ANTICIPATION OF OPENNING A NEW VENUE! THEY PASSED ON FELIZ’ OPTION CUT MYERS LOSE, THEY’RE ADDING MORE UBER-PRICED PITCHING DOESN’T FIT THEIR HOMER FRENZY GAMEPLAN. THE CIGARBOX RENDERS MORE GOPHERBALLS THAN COLORADO & ATLANTA THE 2 HIGHEST ELEVATION PARKS.
RATHER I WOULD THINK IF OMAR WAS ON A PLANK THIS YR HE’D BE MORE INCLINED TO GO FOR IT ALL ESP SINCE FREDDY HATES GOBBLING CONTRACT EXTENSIONS. THEERE MAY NOT BE MEGABUCKS ON F/A; BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY VALUABLE TRADE TARGETS IF U GET CREATIVE. JUST BEING MENTIONED IN THAT 3WAY INVOLVING CASTILLO/OVERBAY INDICATES STAGNATION ISN’T HAPPENING. I EXPECT OVERBAY TO ‘PASS THROUGH’ WITHOUT PLAYING 1 GAME IN CITI. THINK SNYDER FROM D’BACKS LIKE ORIG TORONTO-SNAKES DEAL WAS DRAWN UP WITH SNYDER SLOTTED #2C BEHIND MOLINA TO BE DEALT MIDSEASON FOR A SANTOS RECALL. THE POINT ULTIMATLY BEING UPGRADING 2B OFFENSWE. NOT OVERBAY OR SNYDER. MOST OF OMAR’S TRADES INVOLVING MLB ROSTER PAN OUT & MANY ARE NEVERLEAKED OR FORESEEN BY PUNDITS, LIKE ACQUIRING SCHNEIDER,CHURCH,FRANCOUER,NADY,MAINE,PEREZ WERE ALL VIRTUAL STEALTH DEALS NOT FORCASTED.
718 does not apply to the Bronx, but Brooklyn-Queens , Baby!
It’s only money. Mets must do all they can to land Lackey.
I wish it didn’t apply to the Bronx, but I live in the Bronx and we use 718 here. Maybe they can use those digits to attract Lackey. Start at four years, $71.8 million and work from there.
Actually, I live in the Bronx and my phone has a 718 area code. Speaking of 718, perhaps that’s where the Mets should start the offer for Lackey. $71.8 million for five years (not Burnett money, but this number can always change if they need to sweeten the pot to bring him to Flushing.)
Are you serious, Ed?
I haven’t lived in NY for quite a while now, but I always thought that when 718 came into being it only applied to Bklyn and Queens.
Boy, I feel silly. Seriously, has it always been the Bronx area code, too?
Yup, we switched from 212 to 718 about 20 years ago. Brooklyn and Queens were the first boroughs to make the switch. We were the last borough to become 718. Now it’s only Manhattan that has a 212 area code.
METSFAN62 ive been reading the Phuckn Phillies are spending because the have a 2 year window.They are going to go after DeRosa to play 3rd,plus Valverde or someone else to be there closer.They have been getting playoff revenue the last 3 years,so they have the money and propects.
STEVE? DO U REALLY STILL BELIEVE EVERYTHING U READ? LEE’S DEAL EXPIRES AFTER ’10. THEY STILL HAVE TO BE PREPPED FOR BORAS ON HOWARD. HAMELS LIKELY ARBI QUALIFIED SOON. THEY’VE ALWAYS FIRST OPTED FOR DEALS THAN PURCHASES. THEY HAD A SHOT & ‘DOC’ LAST YR & SPIT THE BIT IN FAVOR OF LEE AS CHEAPER OPTION. I PREFER JUDGING ON THEIR PROCLIVITIES THAN SOMEONE’S HUNCH; BUT THAT’S JUST ME. I’VE BEEN BURNED BEFORE LIKE LAST YR WITYH ATL GOING ALL-IN ON LOWE. FOR PHILLIES TO DO WHAT U FEAR IS FAR OUT OF CHARACTER. I CAN TELL U FIRST HAND THAT PEOPLE IN PHILADELPHIA AREA ARE FAR LESS AGGRESSIVE THAN NYers AS I’VE MANAGED EMPLOYEES FROM BOTH GEOGRAPHIES. A DEFINITE DIFFERENCE IN “SENSE OF URGENCY” IS FACTUAL.
Steve, I agree with you that the Phillies are a huge danger to solidify their position in this market. If they are able to pick up either Lackey or Halladay, the Mets will not see a championship for several years. The Mets need to pick up one of them, if for no other reason than to keep him away from the Phils. Then they need to hope a team other than the Phils picks up the other. I believe this is crucial if we actually have Championship ideas for the future.
MASK, QUIZ: WHO WAS THE LAST PROMINENT FREE AGENT SIGNED BY PHILLIES?
ANSWER: JIM THOME
ONCE MORE EVERYONE THINNKS FOR THE OTHER TEAMS WITH NY COMPETITIVE MINDS. BTW. PHILLY IS NOT NY.
PHILADELPHIA HAS A BASEBALL TEAM, A HOCKEY TEAM, BASKETBALL TEAM & A FOOTBALL TEAM BY POPULARITY LISTED IN REVERSE ORDER.
NY IN SPITE OF MULTIPLES IN EVERY SPORT IS STILL THE PREEMINENT BASEBALL CITY IN THE WORLD! REGARDLESS OF # OF CHAMPIONSHIPS, PHILLIE OWNERS KNOW IT’S AN EAGLES TOWN. FOLLOWED BY THEM SIXERS & FLYERS.
PHILLIES ARE THEIR SUMMER FLING, NOT THEIR UNDYING PASSION. THE PHILLIES WILL BE A THREAT POTENTIALLY FOR HALLADAY; BUT UNLIKELY TO GET INKED TO A COMPETITIVE EXTENSION. THEY’VE ALWAYS PREFERED THEIR METHOD OF HOARDING PROSPECTS USING THE BEST & DEALING FROM THE REST TO SHOPPING OFF THE TOP F/A SHELVES. EVEN IBANEZ WAS A WAIT UNTIL PRICE DROPPED SIGNING. PHILADELPHIA & ATLANTA ARE TWO SIMILAR FRANCHISES WITH PHL SPENDING MORE ON SCOUT TRAVEL WHILE ATLANTA SCOUTS IN THEIR BACKYARD. LOL
Nevertheless, the Phillies have managed to steal our thunder. For starters, they picked up Ibanez, Werth and Cliff Lee while we did nothing. It doesn’t matter whether it’s FA’s or trades, they left us cold in the starting blocks. If they see they can lock up a championship by signing a key FA, do you think they’ll hesitate. One more key player and we’ll have a long wait for a championship. I hope I don’t have to say “I told you so” before the year is out.
I love articles based on assumptions. Given how much John Lackey has meant to the Angels, why does everyone think they’ll simply let him go? The Angels have pretty deep pockets, and now that their contractual commitment to Mark Teixera has ended, the club will have money to try to keep their ace. It’s a team built around a lot of loyalty, and don’t forget that the Angels did get to the ALCS. With the exception of the Yankees, they are the only team to be able to say that this year.
Good as the Yankees, Red Sox and Mets are, the news media has this nagging tendency to forget that other teams exist in the major leagues. I know this might come as a shock to the east coast media, but there’s this really cool place called the United States. (Ever heard of it?) In fact, there’s all this land mass that extends to the west of Interstate 95, with lakes, streams, rivers and mountains. There’s even a coastline for something called the Pacific Ocean that most New York sportswriters have never heard of. Rumor has it that there are large cities west of I-95 as well, and as legend holds it, there are tales of other baseball teams that exist, although after checking with the east coast baseball writers, they’re really not sure if that’s true or not.
Articles like this make my head hurt. Does Ken Rosenthal come up with all this crap?
Brian, with all due respect, both the Angels and Lackey are resolved to parting ways and moving on. That has been out in the open since their negotiations broke down three times in the last two years. Lackey wants out and thats pretty much well known in most baseball circles.
BRIAN, I’VE POSTED REAMS OF WORDS EXPLAINING THE VAST DIFFERENCE IN GOAL & FAN PERCEPTION/EXPECTATION BETWEEN I-95 CORRIDOR BASEBALL FANS & THOSE VAST EXPANSES U REFER TO. I’VE LIVED THROUGHOT THIS COUNTRY SINCE DEPARTING METRO AREA IN ’83 SPENDING ALMOST THE ENTIRE 90s WORKING IN LA. WHERE THE DEPARTURE OF PIAZZA BARELY REGISTERED ON THE RICHTER SCALE MORE THAN A DROPPED DINNER PLATE WOULD CAUSE. LOS ANGELES, INCL IT’S ANAHEIM SUBURB, IS THE SINGLE LARGEST COLLEGE TOWN IN AMERICA SPORTSWISE, A FACT THAT HASN’T ESCAPED THE NFL. USC & UCLA DOMINATE THE SPORTS SCENE MUCH AS YANKS & METS DO THE BACKPAGES. IN 10 YRS THERE I NEVER MET A PASSIONATE DODGER FAN AS NYers DEFINE PASSIONATE. THERE’S A REASON THEY LEAVE AFTER THE 7th INNING TO MISS TRAFFIC. THEY DON’T REALLY CARE THAT MUCH! I REMEMBER DURING A POTENTIAL KOUFAX NO HIT BID, THE STANDS WERE STILL EVAPORATING. WHEREBY IN NY FANS WOULD BE TRYING TO GET IN IF THEY COULD.
[...] tag? The figures are all over the place, but current betting is that Lackey would ask for (and get) an A.J. Burnett contract – somewhere in the range of five years and $82 million. At the top end, the contract would max [...]