Angels decline option on Garret Anderson
The team picks up options on Vladimir Guerrero and John Lackey, but Anderson, the longest-tenured Angel, becomes a free agent.
The Angels have picked up contract options on outfielder Vladimir Guerrero and pitcher John Lackey but declined the club option on outfielder Garret Anderson, making him a free agent.
The longest-tenured Angel, Anderson had a $14 million club option for 2009 that the team could have bought out for $3 million. The 36-year-old former All-Star hit .293 with 15 home runs and 84 runs batted in last season, his 14th with the Angels. It was also Anderson's 14th consecutive season hitting .280 or better, a claim only he and Manny Ramirez, among active big-leaguers, can make.
Anderson, drafted by the Angels in 1990, has never played for another organization and ranks as the franchise's career leader in numerous categories including games (2,013), runs (1,024), hits (2,368) and RBIs (1,292).
An Angels spokeswoman said Tuesday the club intends to discuss a free-agent contract with Anderson, who recently severed ties with agent Chris Arnold and is representing himself.
The club, meanwhile, picked up the $9 million option on 30-year-old Lackey, who went 12-5 with a 3.75 earned-run average in 23 starts, and the $15 million option on Guerrero, 32, who hit .303 with 27 homers and 91 RBI in 143 games lasts season.
Guerrero recently underwent successful surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee. Outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. underwent surgery to repair the patella tendon in his left knee Tuesday, and catcher Mike Napoli will have arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Friday.
All three players are expect to be ready when spring training begins in February.
Kevin Baxter is a Times staff writer.
kevin.baxter@latimes.com
