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Lacking A Lackey

John Lackey might have pitched last game in an Angels uniform. With Los Angeles’ once-potent lineup plating just four runs in 22 innings against the Yankees, the Angels find themselves down two games to none in the ALCS and in need of a major turnaround to keep their World Series hopes alive. Lackey is scheduled to start game five, if the Angels can make it until then.

But no matter how long Los Angeles lasts, Lackey’s career in L.A. seems to be dwindling down to its final weeks. His contract expires at season’s end, and with the Angels facing the impending free agency of Chone Figgins, Bobby Abreu, and Vlad Guerrero as well, there may not be room to bring back the former 19-game winner.

According to SI’s Jon Heyman, Lackey rejected the Angels’ offer of 3 years and roughly $40 million prior to the start of the season, and when Lackey started having elbow problems, talks broke off entirely. L.A. then acquired lefty Scott Kazmir after the trade deadline, a move that not only seems to soften the blow of losing Lackey, but also provides another multi-million dollar hit to the payroll that further handcuffs the team financially. Supposedly, Lackey wants “A.J. Burnett money,” referring to the 5 year, $82.5 million deal that Burnett got from the Yankees last winter. And when you consider that Lackey’s number compare favorably almost across the board to Burnett’s, he can probably get it.

Enter the Texas Rangers.

Lackey, who was born and raised in Abilene, is a proud Texan and the closest thing to an ace that will hit the free agent market this offseason. The Rangers play in Texas and are in desperate need of said ace. So what’s not to like? Well, the price tag, for one. And there’s the question of whether Lackey’s a bona fide ace, or just a top-of-the-rotation kind of pitcher. And then there’s his age. And his health. And whether or not he’d wither in the Texas heat like so many before him.

The Rangers would be remiss if they didn’t at least explore all avenues in regards to Lackey. But even if the Rangers can afford to pay him the $16.5 million-per-year he’s hoping to emulate from Burnett, and even if they’re willing to commit their entire offseason to one player, one big question still looms.

Should they?

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Bringing Back The Byrd

It’s only been seven days since the Texas Rangers ended their ’09 campaign with a loss to King Felix and the Mariners in Seattle. It’ll be another 176 days before they take the field again — not that we’re counting or anything. And though there’s still a month of baseball left for the elite, or perhaps more aptly labeled, well-funded teams, it’s just not quite the same without a hometown team to root for.

So while a long offseason looms for us Dallas die-hards, the question of what key changes will be made to the Rangers roster for 2010 will likely have an answer by January. In truth, Texas doesn’t figure to throw a lot of money around on the  free agent market because, well, Tom Hicks doesn’t have it. It doesn’t help that the Rangers owe Vicente Padilla and Frank Catalanotto a couple million each to buyout their contracts, despite the fact that Cat hasn’t donned a Rangers uni in over a year and Padilla spent his Saturday pitching the Dodgers to their second straight NLCS berth (I slept until two and ate a day-old burrito. To each his own, I guess). But the Rangers supposedly aren’t looking to shed payroll, and if Evan Grant’s math is right, Jon Daniels and company could have at least a little cash to play with over the coming months.

Which brings us to Marlon Byrd.

Byrd started 100 games for the Rangers in center field this season and tallied another 41 starts in the corner outfield positions, providing much needed versatility in an outfield plagued with injuries and inconsistency. He got nearly half of his 547 at bats in prime run-producing positions, rewarding Ron Washinton’s confidence in him by posting a combined slash line of .305/.370/.554 while driving in 55 runs from the three and four spots in the order. By all accounts, he was a tremendous leader and clubhouse presence on a team rife with 20-somethings. He’s said that he wants to remain a Ranger. His teammates have spoken out about how vital his return is, with Michael Young being his most vocal supporter. Even the normally tight-lipped GM Jon Daniels, who prefers to play most things close to the vest, had this to say in a recent chat with Richard Durrett…

As we’ve told Marlon and his agent Sam Levinson, we’d like to have him back. Now it comes down to what fits for us financially, given the makeup of this team, and what he feels he’d accept. We’re not at the point just yet of exchanging specifics #s but we probably will be soon. If he’s not back, we have quality depth in the OF and we’ll also pursue alternatives via trade/FA.

It seems all parties want to get a deal done. So what’s the problem? At 32-years-old, Byrd is running out of time to really cash in on his playing career.  Sure, he’s earned about $5 million in the last two years, which is more than most people see in a lifetime. But that’s a pittance compared to what some of his peers make, and it’s what Alex Rodriguez pulled in for a month’s work this year, not including endorsements. So while Byrd and the Rangers have both said they’d like to reach an agreement, that’s no guarantee. Because talk is cheap, and Marlon Byrd won’t be.

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International Signing Day Is Here

The Rangers have vigorously bolstered their farm system through international free agancy, landing talents such as Martin Perez, Wilfredo Boscan, Wilmer Front, Omar Poveda, Jose Vallejo, Manny Pina, Carlos Pimentel and many others from Venezuela and the Dominican Republic over the past several years. While they were rumored to have been frontrunners to land last year’s big fish Michael Ynoa (who signed with Oakland for $4 million), Texas still hasn’t ever signed an international free agent for seven figures.

That was supposed to change this year as the Rangers were widely believed to have agreed to a deal with power-hitting outfield prospect Guillermo Pimentel for $2 million. But in recent weeks, reports have Pimentel signing with the Mariners for that figure instead.

This year — assuming the Rangers have the cash to sign anybody, and it’s entirely possible that they don’t — it appears that this guy is going to be their top international signee.

Venezeulan legend Jurickson Profar led his country to the Little League World Series title at the age of 11 back in 2004. Five years down the road, he’s expected to sign with Texas for about $800K. Profar has tantilizing stuff on the mound, but he reportedly prefers to play shortstop.

Other high profile Caribbean prospects linked to the Rangers of late include 6’6″ RHP Leonardo Perdomo –expected to sign for a high six figure bonus — and possibly SS Luis Sardinas, who may command a seven-figure bonus.

Chad Cordero off the Market; I’m Still Available

The Rangers don’t have to worry about monitoring the free agent reliever’s recovery from offseason arm problems. According to the Seattle Times, Cordero is going to Seattle.

UPDATE: According to a source, the Rangers did, in fact, make Cordero an offer, but Seattle’s more desperate need for a closer may have been a deciding factor. With Frank Francisco on hand and C.J. Wilson as a secondary option if Francisco fails, the Rangers werenot in position to make any promises about closer. The Mariners, in a word, are desperate. The Rangers could use another right-handed setup option, but they seem to be pretty set at closer.