Angels pick up 2009 options on Lackey, Guerrero; decline Anderson
Sports Network | October 28, 2008
Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim announced on Tuesday that they have picked up 2009 options on pitcher John Lackey and outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, while declining the option for outfielder Garret Anderson.
Lackey finished the 2008 season 12-5 with a 3.75 earned run average in 163 1/3 innings over 24 starts for the AL West champions. He also completed three games, tying a career-best set in 2006.
Guerrero, who had a procedure on the medial meniscus in his left knee earlier in October, hit 27 homers and knocked in 91 runs with a .303 batting average in 143 contests.
Anderson has spent his entire 15-year career with the franchise, starting in 1994 when it was called the California Angels. He posted a .293 average with 15 homers and 84 RBI in 145 games this past season.
In addition, the club announced that outfielder Gary Matthews, Jr. and catcher Mike Napoli will have surgery this week.
Matthews will have surgery to repair a torn patella tendon in his left knee on Tuesday, while Napoli will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on Friday.
The 34-year-old son of former major-leaguer Gary "Sarge" Matthews hit eight homers with 46 RBI and hit .242 over 127 games last year. In his third season, Napoli split time behind the plate with Jeff Mathis and racked up 20 homers with 49 RBI and a .273 average.
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