Joel Sherman is reporting on twitter (Joelsherman1) that Cliff lee and Mark Lowe have been dealt to the Mariners for Smoak and 3 other prospects.  If this is true, then (gulp) I firmly believe it is time for the Angels to become sellers.  The team is old and divesting itself of some payroll might be a good call at this point.  This is a strong move by Rangers.  I tip my cap to their front office. 

Update:  Rosenthal has confirmed this.  The Rangers are only picking up 1.5MM of Lee's remaining 4MM.

John Lackey has changed his tune evidently.  He now says that opening day was not the deadline for the Angels to reach an extension with him.  That is good news.  I am very curious what his contracts demands are.  If he is looking for Carlos Zambrano or Burnett money that is reasonable, but CC money is not. 

Personally I would like to see to the Angels resign him, but that is probably based on emotion and not logic.  He has been an integral part of the franchise. 

Here is the link

S.L. Price's fabulous Sabathia feature in the Sports Illustrated baseball preview issue contains this nugget: The Angels offered Sabathia a five-year contract for $20 million a year with a 24-hour window. I don't know exactly what Sabathia thought of this offer, but he did tell me at one point that the interest from his home state California teams "wasn't what you think," meaning it was less.

Jon Heyman

I am not really sure what the Ninja was thinking on this one.  I guess he was going for the hometown discount.  It seems to me that quick strike strategy is not effective with the highest caliber stars.  Those signings seem to always drag on. 

Anyhow I thought this was interesting and I had not seen it reported elsewhere.

If the A's specialize in anything, it certainly is not OBP, it is injury riddled aces.  Same story different name here.  Justin Duchscherer is scheduled to have his sore right elbow examined by a doctor today.  Not very good news for a very inexperienced rotation that is looking to make good on the one year rentals of Holliday, Giambi, Orlando Cabrera and Nomar.

This is like their own special little version of groundhog day.  Pitchers and catchers report.  Their ace gets injured. 

Link

In this little blurb from the OC Register, Reagins is quoted as ruling out basically every bat on the free agent market.  So I would not hold your breath waiting for any kind of significant offensive improvement via free agency.

This of course does not rule out the trade market, but to be honest with you I do not see much out there.  I doubt Fielder is in play, and I am thinking that the Votto rumor was the stupidest rumor I have heard in quite sometime.

Any way here is the link to Reagins quote

What do you guys see as being available on the trade market?

Jeff Miller should be ashamed of himself.  This is a terrible piece of journalism.  Why even bring race into it?  Perhaps the fans do not appreciate the fact he yells and poses after every save?  Then he points to sky, which is of course a tribute to his late grand father, but not everyone knows that.

His assertion that this has to with his skin color and accent is laughable.

So if the average LAA fan wants Tex instead of Frankie that makes them racist?

Nice work Jeff Miller.  What a douche bag.

Part of it, no doubt, isn't baseball at all. We know what it is. And so do you.

It's that Rodriguez doesn't look or talk like most people who sit in the stands at Angel Stadium. His skin is darker, his voice accented.

Game 6, I am not sure how you pass over 2002.

The comeback from a 5-run deficit was the largest in World Series history for an elimination game.  To me, that seems like a pretty fantastic addition to a resume.   This game even had a signature moment, when Dusty Baker prematurely gave the game ball to Russ Ortiz.  Add to that this was the highest scoring series in baseball history and I think you have a winner.

I was there and I think Neyer is a piece of garbage so I might be a little biased.