Posted 4:49 PM by Sean
Kevin Appier has offered to defer a "significant amount" of his $12 million salary next year in return for a contract extension (at a lower salary than he's getting now) through 2005. Bill Stoneman, the Angels' GM, is pretty well-known for not discussing contract matters during the season, so it's likely a decision won't be made until at least October, but it also seems likely that he'll give this one a miss. Appier is trying to guarantee himself some level of income for the next few years, but, realistically, the Angels have some pretty promising young arms coming through the minors, and having one of your starting spots tied up for the next couple of years by a guy in his late thirties who's been just so-so lately isn't all that smart.