Angels not pursuing Lohse

You can cross the Los Angeles Angels off the list of potential suitors for free-agent starter Kyle Lohse, reports Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. The team has a payroll of nearly $160 million and with their rotation likely set, will pass on the best starter still on the market. The Angels are also skeptical that Lohse will hold up in the American League, where he hasn't pitched since 2006 with the Minnesota Twins.

The Angels are expected to begin the season with Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson, Jason Vargas, Tommy Hanson and Joe Blanton in their rotation. They acquired Vargas earlier this offseason from the Seattle Mariners for Kendrys Morales, received Hanson from the Braves for Jordan Walden and signed Blanton to a two-year, $15 million contract.

Lohse, 34, was 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA last season for the St. Louis Cardinals. For his career he is 118-109 with a 4.45 ERA in 12 seasons, but has thrived since he joined the Cardinals in 2008.

Lohse, along with Rafael Soriano and Michael Bourn are clients of Scott Boras. Boras isn't very worried about having three of his top players unsigned, saying that "it doesn't really matter what time dinner is when you're the steak."