On January 20, 2009, John Lackey and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim announced that Lackey will skip the World Baseball Classic. Lackey was selected to participate on Team USA. But Lackey missed the first six seasons of the 2008 season and the club felt that participation in the event was an unnecessary health risk. Angels General manager Tony Reagins stated, I have had discussions with Lackey, and basically told him we would block him from participating due to the 45 days of the regular season he missed.MLB.com: Lackey agrees to skip Classic (January 20, 2009)

Lackey continued with the Angles full time over the next several years, playing in 33 games each year, joining the Angels in the post season again in 2005 and 2007. During the 2007 season, Lackey earned his best stats to date, finishing the season with a 3.01 ERA, earning him a MVP nomination and his first MLB All-Star Game selection. Although selected for the All-Star game, Lackey did not play. He was also the American League ERA Champion the same year and finished third in voting for the Cy Young award. MLB.com: John Lackey

On December 16, 2008, right handed pitcher John Lackey confirmed he was asked to pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Lackey stated, "The USA committee called and it sounded like a great opportunity, so I was pumped to be a part of it."MLB.com: Lackey set to pitch for U.S. in classic (December 16, 2008)