http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/12/report_lackey_t.html
Sox close to signing Lackey?
Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff December 14, 2009 01:05 PM
The Red Sox are moving close to a deal with free agent starting pitcher John Lackey according to a report by FoxSports' Ken Rosenthal, who confirmed an earlier Twitter report by Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse.
Lackey took a physical with the Red Sox this morning, which could be a precursor to his signing.
Signing the 31-year-old righthander would be in line with Theo Epstein saying he would look to improve the team in ways beyond adding offense.
A rotation of Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Lackey, Daisuke Matsuzaka and either Clay Buchholz or Tim Wakefield would be better than what the Yankees have right now in CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte, TBA, TBA.
The deal, if there is one, also could be precursor to Buchholz being made available via trade. The Adrian Gonzalez drums will beat louder now.
Lackey was said to seeing a Burnett-type deal. The Yankees gave him five years and $82.5 million last winter. SI.com reported that Lackey could receive $85 million over five years. He is 102-71 in his career with a 3.81 ERA.
He is a low-maintenance "I want the ball" type of starter who missed roughly five starts last season with assorted issues, including a sore elbow that shelved him at the start of the season.
But he was sharp in the playoffs, allowing five earned runs on 19 hits over 19.2 innings while striking out 14.
He was the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series during his rookie season, and according to baseball-reference.com, the pitcher he is most similar to in baseball history is none other than Beckett.
He has struggled in his career at Fenway, for what it's worth, going 2-5 with a 5.75 ERA in nine starts. But that was against the Red Sox.
UPDATE, 1:46 p.m.: The most interesting aspect of this deal could be the impact it has on teams interesting in trading for Roy Halladay. Signing Lackey also helps protect the Red Sox in the event Beckett leaves as a free agent following the 2010 season.
I saw a lot of Lackey last season, covering three Angels-Yankees series during the regular season and both playoffs series the Angels were in. He's not the most elegant starter you'll ever see, but he keeps his teams in games and the Angels loved playing behind him. This move would hurt the Angels badly.
UPDATE, 2:09 p.m.: George King of the Post suggests that Lackey going to Boston will decrease the desire for the Yankees to chase Roy Halladay.
King believes the Yankees were motivated to keep Halladay away from the Red Sox, much as was the case with Johan Santana. But look for the Angels to make a deal for Halladay now. If Lackey is out, they need him.
Sox close to signing Lackey?
Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff December 14, 2009 01:05 PM
The Red Sox are moving close to a deal with free agent starting pitcher John Lackey according to a report by FoxSports' Ken Rosenthal, who confirmed an earlier Twitter report by Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse.
Lackey took a physical with the Red Sox this morning, which could be a precursor to his signing.
Signing the 31-year-old righthander would be in line with Theo Epstein saying he would look to improve the team in ways beyond adding offense.
A rotation of Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Lackey, Daisuke Matsuzaka and either Clay Buchholz or Tim Wakefield would be better than what the Yankees have right now in CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte, TBA, TBA.
The deal, if there is one, also could be precursor to Buchholz being made available via trade. The Adrian Gonzalez drums will beat louder now.
Lackey was said to seeing a Burnett-type deal. The Yankees gave him five years and $82.5 million last winter. SI.com reported that Lackey could receive $85 million over five years. He is 102-71 in his career with a 3.81 ERA.
He is a low-maintenance "I want the ball" type of starter who missed roughly five starts last season with assorted issues, including a sore elbow that shelved him at the start of the season.
But he was sharp in the playoffs, allowing five earned runs on 19 hits over 19.2 innings while striking out 14.
He was the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series during his rookie season, and according to baseball-reference.com, the pitcher he is most similar to in baseball history is none other than Beckett.
He has struggled in his career at Fenway, for what it's worth, going 2-5 with a 5.75 ERA in nine starts. But that was against the Red Sox.
UPDATE, 1:46 p.m.: The most interesting aspect of this deal could be the impact it has on teams interesting in trading for Roy Halladay. Signing Lackey also helps protect the Red Sox in the event Beckett leaves as a free agent following the 2010 season.
I saw a lot of Lackey last season, covering three Angels-Yankees series during the regular season and both playoffs series the Angels were in. He's not the most elegant starter you'll ever see, but he keeps his teams in games and the Angels loved playing behind him. This move would hurt the Angels badly.
UPDATE, 2:09 p.m.: George King of the Post suggests that Lackey going to Boston will decrease the desire for the Yankees to chase Roy Halladay.
King believes the Yankees were motivated to keep Halladay away from the Red Sox, much as was the case with Johan Santana. But look for the Angels to make a deal for Halladay now. If Lackey is out, they need him.
