John lackey takes physical in Boston: deal may be imminent!

[Big_Matt34]

I want roy halladay.

not a big fan of lackey.

Well they didnt have to give up any prospects for Lackey, plus Halladay just got dealt to the Phillies.

Now they can use their prospects to go get a bat like Miguel Cabrera or Adrian Gonzalez. Id take Lackey/A-Gon over just Halladay, because i dont think theyd sign Bay/Holliday either way.

[Donoghus]

Lackey's a nice addition for the Sox.  It certainly provides them with some opportunities since they didn't have to give up any prosepcts as would've been the case with Halladay.  Now if they can get Beckett locked up to an extension, I'll feel real good about the long term health of this pitching staff.

Halladay to the Phils is fine by me. 

What are you thinking if you're a Mets fan, though?  What's their splash going to be?   Overpaying Jason Bay?

[Big_Matt34]

What are you thinking if you're a Mets fan, though?  What's their splash going to be?   Overpaying Jason Bay?

I really hope the Mets dont sign Jason Bay as itd cost the Sox a first round pick because the Mets pick is protected. Even after getting Lee/Figgins the Mariners have alot of money to spend so im hoping they still sign Bay and the Sox get their 18th pick.

The Angels are the big losers of the off-season so far, lose Figgins and Lackey, missed out on both Halladay/Lee. They are close to signing Matsui, he is a nice hitter but nothing to get worked up over.

[Chris]

$17 million for Lackey seems crazy, but I guess that's the market.  I would have preferred that the money be spent to upgrade the offense, but we'll see what shakes out.

I really don't care that much about the money.  The fact that they were able to get one of the top 20 pitchers in the league, who has been remarkably consistent, without giving up any assets other than cash is huge.  While they may not be the Yankees, the Sox still have plenty of money to spend, and one thing about Lackey is there is little reason to think he is going to be a huge bust.  Now, perhaps he will only be worth $12 million, instead of $17 million.  That won't kill a team like the Sox.

And with a rotation of Beckett, Lester, Lackey, (skinny) Dice-K, Bucholtz, and Wake ready for injuries, this team doesn't need the hitters nearly as much...particularly if they upgrade the defense.  

[Chris]

What are you thinking if you're a Mets fan, though?  What's their splash going to be?   Overpaying Jason Bay?

I really hope the Mets dont sign Jason Bay as itd cost the Sox a first round pick because the Mets pick is protected.

I don't have the great grasp on baseball's trade rules.  Why is the Mets pick protected?

[yall hate]

so the comment is, was this the sox being 'cheap', as posited in other threads?  I dont see how that argument can be made...

[Big_Matt34]

I don't have the great grasp on baseball's trade rules.  Why is the Mets pick protected?

To keep things fair and balanced, the top 15 picks of the draft are protected. So if one of those teams were to sign Bay i believe the Sox get a 2nd rounder instead of a first.

[yall hate]

why in the world would the phils trade lee and possibly more for Halladay.  I like Halladay, but I think I like Lee more.  seems odd to me...but we'll see.

as for the mets pick being protected, any team who is in the top 14 (or 15, cant remember) who signs a type A free agent, doesnt need to give up their first round pick.  the team losing the type a free agent recieves a 2nd rounder instead.

[twistedrico]

Now Lackey just how to figure out to pitch in Fenway Park without getting shelled there like he usually does.

[Chris]

I don't have the great grasp on baseball's trade rules.  Why is the Mets pick protected?

To keep things fair and balanced, the top 15 picks of the draft are protected. So if one of those teams were to sign Bay i believe the Sox get a 2nd rounder instead of a first.

Do they still get a sandwich pick?

[Big_Matt34]

Now Lackey just how to figure out to pitch in Fenway Park without getting shelled there like he usually does.

I think/hope he may have finally figured it out, over his last 3 starts in Fenway he has gone 23 2/3 innings and only given up 6 runs.

Obviously a SSS but im trying to be optimistic lol.

[Big_Matt34]

Do they still get a sandwich pick?

I believe so, a sandwich and a 2nd is ok but obviously you'd prefer the 1st and a sandwich. If The Mariners sign Bay the Sox will have the 18th pick, the 20th pick (For Wagner), and two sandwich picks so im hoping the M's go all out and sign him.

[Chris]

Do they still get a sandwich pick?

I believe so, a sandwich and a 2nd is ok but obviously you'd prefer the 1st and a sandwich. If The Mariners sign Bay the Sox will have the 18th pick, the 20th pick (For Wagner), and two sandwich picks so im hoping the M's go all out and sign him.

Works for me.  That also might make it even more likely for the Sox to make a big trade for the bat, since it would allow them to immediately reload their farm system.

[Tr1boy]

stupid signing. How do you sign a guy to 17 million dollars who was 11-8 last season with an era north of 3.00?

Yeah he had a good game against us this past playoffs but how many times we have rocked him is beyond me.

Workhorse or not , the guy is hittable and doesn't have above average pitches. (even derek lowe had a nasty sinker)

The redsox are falling into, needing to sign somebody every off season like a girl who goes to the mall and has to buy something when they don't need to syndrome

Nobody was going to pay lackey 80 plus million and the redsox did blindly.

17 million per year type money should be ace type of cash and this guy is no true ace.

Its sad they couldn't do everythign possible to get Felix the strikeout machine from the mariners and had to settle for this second tier pitcher

[Big_Matt34]

Nobody was going to pay lackey 80 plus million and the redsox did blindly.

The Angels offered him 75 million or around that so yes, someone indeed WAS going to give him that money.

Also who did they sign to a huge deal last off-season? I remember Smoltz/Penny/Rocco, not exactly going all out after they lost out on Texiera.

As for Felix, why give up Buchholz/Kelly/Westmoreland/Kalish for him when the offense still wouldnt be good enough to hit in the playoffs? Because they signed Lackey they get a legit #2 starter and still have the prospects to trade for a big bat.