BREAKING NEWS: John Lackey About to Sign With Boston
December 14th, 2009 | by Garrett Wilson |The Twitterverse is, well, atwitter with news that John Lackey is in Boston to take a physical for the Red Sox. For those who might be thinking that John is just traveling a long way to turn his head and cough for no real reason, a physical is usually the last step a free agent takes before inking a new contract, which of course means Lackey is going to be signing with the freaking Boston Red Sox shortly, reportedly. Nothing is official yet, but stay glued to this post and I will update as details emerge.
- 10:52 AM - Ken Rosenthal reports the contract is going to be very close to the one AJ Burnett got last season.
- 11:03 AM – Supposedly the two sides are close but no announcement is expected to come from the Red Sox today. That doesn’t mean that the media can’t make it official before then though (as it did when Figgins signed with Seattle), so this really doesn’t mean much if you are quietly hoping the deal falls through.
- 12:05 PM - Jon Heyman is now reporting that the deal is $85 million over five years. At that price, I can’t really blame the Angels for not bringing Big John back.
- 12:59 PM - Anyone hoping the replace John Lackey with Roy Halladay (like me) might want to sit down. Halladay just got traded to the Phillies who then turned around and dealt Cliff Lee to the Seattle Mariners. This is pretty much the worst possible turn of events for the Angels who have no strong option to replace Lackey now and just watched a division rival get a LOT better. If anyone needs me, I’ll be vomiting in the bathroom for the next three weeks.
- 4:26 PM – Not that anyone cares anymore, but the Lackey to Boston deal is official at $85 million for five years. As much as people are upset that Lackey is gone, honestly, would anyone really have wanted the Angels to make that kind of crazy commitment to him?
Tags: Boston Red Sox, Breaking News, free agency rumors, John Lackey
By Dennis on Dec 14, 2009
Wow. Good for Lackey that he got the deal he was looking for. I also don’t blame the Angels for giving him this deal, but I have to admit it hurts to see him going to the Red Sox. And kudos to the Mariners, who seem determined not to waste Ichiro’s remaining productive years, for going out and getting Lee. I felt a little sick when I read about it, but I have to give them credit…
However, as the Dude tried to explain to the Big Lebowski in that great back of the limo scene, “Nothing is f###ed here…” Well, maybe a little, but there are some options. It’s too late to get Harden, but we can still try to sign Sheets (or even Bedard or Duchscherer, who are probably riskier) to a similar one year with a possible option type deal. With four good starters, we are in a pretty unique position to baby a high upside fifth starter during the season who we can unleash as our number one or two in the post-season. I have to assume that Tony and Co. are looking to pick up a high upside arm on a one year deal to save money for next year’s free agent class. I would rather they do that than a panic move like signing Joel Pineiro to big money and lots of years or trading for Derek Lowe and his bad contract. Go with the starters we have, add to it with a high upside arm, pick up a good reliever (would love to pick up Mike Gonzalez, take a chance on Ryota Igarashi), and we’ll be in good shape. Trading for a SP is still an option as well, though I’m not sure what difference makers are available at this point.
By Mike Kerns on Dec 14, 2009
At least he didn’t go to The Yankees, I guess…Time to make a deal with ATL for Derek Lowe?
By Garrett Wilson on Dec 14, 2009
I am with Dennis on this one. Lowe should not be a real option for the Angels. He isn’t an ace and that is what the Angels need. The last thing they need to do now is invest long-term bucks in a mediocre pitcher. A short-term gamble on Bedard or Sheets makes a lot more sense.
By Mike Kerns on Dec 15, 2009
Bedard, maybe. Sheets is too much of an injury risk in my opinion. Lowe’s contract is the suck, but at least he is durable.