Boston Rumored To Be Close To Signing Lackey

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It has been reported by Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors, via Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and AOL FanHouse’s Ed Price that top free agent pitcher, starter John Lackey is in Boston for a physical. Players usually only take physicals in the area of a local team after an agreement has been reached. The physical is usually the last step!

This surprises me after the comments Lackey has made in the past about the Red Sox in playoff post game interviews while with the Angels back in 2008.

The deal is said to be for A.J. Burnett money, which I think is too high (about $82M over 5 years). I didn’t think Burnett was worth that kind of money, but I do think that Lackey is a better pitcher. If he’s worth that much (about $16M/year) then how much is Beckett, who is a free agent after 2010, going to be worth? $17/18M per year at least!

Personally, despite his performance in the playoffs this year (2009), Lackey doesn’t excite me like trading for Halladay would. I’d prefer to see them flip Lackey to the Jays in a trade for the Jays Ace.

I guess from the standpoint that signing Lackey would weaken two of the Red Sox biggest rivals (the Yankees: who were interested in Lackey and the Angels: his former team since 2002) that’s a plus!

But I still don’t like it! Maybe it’s just that I don’t like the player or the money they spent on him.

What do you all think?!