Once Jason Bay rejected the Red Sox's latest offer to re-sign him, Boston apparently decided to use that money on a pitcher instead of a left fielder -- specifically John Lackey.Lackey and the Sox reached a tentative agreement Monday night on a five-year deal worth between $15 million and $17 million a year, according to the Associated Press.
FanHouse was first to report, via a major league source, that, Lackey, the former Angels ace, was in Boston to take a physical on Monday morning.
The addition of Lackey would give Boston a 1-2-3 of Josh Beckett, Lackey and Jon Lester -- a nice move to counter the Yankees' World Series title and acquisition of center fielder Curtis Granderson. But the Sox would still need a corner infielder (or could decide to go with Casey Kotchman at first) and a left fielder -- either a regular or a right-handed hitter to platoon with Jeremy Hermida.
Lackey, 30, is the top pitcher on the free-agent market, by a good margin. He went 11-8 in 2009, his seventh straight season with double-digit wins, and is tied with CC Sabathia for the second-lowest ERA in the AL since the start of the 2005 season (at least 600 innings pitched). He led the league in ERA In 2007 and won Game 7 of the 2002 World Series as a rookie.
For his career, Lackey is 102-71 with a 3.81 ERA. In 14 postseason appearances, he is 3-4 with a 3.12 ERA.
Report: Yahoo's Purchase Of Tumblr Approved By Board
Tornadoes Rip Through Kansas, Oklahoma
Obama Approval Rating Not Hurt By Scandals
AP CEO: DOJ's Seizure Of Phone Records Was 'Unconstitutional'
Syrian Rebel Stronghold Devastated By Hezbollah
Obama Delivers Commencement Speech At Morehouse College
New Bill Would Jumpstart Student Loan Refinancings
Michael Moore: 'The Real Problem With The IRS' Is GE
Krugman: Austerity Policies Based On 'A Mythical 70s That Never Was'
Israeli FM Seeks Interim Peace Deal With Palestine
10-Year-Old On Dad's Deportation: 'Why Do They Have To Be So Cruel?'
Jon Karl Expresses 'Regret' Over Benghazi Reporting
Ted Nugent's Brother Takes Swipe At Rocker's Gun Stance
LA Doctor Gets 14 Years For This Horrible Promise
McConnell Defends White House On AP Scandal
WATCH: 'SNL' Takes On IRS Scandal
Paul Ryan On Benghazi: 'I Don't Know' If There Was A Cover-up
Republican Warns Of Modern-Day Hitler Invasion
College Student Accidentally Killed During 'Crime Of Opportunity'
Jamie Dimon Could Be Dealt A Major Blow This Week
Arianna Huffington's Commencement Speech On 'Redefining Success: The Third Metric'
Radio Host Makes Shocking Claim About Shooting Hillary Clinton
Suspected PayPal Hackers Seek Deal To Stay Out Of Prison
Terrifying Parade Car Crash Likely Caused By Medical Condition: Official
2 FBI Agents Killed In Training Accident
GOP Candidate Compared Planned Parenthood To KKK
Accused CIA Spy Leaves Russia
Teen Girl On Bus Killed By Random Gunfire
TV SoundOff: Sunday Talking Heads
