The Red Sox have dealt away their fourth starting pitcher in the span of a week, sending John Lackey to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Allen Craig and Joe Kelly.
Sox get Kelly, Craig for Lackey
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) July 31, 2014
The 35-year old Lackey has a 3.60 ERA in 21 starts for the Red Sox this season, and because of his Tommy John surgery at the end of 2011, the Cardinals will have a club option on Lackey for 2015 at the league minimum salary. Lackey has state that he may end up retiring rather than play for the minimum, so the Cardinals may need to rework that deal.
Craig is struggling this year with the Cardinals, hitting just .237/.291/.346 with seven home runs in 97 games. He’s signed through the 2017 season, and is owed $26.5 million over the next three seasons.
Kelly just came off the DL earlier this month, and has a 4.37 ERA in 35 innings for St. Louis this seaason.
