Lackey to the Cardinals

[Palodios]

Craig reportedly very unhappy about the trade. Great.

[jd98]

Craig has been a very good hitter every year all the way back to 2007, until this year in which he has been really bad. It's bizarrre. Just a one year fluke or start of a trend? They either gave away Lackey for nothing, or got a good hitter for him. I don't like the trade in either case, unless the rumors are true that Lackey refused to pitch next season for 500k, which would make him an ******* that I wouldn't want on the team anyway. Kelly is worthless in my opinion. I'll be shocked if he has an ERA under 5 for Boston.

[Navafan29]

Cespedes has more homers this year than our whole outfield combined. In 2011, 2012, and 2013, Craig hit .315, .307, then .315. Craig was part of the core of a WS championship team 3 years ago and he's great in pressure situations. Joe Kelly is a great pitcher. Our offense is almost set for next year. The problem is that a sharknado has gone through our starting rotation. We need to get more starting pitching and I don't trust our prospects. Can we trade Mujica and miller for a starting pitcher or something? If we do nothing and trust our prospects for next year, we'll just come in 4th or 5th in 2015.

[Spudboy]

Cespedes has more homers this year than our whole outfield combined. In 2011, 2012, and 2013, Craig hit .315, .307, then .315. Craig was part of the core of a WS championship team 3 years ago and he's great in pressure situations. Joe Kelly is a great pitcher. Our offense is almost set for next year. The problem is that a sharknado has gone through our starting rotation. We need to get more starting pitching and I don't trust our prospects. Can we trade Mujica and miller for a starting pitcher or something? If we do nothing and trust our prospects for next year, we'll just come in 4th or 5th in 2015.

 

wut

[a700hitter]

I am never shy to throw a rock or two in the direction of the FO, but what we got in these deals might just reflect that teams are not going to part with their blue chip prospects for 2 months of any player or pitcher. This may have been the best they coild get. We need an OFer. Cespedes and Craig would not have been mypicks, but they are upgrades over our current pile of trash. I am guessing that the FO intends either re-sign Lester in the offseason or obtain some other number #1 type pitcher.

 

I don't know much about Kelly or Craig with regard to how long they will be under commitment to the Sox. Adding Craig and Kelly obviously pushes Victorino back to CF and pushes Automatic Out Jr. out of the lineup.

[Lord Snow]

Wow. Just wow. I look at these trades and they don't make any sense.

 

Lester was given away for a .750 OPS bat and a shite draft choice. Resigning him or the compensation pick would have been far better unless Cespedes recaptures his 2012 form (doubtful).

 

And this Cardinals deal, what?

 

It's almost like Ben made up his mind to sell, no good offers came in, and decided to jettison the team anyway. I'd rather have Lackey for the rest of this year and next year than Craig and Joe Kelly, a guy who at best is a 4th or 5th starter...

[Spudboy]

I am never shy to throw a rock or two in the direction of the FO, but what we got in these deals might just reflect that teams are not going to part with their blue chip prospects for 2 months of any player or pitcher. This may have been the best they coild get. We need an OFer. Cespedes and Craig would not have been mypicks, but they are upgrades over our current pile of trash. I am guessing that the FO intends either re-sign Lester in the offseason or obtain some other number #1 type pitcher.

 

I don't know much about Kelly or Craig with regard to how long they will be under commitment to the Sox. Adding Craig and Kelly obviously pushes Victorino back to CF and pushes Automatic Out Jr. out of the lineup.

 

I'm not sure that Bardley is the odd man out here. Maybe they trade Nava along with Carp?

 

Or maybe they platoon Nava with Cespedes in left? Cespedes has splits that slightly favor left handed pitching so that would mix well with Nava's splits that seem to favor RHP.

 

Maybe Bradley will be sent down to Pawtucket? I kind of doubt it since he is still excellent defensively and the Sox have stuck with him so far.

 

Who the hell knows???

[BigPapi]

Cespedes has more homers this year than our whole outfield combined. In 2011, 2012, and 2013, Craig hit .315, .307, then .315. Craig was part of the core of a WS championship team 3 years ago and he's great in pressure situations. Joe Kelly is a great pitcher. Our offense is almost set for next year. The problem is that a sharknado has gone through our starting rotation. We need to get more starting pitching and I don't trust our prospects. Can we trade Mujica and miller for a starting pitcher or something? If we do nothing and trust our prospects for next year, we'll just come in 4th or 5th in 2015.

 

You have to remember that papi isn't getting any younger. We are going to have to replace him plus get someone else.

[a700hitter]

I'm not sure that Bardley is the odd man out here. Maybe they trade Nava along with Carp?

 

Or maybe they platoon Nava with Cespedes in left? Cespedes has splits that slightly favor left handed pitching so that would mix well with Nava's splits that seem to favor RHP.

 

Maybe Bradley will be sent down to Pawtucket? I kind of doubt it since he is still excellent defensively and the Sox have stuck with him so far.

 

Who the hell knows???

They also need a spot for Craig who is under contract until 2018. I don't see how they get Cespedes and Craig into he lineup without Bradley losing his starting job.

[Jasonbay44]

I don't understand this trade at all. It might actually be worse than Lester trade.. I would have been perfectly fine with getting Craig in that rumored Peavy trade, but this is just awful. We traded our two best pitchers for f***ing Allen Craig and Cespedes and got no young prospects to show for it? Are you f***ing kidding me?

[YAZMAN]

I'd love to see how these trades and the cash play out against the salary cap and tax. I think they just cashed out the season. I have tickets left for 3 games and there's no way in hell I'll be able to sell any of them now if I can't make them.

[BOSOX11]

Season is over, folks. Move along, nothing here to see.....

[InfernoOrangeSS]

Season is over, folks. Move along, nothing here to see.....

 

I agree. We get to watch try outs the rest of the way this year to see who works out for the club. (Not that the season as a whole was going that well anyways.)

[Wasatch]

Another stupid move, Lackey was our 2nd best pitcher.

[RedSoxNC84]

Craig reportedly very unhappy about the trade. Great.

 

Can't wait for the 'cancer in the clubhouse' stories for this one.

[RedSoxNC84]

Maybe they'll flip some of these dudes they just got later today and Ben will roundhouse kick all of us in the face with some ridiculous trade we never saw coming.. We can only hope.

[seabeachfred]

This is a real head scratcher. I have no idea why this deal was done.

 

I think the Sox are very far off from being done "constructing" the future roster.

 

I just do not understand the way they are deconstructing it now!

 

Spud, as I recall you were guffawing last night when someone sent you a missive panning my story of Lackey asking for a trade. Remember Spud, when you or someone else does that to me and I turn out to be right I am very determined to rub it in their collective faces. For the record I WAS RIGHT...LACKEY ASKED FOR A TRADE..and he got it. I also don't think he will pitch for $500,000 next season---and remember, if you laugh at that I will be all over you verbally when it turns out to be true. The Cards either rework his contract or they will have to trade him to a team that will pay him more, or he will retire. And I would advise you about laughing at that.

[BigPapi]

For the cardinals, who are second to last in the nl in runs scored, it seems as though they have given up on craig. Hopefully we can turn him around.

[Spudboy]

Season is over, folks. Move along, nothing here to see.....

 

The season was over about 6 weeks ago.

 

Never the less I will continue to watch my favorite baseball team. If anything, things are now more interesting because we get to see what the F.O. does to establish a rotation for this year and subsequent years. We also get to see the web gem producing Puig lite and all the other major league players. I want to see what they all can do.

Is anyone else curious?

[Spudboy]

Spud, as I recall you were guffawing last night when someone sent you a missive panning my story of Lackey asking for a trade. Remember Spud, when you or someone else does that to me and I turn out to be right I am very determined to rub it in their collective faces. For the record I WAS RIGHT...LACKEY ASKED FOR A TRADE..and he got it. I also don't think he will pitch for $500,000 next season---and remember, if you laugh at that I will be all over you verbally when it turns out to be true. The Cards either rework his contract or they will have to trade him to a team that will pay him more, or he will retire. And I would advise you about laughing at that.

 

Fred I did not say that there was nothing to your inside info. I merely pointed out that I had seen no mention of it anywhere else.

 

Further, it has been widely speculated ( I even suggested it a few weeks ago ) that Lackey could be traded by the deadline. Again, weather Lackey demanded a trade or not has still not been established by any reliable and creditable source. It may have happened and if so we all will likely be hearing about it in the press soon. Or at latest when the Sox F.O. initiates there fabled smear campaign.

 

Fred, you give yourself too much credit here. But that's okay. I get it.

[seabeachfred]

I am never shy to throw a rock or two in the direction of the FO, but what we got in these deals might just reflect that teams are not going to part with their blue chip prospects for 2 months of any player or pitcher. This may have been the best they coild get. We need an OFer. Cespedes and Craig would not have been mypicks, but they are upgrades over our current pile of trash. I am guessing that the FO intends either re-sign Lester in the offseason or obtain some other number #1 type pitcher.

 

I don't know much about Kelly or Craig with regard to how long they will be under commitment to the Sox. Adding Craig and Kelly obviously pushes Victorino back to CF and pushes Automatic Out Jr. out of the lineup.

 

You and I wish!!!!!!!!! First of all Victorino is a walking MASH patient and secondly Cherington loves Bradley as Farrell did Drew. Now if Vic could play CF we could get that friggin' Bradley out of the lineup. The guy is never going to be a Major League hitter. Didn't his weak short term 2013 stats, his miserable ST this year, and his current 224 average with no power, no speed, no bunting ability, no stolen base talent, tell a full story. Make this guy a 4th outfielder for defensive purposes and then this winter get his ass out of Boston. HE IS NEVER GOING TO HIT !!!!

[seabeachfred]

Fred I did not say that there was nothing to your inside info. I merely pointed out that I had seen no mention of it anywhere else.

 

Further, it has been widely speculated ( I even suggested it a few weeks ago ) that Lackey could be traded by the deadline. Again, weather Lackey demanded a trade or not has still not been established by any reliable and creditable source. It may have happened and if so we all will likely be hearing about it in the press soon. Or at latest when the Sox F.O. initiates there fabled smear campaign.

 

Fred, you give yourself too much credit here. But that's okay. I get it.

 

Sorry my friend but I gave you the source of someone in the Red Sox organization who was a friend of someone on another board. It was a credible source and I gave it to you. Lackey asked to be traded and he was. With Lester gone and Lackey only on the payroll for half a million next season there was no rhyme of reason to trade him since that was exactly what Larry Lucchintzyino's game plan was.....get the most for very little. Lackey was disgusted that the Sox refused to offer a better contract and also their determination to trade his pitching partner and friend Jon Lester. Lackey wants to win.....that is why he demanded a trade. You were one of the first ones to know about that.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

All of this signals a quick rebuild for 2015 I'd say.

[RedSoxNC84]

I'm really not sure what to think about Craig in Boston's OF, but it could be a positive. Joe Kelly though, blegh. He had some good starts last year, and I think a few this year, but he's been overperforming his peripherals by far. He probably won't make it in the AL East.

[Behindenemylines]

Lowell is a good comparison to Craig. A healthy Craig in Fenway might be a plus. The FO might have not know how Lackey might react to pitching for pennies next year and potentially without Lester here. Maybe he told them he wanted to be moved. Kelly will probably be a bullpen arm in 2015.

[Northern Star]

Allen Craig is owed $25 million over the next three years. Joe Kelly recently was shelled by the Chicago Cubs and the Padres.

 

Lackey is a dominant #2 pitcher who will pitch for the minimum next year. The Red Sox are also giving someone else away with him.

 

What on earth happened? How? Why? This is the worst trade I've ever seen.

 

Jesus Motherf***ing Christ.

[YAZMAN]

I'd love to see how these trades and the cash play out against the salary cap and tax. I think they just cashed out the season. I have tickets left for 3 games and there's no way in hell I'll be able to sell any of them now if I can't make them.

 

Now Drew to the Yankees...

 

these moves were pure bean counting, and I'm not talking Billy...

[Behindenemylines]

Where do the Sox play Craig?

[RedSoxNC84]

Where do the Sox play Craig?

 

Right Field most likely.

[a700hitter]

Right Field most likely.

 

Cespedes in LF and Victorino in CF. As for Bradley, in the words of Haewk Harrelson, "He gone!"