Only a day after making a splash in the trade market with the acquisition of starting pitcher Justin Masterson from the Cleveland Indians, the St. Louis Cardinals have done so again. Boston Red Sox starting pitcher John Lackey will be in Cardinal Red after the two sides exchanged his services for the likes of fan favorites starting pitcher Joe Kelly and right fielder/first baseman Allen Craig.
The deal also sends about $1.75 million from Boston to St. Louis to cover some of the cost of Lackey’s contract. The Cardinals also have an option for next season worth $500,000. The Red Sox also sent Single A left-handed starter Corey Litrell to the Cardinals in the deal.
Lackey, 35, is 11-7, with a 3.60 ERA so far this season. He was the winning pitcher in game six of the World Series last year as the Red Sox defeated the Cardinals to take the crown. It is widely expected that the Cardinals will exercise the option on Lackey’s contract.
Craig, 30, is having a down season, hitting just .237/.291/.346 with 7 home runs and 44 RBI for the Cardinals. Craig has generally been reliable at the plate though, as he hit .312 with an .864 OPS and 46 home runs from 2011-13.
Kelly, 26, is 2-2 with a 4.37 earned run average in seven starts. He is 17-14 with a 3.25 ERA in 68 career games, 38 of them starts.
Perhaps the biggest aspect of the trade may be the opening of the starting job in right field. Rookie Oscar Taveras will man the spot for the time being as he is widely regarded as one of the best prospects across baseball.
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