Red Sox’s Joe Kelly found out he was traded on Twitter
By Bryan Rose
The St. Louis Cardinals are ripe with young pitching, but some of those arms aren’t likely ready to compete at a high level during the postseason. Given that, St. Louis was locking to acquire a big name pitcher.
More from Boston Red Sox
- After frantic trade day, Kiké Hernandez grateful for second chance with Dodgers
- MLB Rumors: Potential Braves reunion, Lance Lynn no-trade clause and Orioles deadline intentions
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers reunite with familiar face in Red Sox deal
- MLB Rumors: Braves trade package, White Sox-Reds deal, Mets disaster
They did just that as not only did they acquire Justin Masterson from the Cleveland Indians, but they also traded for John Lackey of the Boston Red Sox. It’s something former Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly saw on Twitter and relayed the information to teammate A.J. Pierzynski. Only problem? Kelly wasn’t aware for who and Pierzynski didn’t believe him.
"“Hey, it looks like the Cardinals are going to get Lackey,” Kelly told Pierzynski upon reading a tweet.“Oh yeah?” Pierzynski said. “How do you know?”“I’ve got a source on Twitter,” Kelly said.“Yeah, ’cause everything on Twitter’s true,” Pierzynski responded.“All right, just wait,” Kelly said.“Fifteen minutes later,” Kelly said Saturday at Fenway Park, after the Boston Red Sox added him to the active roster, “Lackey was traded.”But Kelly didn’t know which Cardinals players were involved in the deal."
When news broke of the trade on Twitter, it was known that Lackey would be headed to St. Louis though unlike many other deals, there was no return immediately available. So Joe Kelly had to wait a few minutes to find out who would be traded to the Boston Red Sox.
Little did he know, it was going to be him.
"“I just kept looking, looking, and I was like, ‘Man, I wonder who it could be?’ ” Kelly said. “Then I saw it pop up: Craig and Kelly for Lackey."
He’s certainly not the first player to find out of his trade via social media or even television/radio, though that might be the oddest.