The Boston Red Sox dealt Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes to the Oakland A’s earlier on Thursday morning and look to be wheeling and dealing yet again when it comes to the future of John Lackey.
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Lester and Gomes were hot targets but so too is Lackey and it sounds like an NL team that was in on Lester may compensate by acquiring lackey from the Red Sox instead. Despite the trade rumors that suggested that St. Louis Cardinals would be after Lester, they have instead pulled the trigger on a deal that lands them Lackey instead.
CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman was the first to report that the Cardinals were indeed acquiring Lackey from the Red Sox.
Cards getting lackey
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2014
Ken Rosenthal later followed up the report with his own confirmation of the trade.
Confirmed: Lackey to #STLCards. First reported: @JonHeymanCBS.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2014
It’s a huge trade in that the Red Sox are getting back more Major League ready outfielding help and the Cardinals are adding another solid pitcher to their staff of broken arms.It’s been a brutal season for the Cardinals pitching staff but the acquisition of first Justin Masterson from Cleveland and now Lackey from Boston gives them a fighting chance in a competitive National League race.
Be sure to stay glued to FanSided’s MLB Rumors page to stay up to date with the latest action and rumbling from the baseball hot stove this trade season.