Red Sox Trades Continue: Lackey To Cardinals For Kelly, Craig

The Boston Red Sox made another trade on the heels of the blockbuster deal that sent Jon Lester to the Oakland A’s . This time starter John Lackey was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals for right-hander Joe Kelly and outfielder/first baseman Allen Craig .

Lackey, 35, is 11-7 with a 3.60 ERA in 21 starts and 137 1/3 innings this season two years removed from Timmy John surgery. Last year he went 10-13 with a 3.52 ERA in 189 1/3 innings.

Lackey’s is under contract for only $500,000 next season significantly raising his trade value.

Kelly is 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA in seven starts and 35 innings this year having had most of 2014 cut short with a hamstrung injury. Kelly is 17-14 with a 3.25 ERA in 38 starts and 30 relief appearances over three MLB seasons.

Craig, 30, is hitting .237/.291/.346 (78 OPS+) with seven home runs in 97 games this season.

The Cardinals added Justin Masterson earlier this week form the Cleveland Indians and have added starting pitching without giving up any of its prized prospects. Lackey will join Masterson, Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn and Shelby Miller in the rotation. 

The Red Sox have now dealt 4 of the 5 opening day starters from their rotation in that last week, in Lackey, Jake Peavy, Lester and Felix Doubront.