According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the deal between the Red Sox and John Lackey is for five years and $87.5 million, or $17.5 million a year. If accurate, that average annual value (AAV) would be $1 million a year greater than the $16.5 million AAV that right-hander A.J. Burnett received from the Yankees with the five-year, $82.5 million deal he signed last offseason. (UPDATED at 3:48 p.m.: Olney later issued a correction that the deal was for five years and $82.5 million, the exact amount of Burnett’s deal.)

Since GM Theo Epstein took over the club, the Sox have not signed a player to a contract of more than $70 million. That standard was set with the five-year, $70 million deal signed by outfielder J.D. Drew following the 2006 season. Lackey would also join Drew as the only free-agent whom the Sox have signed for as many as five years.

Daisuke Matsuzaka signed a six-year, $52 million deal after the Sox won their posting bid for him, but the Japanese right hander was not dealing with a free market. The team has signed homegrown players Jon Lester (5 years, $30 million) and Dustin Pedroia (6 years, $40.5 million) to deals of comparable length before either was eligible for free agency.

3 Comments for “Report: Lackey Deal for 5 Years, $82.5M”

1. anguillaman Says:
   December 15th, 2009 at 4:08 pm

   I love the pitching strength..good solid rotation. Its a shame we are giving up a premier hitter in Bay in exchange for an older strike out machine in Cameron who only hits 20-24 hr’s a year. Had the Alex Gonzalez move been made..perhaps the $$ would be more available for Bay.

2. tim Says:
   December 15th, 2009 at 4:30 pm

   that makes no sense..they have plenty of money they just dont think bay is worth what he’s asking..not as good as a hitter as you people view him..no one remembers him looking stupid everytime he saw a breaking ball..no ability to hit the breaking ball no monster contract!!

3. Steve Says:
   December 16th, 2009 at 11:16 am

   Imagine an OF with Ellsbury, Westmoreland, Reddick, Kalish, and Drew. SPEED, SPEED, and MORE SPEED! All five have the OBP, Defensive metrics, and 4-5 tool ability teams salivate over. Look at the TB outfielders. They run EVERYTHING down unless the hits are (1) homeruns (2) grounders or (3) line drives in the gaps. Anything that slightly hangs in the air, its caught. If the Sox can somehow trade for Adrian Gonzalez without having to surrender Ellsbury or Westmoreland, that would be AWESOME! Trading Bucholz AND Ellsbury plus prospects is too high a price. SD needs a lot and I’m thinking Bucholz, Lars Anderson, Reddick OR Kalish, and Bowden should be a strong enough package.

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