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How Lackey affects Beckett 12.16.09 at 3:05 pm ET
By Rob Bradford

Red Sox Lackey BaseballOne side story that stems from the Red Sox’ signing of John Lackey is Josh Beckett’s future with the Red Sox.

Beckett is a free agent after the 2010 season and has a comparable resume to Lackey. Beckett will be 30 in May, while Lackey will be 31 on Opening Day of 2010. Cases could be made for both in regard to who gets the upper-hand when looking at each pitcher’s statistics.

So now the Red Sox have Lackey at five years and $82.5 million, a number they knew was most likely going to have to be decided upon for a pitcher like the former Angels’ ace once A.J. Burnett signed his nearly identical five-year deal last offseason, where does it leave Beckett?

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said following the Lackey press conference that the door is still open for a Beckett extension.

“I sent Josh a text message as we were finalizing John Lackey’s deal,” Epstein said. “I just told him, ‘Some might speculate this might mean the end for you in Boston.’ I said ‘Don’t listen to them. You’re a huge part of what we have going on here. We love it if it worked out if you’re a huge part of our future, as well. The most important thing is that we have one heck of a pitching staff right now.’ He texted back. He was very excited about the sign. He knows John a little bit. he thinks he’s a good man and a great pitcher and he’s ready to go for spring training. I don’t think it impacts Josh nearly to the degree people are speculating.”

Here is what Lackey said regarding Beckett, whom he got to know a little bit at the 2007 All-Star Game.

“I don’t know him incredibly well, just hanging out at an All-Star Game, just talking,” Lackey said. “Our lockers were next to each other at that. So shagging, just kind of shooting the breeze kind of stuff, but always a respect factor. Especially, I’ve gone against him several times in some big games. You know you’ve got to bring it because you know he’s going to bring it, and I hope these people feel the same way about me because you can’t always guarantee results, but I will guarantee that I’ll be there giving you what I’ve got.”

Beckett told WEEI.com shortly following the season that he planned on meeting with the Red Sox this offseason to discuss the prospects of signing an extension.

Epstein’s comments on extending Lackey’s deal to five years — which was only decided upon this past weekend after it became clear the negotiations with Jason Bay and Matt Holliday were budging — should also be noted:

“It’s a part of every time you sign a pitcher. It’s a big part of the research. Trust me, we’ve done a lot of due diligence,” said Epstein in regard to analyzing the risk of a five-year deal.

“If you look back at April 2008 was triceps issue, soft tissue, that certainly has resolved itself. And doing our research on what happened this last April, it was probably a little bit of a rush through Spring Training to get ready, and we think that John’s spring routine, it’s something we’ve already talked about, maybe it can be handled a little differently to resolve that. But when he came back he didn’t miss a start. He’s been, outside of those two episodes, extraordinarily durable throughout his entire career and is someone who obviously finished strong last year. The last image of John Lackey is him demanding the ball on the field of Yankee Stadium. So he’s somebody that we strongly believe is healthy. Trust me, we put him through quite a physical over the last 48 hours, and he’s someone we trust to take the ball every fifth day.”

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  • rudy laurens

    Great signing by the redsox on both lackey and cameron, and yes it does look a little high money wise but I think it’ll be worth it our top 3 in the rotation could all be aces, now signing beckett to an extension before he hits free agency would benefit the redsox

  • Jacoby the Padre

    I would rather see how Beckett pitches in this contract year. If ever there was a time to step up and bring it, it is now…And if he has an inconsistent year or gets hurt, I would let him walk…

  • SuchaMc

    There’s also a risk the situation remains unresolved so long that Beckett decides he might as well test free agency. Halladay is off the market next offseason, and the list of elite pitchers who will be free agents (Lee?)is getting shorter. It would not be a good thing to get in a bidding war for Beckett with the Yankees, who project to have only two reliable starters with Pettitte not getting any younger.

  • Zach R

    Really excited for this season to start. Beckett in a contract year, plus two other studs in Lackey and Lester? Sheesh. I know it’s been said a number of times but imagine these 3 in a playoff series? Game 1 and Game 2? Yeah, here’s Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, pretty good 1-2. Game 3? Yeah, you’re still not done yet. You still have to deal with John Lackey. (Or some permutation of that 1-3) That’ll demoralize a lineup.

  • http://www.shutiggyup.com shutiggyup.com

    Jacoby the Padre Says, if Josh hits FA, you risk losing him to a 5 year 100million+ deal to the Stankees, Mets, etc. Not saying you’re wrong, but once FA hits, you’re competing with other teams with more money.

  • Tony from Bridgewater

    You can print this statement in September but I have a feeling John Lester will win the Cy Young award this year. We have yet to see the best of Mr. Lester and you could see glimses over the past three years of what he is cabable of. I was lucky enough to go to the Redsox Fantasy Camp this past February and arrived at PDC fiels in Fory Myers Fl. on February 2. I went on the fields before I checked into my hotel and to my surprise John Lester was throwing a bullpen sesion with Ralph Troul. A full 2 weeks before he was due at camp John Lester was already working hard to get ready. What I am getting at is John Lester’s performance in 2010 will have a bigger impact on wheather the Sox re-sign Josh Beckett and how much they need or want to keep him. Are the Sox willing to pay $100 million (20 million per for 5 yrs) for a number 3? Well some would say they just did. We shall see!

  • chowdah70

    I believe the sox will offer beckett an extension in the area of 5/90-100mil..unless some injury comes up, I see becks in Boston for the next 5 years…THis is a nasty rotation with the top 3 and if Buch keeps the flow he had going at the end of last year and Dice comes back to form,which I think he will, Your talking about 5 potential 15+ game winners here..

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