Red Sox alternate history: 2014-15
By Rick McNair
May 29, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher John Lackey (41) reacts after recording the third out of the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Dodgers 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
John Lackey stays in Boston.
Lackey had a nice selling or trading point in that his contract for 2015 was minimized . When Lackey was dealt to St. Louis he had an 11-7 record with a 3.60 ERA. Lackey – a former poster boy of bad Boston signings – resurrected his Boston career with major surgery and by dedicating himself to tuning up his body.
Dealing Lackey meant that Joe Kelly was shuffled into the rotation and that is now becoming a pitching disaster of epic proportions. In addition, Boston acquired Allen Craig, who no one wanted when placed on waivers.
A Lackey in the 2015 rotation would be what he has always been a dependable inning eater who keeps the team in the ballgame. A pitcher who lessens the load on the bullpen. Who would you rather have? Lackey or Kelly? Case closed!