The Boston Red Sox' wheeling and dealing continues as they've shipped John Lackey to the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder/first baseman Allen Craig and starting pitcher Joe Kelly. Lackey is the second deadline addition to the Cardinals' rotation-St. Louis traded for Justin Masterson on Wednesday.
The Red Sox are collecting power assets in exchange for their veteran arms today, having dealt Jon Lester to the Oakland Athletics for 28-year-old power hitter Yoenis Cespedes.
After three straight seasons of hitting above .300 with power, Craig has cratered in 2014. His average sits at .237, and he's hit just seven home runs and recorded 47 RBI in 367 plate appearances. Moving Craig out of the St. Louis outfield also clears room for prospect Oscar Taveras to play full time in right field.
The move solidifies the Cardinals' rotation, and also sounds a death knell to the rumors that Taveras could be on the move to Tampa Bay in exchange for their ace, David Price. While Kelly was a solid pitcher in his time with the Redbirds, Lackey offers a legitimate No. 3 starter to sandwich in between young pitchers Shelby Miller and Lance Lynn. If the Cardinals are able to get Michael Wacha back this could be the deepest rotation in the National League, and be a formidable foe for the loaded Los Angeles Dodgers.
Boston has now traded their top two starting pitchers, but softened the blow with the addition of Kelly. He's just 2-2 this year with a 4.37 ERA, but last season Kelly was dynamite-he posted a 10-5 record with a 2.69 ERA.
In 2014 Lackey hasn't let the Red Sox' implosion affect him, posting an 11-7 record and 3.69 ERA.
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