MLB Hot Stove Thoughts

The Red Sox have reportedly signed free agent starting pitcher John Lackey to a contract. The deal for the ex-Angels hurler - who defeated the Red Sox in Game 1 of the ALDS this October - is supposedly worth $82.5-million over five years. Acquiring Lackey comes on the heels of free agent Jason Bay's announcement he will actively seek opportunities outside of Boston. Theo Epstein and the Red Sox brain trust must be thinking that they will have to win with pitching. Lackey joins a staff that already featured Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and Daisuke Matsuzaka. His presence also gives Epstein the flexibility to move top prospect Clay Buchholz if the right deal - hello, Adrian Gonzalez - presents itself... With Lackey, the Red Sox boast a starting rotation of Beckettm, Lester, Lackey, Matsuzaka, and Tim Wakefield. With Buchholz suddenly expendable, Epstein could offer him along with Ryan Westmoreland, Manny Delcarmen, and Jed Lowrie to San Diego for Adrian Gonzalez. Imagine a Red Sox team with that depth of starting pitching, a bullpen featuring Jonathan Papelbon, Daniel Bard, and Hideki Okajima, and this lineup (with Matt Holliday tossed in because I'm feeling good today): 1. Jacoby Ellsbury - CF 2. Dustin Pedroia - 2B 3. Victor Martinez - C 4. Kevin Youkilis - 3B 5. Adrian Gonzalez - 1B 6. Matt Holliday - LF 7. David Ortiz - DH 8. J.D. Drew - RF 9. Marco Scutaro - SS Even if the Sox only add Gonzalez or Holliday, their 2010 offense should be improved from a year ago... In other Red Sox news, the team has reportedly offered Cuban prospect Aroldis Chapman $15.5-million to join their organization. Chapman is a 21-year-old lefty who throws upwards of 100 mph. He is young and raw but without the pressure to be the number one pitcher in Boston, he could flourish. He is expected to hold an open tryout tomorrow in Houston... The Blue Jays are on the verge of trading Roy Halladay to Philadelphia in a three-team deal that would land Cliff Lee in Seattle with prospects going to Toronto. I am happy to see Halladay out of the A.L. East... The Dodgers are most likely cutting back on costs as their owners, the McCourt family, goes through a well publicized and messy divorce. Manny Ramirez and his $20-million is the biggest contract on the books in L.A. Any chance that the Red Sox - who need a big bat in the middle of their lineup - would take a second look at Ramirez? Probably not, but it would be great to have #24 back at Fenway this summer...