Lackey to Boston? What it means for the Mets

As Ed Price first reported, John Lackey will be undergoing a physical with the Boston Red Sox.  This, as I’m sure you can deduce, means that they are close on a deal.

What does that mean for the Mets?

Obviously, this throws a wrench into the possibility of signing the top-tier pitcher for the Mets.

As I wrote today, the Mets shouldn’t be counted out of Lackey and Jason Bay, so it should be the same for the Red Sox.  Though they could so it, they probably won’t.

This leaves the Mets as the top suitor for Bay.  A mystery team has supposedly offered a five-year deal to Bay.  Some say it’s the Mariners.

If Bay is being bid on by only two teams, that might mean it won’t cost a bidding war over Bay and he might be able to sign for a “bargain.”

But if Bay goes elsewhere, and Lackey signs in Boston, where does that leave the Mets?

Bay and Lackey?

As you likely know, the Mets have extended a four-year, $65 million deal to free agent Jason Bay.

I don’t love the deal and I really hope the Mets are not the rumored team that have offered Bay five years.  (Is that you, Seattle?)  But, with the offered deal, the Mets might be able to swing another free agent on the market.

Not that I’m condoning it, but with the money the Mets save on the deal (by going for Bay over Scott Boras-client Matt Holliday), it is in the realm of possibility they could also sign John Lackey.

Yes, the Mets want to stay within a reasonable distance of their payroll from 2009.  Yes, adding Lackey and Bay would probably be silly, devoting so much of the payroll to these two players (and add in Johan Santana for an even bigger chunk).

Likely? No. Plausible? Slightly. Going to happen? Doubt it.

But as JP said in Angels in the Outfield, “It could happen!”

Link: Part III of blogger roundtable

Head over to NJ.com to read Part III of the Mets blogger roundtable.

Today we answered, “If the Mets spend big on one free agent this winter -- and, obviously, there are only three high-priced options here: Matt Holliday, John Lackey or Jason Bay -- who do you think it should be and why?”

Click here to read Greg and Jason’s answers from Faith and Fear in Flushing, Eric’s from Amazin’ Avenue and mine from here.