Earlier on Monday, it was reported that Lackey was headed to Boston for a physical. Now, it appears that the deal is almost done.
According to ESPN.com, the Red Sox have reached a "tentative deal" with the free-agent right-hander that will be worth "slightly more" than the five-year, $82.5 million deal A.J. Burnett reached with the New York Yankees last offseason.
Last year, Lackey went 11-8 with a 3.83 ERA and shut out the Red Sox through 7 1/3 innings in Game 1 of the ALDS, which Boston lost in three games. In eight seasons with the Angels, he went 102-71 with a 3.81 ERA.
One small cause for concern could be Lackey's numbers at Fenway Park: 2-5 with a 5.75 ERA in nine regular-season starts.
Reports indicate that the Red Sox' talks with Lackey heated up once their hopes of re-signing left fielder Jason Bay dimmed considerably over the weekend.
A similar report from Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal suggests that in addition to Lackey, the Red Sox are also working hard to sign right-hander Josh Beckett, who is entering the final year of his current contract with the Red Sox, to an extension. Beckett, 29, is expected to be asking for "at least a comparable deal" to the one reportedly offered to Lackey.
