The story was first reported by AOL FanHouse's Ed Price on his Twitter page, citing a source that he claimed was trustworthy. FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal later echoed the story, adding that the physical already took place and that the Red Sox and Lackey are close to a deal.
A source indicated to Rosenthal that the Red Sox offered Lackey a contract in the range of five years, $82.5 million — the terms the Yankees offered to A.J. Burnett last winter.
The Angels, however, believe they are still "in the running" to sign Lackey and that he hasn't accepted an offer from the Red Sox, Yahoo Sports' Tim Brown reports.
Lackey, 31, has been the Angels' most reliable pitcher for the better part of the decade. After helping the Angels win the World Series in his rookie season of 2002, Lackey has posted a 102-71 record and a 3.81 ERA in 233 career starts. He's struck out 1,201 batters while walking just 441, and he's thrown 14 complete games (eight shutouts).
Price indicated that going after Lackey was the Red Sox' secondary goal, with their primary target being Jason Bay.
Lackey has spoken publicly about not being a fan of the Green Monster at Fenway Park, most notably after the Red Sox eliminated the Angels from the American League Division Series in 2008.
"[Monday] night, they scored on a broken-bat ground ball and a fly ball that anywhere else in America is an out, and [Dustin Pedroia is] fist-pumping on second base like he did something great," Lackey told the Los Angeles Times, referring to a crucial hit in the deciding game of the series.
His complaints are warranted since he owns a 2-5 record at Fenway, his worst mark at any field at which he's made more than one career start. His 5.75 ERA at Fenway is his third-worst mark at any field at which he's made at least four starts.