Report: Red Sox Offered Matt Holliday Five-Year Deal Before Signing John Lackey

The Red Sox went from dormant in the hot stove season to prime-time players in the matter of a few days last week by signing John Lackey and Mike Cameron. Now we're learning that they were prepared to be major players even earlier.

The Red Sox offered a five-year, $82.5 million contract to free-agent outfielder Matt Holliday before they signed Lackey, according NESN's Peter Gammons on his Twitter page.

That is believed to be the same terms on which they agreed with Lackey.

Despite the earlier offer, the Red Sox are not expected to be players for Holliday any longer, as the Cardinals have established themselves as the front-runners. ESPN's Buster Olney also reported on his Twitter page that the Red Sox are out on Holliday.