Josh Beckett Having ‘Substantive Discussions’ With Red Sox About New Contract

Red Sox Nation is loving the sound of the Josh Beckett–Jon Lester–John Lackey three-headed pitching monster right now — at least on paper — but Beckett’s expiring contract might limit its run to just one year. If recent talks are any indication, though, the Red Sox might not have to sweat about Beckett’s continued participation.

After it became clear that a deal could be reached, keeping Beckett off the free-agent market, talks have progressed and the two sides have had what an ESPN.com source referred to as "substantive discussions."

Beckett does not want to let the talks affect his play this season, so the timeline for a contract extension to be hammered out has been sped up. If the two sides do not reach a deal by the end of spring training, negotiations will be placed on the "back burner," and Boston could risk losing one of its aces at the end of the season.

But think positively, Red Sox fans. A source close to the talks told ESPN’s Joe MacDonald that the discussions have brought about a “reason for optimism” that an agreement could be reached before opening day.

With Lackey now in the fold, his deal (five years, $82.5 million) is a good model for the type of contract Beckett is likely after. The 29-year-old is almost a year and a half younger than Lackey, but he also has a more graphic injury history, including a blister problem that has hampered him throughout his career.
While a deal being reached before the Red Sox break camp in Fort Myers is by no means a certainty, the fact that Beckett is now feeling pressure to get the deal done could bring about a quick resolution to a potentially hairy situation.