Allen Craig (photo/Bill Greenblatt, UPI)
John Mozeliak made one major move before the trade deadline by dealing with the team that beat the Cardinals in the World Series. The Red Sox will receive right-hander Joe Kelly and outfielder Allen Craig in exchange for John Lackey and minor leaguer Corey Littrell.
Lackey, 35, is among the American League leaders in wins (11) this season and has posted a 3.60 ERA in his 21 starts (11-7, 3.60 ERA). He owns a career mark of 149-114 with a 4.02 ERA between the Angels (2002-09) and Red Sox (2010-14). The 6-6, 235-pound Lackey is 6-5, 3.03 ERA career in postseason play, making 19 appearances.
Littrell, 22, was the Red Sox 5th round draft selection in 2013 out of the University of Kentucky. The 6-3, 185-pound lefty was 5-5 with a 3.60 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) for Salem of the Carolina League (A).
Craig, 30, was selected by the Cardinals in the eighth round of the 2006 Draft and was an All-Star in a breakout season last year, during which he batted .315 with 13 homers and 97 RBIs. But he is hitting .237 with a .638 OPS this season.
Kelly, 26, has appeared in 68 games, 38 of them starts, for the Cardinals since 2012 and has a 17-14 record with a 3.25 ERA. He’s 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA in seven games this year, having spent time on the disabled list with a hamstring injury.
