Inbox: How does Lackey affect Dice-K?

Beat reporter Ian Browne answers Red Sox fans' questions

With John Lackey on board, is there a chance Daisuke Matsuzaka will be used in a trade for a third baseman or a strong middle reliever?
-- Matthew J., Petawawa, Canada

Matsuzaka got himself into outstanding shape last summer after his humbling experience following the World Baseball Classic. Now he is at the Athletes Performance Institute, getting himself into even better shape. I think the Red Sox would like to see the new and improved Matsuzaka pitching for them instead of someone else. This could finally be the year Matsuzaka lives up to all the hype. And he also has a no-trade clause.



What effect do you see the cancellation of the Mike Lowell trade having on the Red Sox lineup next year? Is it likely that the Sox will stop looking for a new corner infielder or will they continue the search for a new infielder as well as a new team for Lowell?
-- Martin W., Auckland, New Zealand

It remains to be seen. With the trade not going down, it will give the Red Sox a chance if Lowell's mobility has improved now that he's more than a year removed from surgery. If he does gain that step back on defense that he lost, perhaps the best Red Sox team is still the one that has Youkilis at first with Lowell at third, and Casey Kotchman playing a significant role as well.



Now that the Red Sox have three aces at the top of their rotation, in what order can we expect to see them pitch? I like the idea of hard-throwing Josh Beckett starting off, switching to the lefty Jon Lester, and then reversing the break with Lackey and his slider.
-- Jon G., Chicago

I can tell you this: Terry Francona is not a manager who obsesses on his pitchers having a number attached to them. He will give one of those three guys the honor of pitching on Opening Night at Fenway Park against the Yankees, but after that, the order doesn't really matter. The big thing the Red Sox are excited about is that they think they can put a quality pitcher on the mound all the way through the rotation in 2010.



With the recent signing of another great starter in Lackey, does the likelihood of trading off Clay Buchholz now increase?
-- Andrew R., Northborough, Mass.

General manager Theo Epstein has always been a strong backer of Buchholz, and I don't see that changing now. But the addition of Lackey does give Epstein the option of moving Buchholz if a superstar bat is made available in a trade. But you can be sure Epstein will do his best to make such an acquisition without including Buchholz, a player who is under the contractual control of the Red Sox for five years.



Now that Boston has Lackey for the next five years, will it try to re-sign Beckett? Or is Lackey viewed as his replacement, or insurance if the Sox can't re-sign him?
-- Robert F., Portsmouth, N.H.

It was interesting to hear Epstein address this the other day, saying that he went out of his way to send a text message to Beckett, re-assuring that this move does not mean it's the end for him in Boston. That said, Epstein has basically set the benchmark on what it would take to keep Beckett. By signing Lackey at five years and $82.5 million, it stands to reason that Beckett could negotiate for roughly that same deal. Their numbers are eerily similar the past few years.



Exit Jason Bay. Enter Lackey. Is Adrian Gonzalez still on the radar? That would complete the 2010 puzzle, wouldn't it? Would they move Buchholz to do this deal?
-- Jack C., Lebanon, Pa.

The Padres have a very affordable superstar in Gonzalez for the next two years. It is after the 2011 season when the Padres will be hard-pressed to match what Gonzalez can make on the free-agent market. I think it's more than likely Gonzalez will start the 2010 season in San Diego. If the Padres fall out of the race, perhaps the Red Sox can entice Jed Hoyer into a trade in July. We all know Epstein's history of dramatic July 31 deadline deals.



Lars Anderson was supposed to be the future at first going into last season. What changed? Does he not figure into their plans anymore?
-- Sean S., Holden, Mass.

Quite simply, Anderson had a bad year at Double-A. That said, he is still young, and the Red Sox don't give up on a prospect because of one tough year. If anything, they hope that Anderson will grow from the adversity and take his game up a notch in 2010. They still like his plate discipline and line-drive swing from the left side that could one day be perfectly suited for Fenway.