Boston Introduces John Lackey As Newest Pitcher At Fenway Park

The Red Sox and John Lackey are still apparently working out some of that tricky “contract language,” but in the meantime, they went ahead and officially introduced him as Boston’s newest pitcher Wednesday.

Lackey, who will wear No. 40, said he is excited to not only be joining the Red Sox, but also to have the chance to pitch in Fenway Park (and stadium about which he once said, “they should blow this [expletive] place up”).

Buster Olney corrected his previous report and now has what he says are the final numbers for John Lackey’s deal with the Red Sox.

So, $16.5 million per year, and not $17.5. Still, not a bad gig if you can get it.

John Lackey’s deal with the Red Sox was originally rumored to be five years, and somewhere between $82.5 and $85 million. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the years are right, but the money was a tad low.

For comparison’s sake, looking at 2009’s numbers, that would make Lackey the 13th-highest paid player in baseball, and the fourth-highest paid pitcher, behind only Johan Santana, Carlos Zambrano and Barry Zito.

SB Nation’s Red Sox blog, Over the Monster, will have plenty more reaction to this deal.