All right, let's just get this one out of the way because it's been brought up a couple times, and will continue to be until everyone can get their feelings out. There will be many many threads as the offseason comes around, some stupid (like this one?), some intelligent (SubOp's and Welch's), and some in between. I'm sorry if this is a waste of time, and it's probably irrelevant, not only because it probably won't happen, but also because this trade would be dependent on hiring a GM who pulls more weight than Scoscia (that's a lot of Lasagna my friends)! You've been warned, read further at your own annoyance.

It's popped up here and on Red Sox forums. The Sox are fed up with him, and frankly I think he's dick of an individual, but I also think there is something to a Wells-Lackey swap. Here we go:

Remaining Contracts and 2011 stats:

Lackey: 3/46   12-12, 6.41 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, -1.2 WAR 

Wells: 3/63     .218/.248/.412, -0.5 WAR

So yeah, I'm pretty disgusted by both of those lines. We all saw Vernon play this year, and even though he's one year less removed from a quality season than Lackey, he looked worse to me (compared to my limited exposure of Lackey). Lackey's velocity is mostly still there, and while he left on poor terms with Sosh (pretty easy to infer), if things could be patched up, he could be a viable 4/5th starter. Maybe with Butcher he could regain some form too? Maybe.

Wells struggled moving to PST. How might he do in Boston? Well a few of his warning track shots might carry or carene off the green monster. He could probably provide more value to Boston (assuming it's not negative) than here since he's blocking Mike Trout right now. The BoSox current RF Kalish is recovering from neck surgery and is a big question mark for next year and the future. Assuming Boston re-ups with Papi for a year, Wells could play RF and move to a part time DH role if he can return to form and Ortiz retires. There is incentive to get this done on both sides.

The biggest hurdles are Lackey vs Wells in the clubhouse, and that 17 million dollar gap over the next 3 years. I know a couple of Sox fans who would do the trade straight up, but I doubt that's possible. As for the clubhouse, Boston was such a mess this year that it would be insane to blame all of their chemistry struggles on him, but Scoscia would have to be on board with this move, and that is probably where this conversation ends. HOWEVER, if there is a change of heart, and this deal were on the table, would you pull the trigger?

By the way, my plan for the 6 mil freed up from this plus the other 15 mil would be to go after Fielder (I've clamored for CJ in other threads but this would change things). Also, if you don't think straight up would work (I don't), what would you throw in if you really wanted to make this work?