Was Lackey a pressing need for the Sox?.... Considering that Beckett's deal runs out after 2010 and that they weren't all that close to the Yanx this season ... in their mind I'm sure that makes it a 'yeah'. I love the Sox pitching...but if their Bay money is going to Lackey, I'm not all that impressed with their returning offense. No Bay, no Lowell (although questions in the physical are holding up that deal), a declining Ortiz, a virtually finished Varitek, plus their 3rd long-term commitment to a SS* in the last 5 years ... yeah, I'd say there are questions. * Rentirea, then Lugo, now Scutaro -- hopefully, for them, they won't have to pay this one off to go away