Peter Gammons tweets that not only are the Red Sox "ecstatic" about acquiring John Lackey, that they also offered Matt Holliday a five-year, $82.5 million deal:
Boston ecstatic with Lackey. Before he stepped foward, Sox offered 4x$15M to Bay and 5x$16.5 to Holliday.
Holliday's deal is exactly what the Red Sox were able to snag Lackey with. If Holliday wants more than that (and gets more than that), then I am happy with grabbing Lackey and strengthening the defense.
I guess we know where the Red Sox stood in their interest with Jason Bay all along.