The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Wednesday that the Padres have discussed the possibility of trading for John Lackey, but only if the Red Sox pay most of the remainder of Lackey's contract.
Lackey, signed by the Sox as a free agent prior to the 2010 season, is owed 15.25 million for each of the next three seasons with a 500,000 assignment bonus if he is traded, for a total of 45.85 million.
Padres manager Bud Black was Lackey's pitching coach with the Angels.
Lackey was 12-12 with a 6.41 ERA in 28 starts in 2011. He -- along with fellow starters Josh Beckett and Jon Lester -- has been at the center of the recent controversy involving Sox starting pitchers drinking beer, eating take-out chicken and playing video games in the clubhouse during games in which they weren't pitching. Lackey issued a statement through the team Tuesday denying allegations, made by an anonymous source and reported by WHDH-TV, that the three also drank beer in the dugout during games.