Red Sox trade John Lackey to St. Louis for Allen Craig, Joe Kelly

Signaling they have given up on this season and are rebuilding for another World Series run in 2015, the Boston Red Sox, hours after sending staff ace Jon Lester to Oakland, sent No. 2 starter John Lackey to the St. Louis Cardinals for right-hander Joe Kelly and outfielder Allen Craig.

Lackey is 11-7 with a 3.60 ERA in the fourth year of a five-year, $82.5-million deal.

Kelly is 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA in seven starts. He has made four starts since being activated from the disabled list on July 11. Craig is batting .237 with seven homers and 44 RBIs.

Lackey missed all of 2012 with Tommy John elbow surgery, but finished 10-13 with a 3.52 ERA last season and pitched the deciding game in the Red Sox’s World Series championship.

Because of a clause in his contract regarding missing a season because of Tommy John surgery, he will make the league minimum of $500,000 next season.