There’s no secret that I do not like John Lackey one bit. No matter what people who have defended him this offseason about his antics, I just don’t think they have a place in Boston.

ohn Lackey #41 of the Boston Red Sox reacts as manager Terry Francona, not seen, walks to mound to remove Lacey during a game with the Baltimore Orioles in the second game of a doubleheader at Fenway Park September 19, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts.Sure I’d have loved to see Lackey wearing a different uniform next season. But the one thing you never want to wish is an injury upon someone.

Well Lackey will be back with the Red Sox in 2012. He just won’t pitch for them.

Early this morning, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reported that Lackey had visited Dr. Yocum in California about his ailing right elbow. And now during his press conference, new Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington announced that Lackey will have Tommy John surgery. No date for the surgery has been announced yet but it’s likely to come in the next week or so.

Lackey battled elbow problems all season long and it seems as though they were in fact the cause of his awful season. In 28 starts in 2011, Lackey was 12-12 with a 6.41 ERA.