The Cardinals have sacrificed eight years of future control over Craig and Kelly for 1 1/2 seasons of Lackey, a prolific postseason pitcher who beat the Cardinals twice in last October’s World Series and is second among active arms with 16 postseason starts. The moves stink if you’re sentimental. Craig ranked as one of the game’s two most productive players per at-bat the last two seasons. (Two-time American League MVP Miguel Cabrera is the other.) Kelly crammed 15 wins and a 3.25 ERA into 38 starts spread over pieces of three seasons. He also performed a mean “worm” on command, earning undying appreciation from the club’s cable rights-holder.

The moves make sense if you think this team is playing with rounded edges.

The moves make sense if you believe outings of 6.2, 2.2, 5, 5.1, 5, 5.2, 5, 4.1, 5, 6, 4, 4, 5, 4.1, 4.2, 3, 7, 4.2 and 5 innings by starters not named Wainwright or Lynn since Wacha’s last appearance June 17 offers a red flag for a club that must now return to a five-man rotation.

They also make sense to those who believe the right-field timeshare a flameout.

Craig’s career .308/.369/.518 slash line entering spring training contrasted this season’s unsightly .231/.297/.346. Due $25.5 million the next three seasons, Craig no longer seemed a given.