John Lackey is a Cub

[redseat]

Per Ken Rosenthal:

Cubs sign Lackey and will pay him between $32 and $34 million over 2 years.

 

[redseat]

Cubs agree to two-year contract with veteran righty John Lackey

The Cubs and free agent right-hander John Lackey have agreed to a two-year contract worth $32 million, CBS Sports MLB Insider Jon Heyman has confirmed. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports first reported the news. The team has not yet confirmed the signing.

Lackey, 37, is reportedly close friends with Cubs left-hander Jon Lester, dating back to their time together with the Red Sox. Also, Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein was Boston's GM when they signed Lackey prior to the 2010 season. There's certainly some familiarity there.

With the Cardinals in 2015, Lackey went 13-10 with a 2.77 ERA (143 ERA+) in 218 innings. He owns a 3.35 ERA (119 ERA+) and has averaged 201 2/3 innings per season since returning from Tommy John surgery in 2012.

Lackey will presumably slot in as Chicago's third starter behind 2015 NL Cy Young award winner Jake Arrieta and Lester. Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks then slot in as the No. 4 and No. 5 starters.

St. Louis did make Lackey the qualifying offer, so the Cubs will forfeit their first-round pick (28th overall). The Cardinals will gain a supplemental first-round pick.

 

[scoutyjones2]

Thank you for last year Lackey...loved watching you pitch...now revert back to more realistic stats for the Scrubs! And thank you Scrubs for the draft pick!

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Arrieta-Lester-Lackey is really solid.

 

[podsox]

always brings it in the post-season. hit or miss in the regular season

 

[bksballer89]

always brings it in the post-season. hit or miss in the regular season

Yeah but cubs needed a 3rd dependable starter in the playoffs

 

[scoutyjones2]

The Scrubs have to make the playoffs first, that's not a given

 

[msgkings322]

The Scrubs have to make the playoffs first, that's not a given

It never is, but they will contend because they are the same young team as last year and still with the game's best manager. ANd now they have 1 more solid rotation arm.

 

[calsnowskier]

It never is, but they will contend because they are the same young team as last year and still with the game's best manager. ANd now they have 1 more solid rotation arm.

Wait...

WHAT?!?!?!

 

[msgkings322]

Wait...

WHAT?!?!?!

Overall, not playoffs. And anyway it's pretty subjective. It's more fair to say he's ONE OF the best.

 

[calsnowskier]

Overall, not playoffs. And anyway it's pretty subjective. It's more fair to say he's ONE OF the best.

I agree he is, no question, in the top 3. There are 3 managers who are in a class by themselves (Bochy, Maddon, Showwalter), I think you really need to do logic-gymnastics to to argue that anyone but El Cabeza Grande is at the top of that list, though.

 

[anotheridiot]

Thank you for last year Lackey...loved watching you pitch...now revert back to more realistic stats for the Scrubs! And thank you Scrubs for the draft pick!

deal of the new millennium for sure for you cards fans for 500k

I am sure you will end up with another wainwright type arm with the compensatory pick you will get from the cubs signing him though.

 

[tducey]

Should be a good middle of the rotation pitcher for the Cubs.

 

[redseat]

it's funny how a few years ago we all left him for dead and look how he has responded!

 

[anotheridiot]

it's funny how a few years ago we all left him for dead and look how he has responded!

Yeah, but it can also be the classic overachievement in a contract year reality too.

 

[redseat]

Yeah, but it can also be the classic overachievement in a contract year reality too.

very true

 

[The Q]

Hard to bicker about this deal when you see what other guys are getting.

Low risk move here really. And doesn't hurt their chances of affording Arrieta long term.

 

[Rock Strongo]

Per Ken Rosenthal:

Cubs sign Lackey and will pay him between $32 and $34 million over 2 years.

hes still a human piece of shit, but he can pitch.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Excellent pickup.

 

[Mondo Jay]

One of the best signings so far in FA. They have a deep rotation now.

Rumors about Shelby Miller for Soler have cooled the past couple days. Adding Miller to that rotation would be sick.