John Lackey showed he still has plenty left in the tank in his 13th full MLB season. The St. Louis Cardinals have moved on from him, though, so the veteran starting pitcher reportedly has opted to sign with their biggest rival, the Chicago Cubs.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported Lackey’s deal with the Cubs will pay him between $32 million and $34 million over two years. MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat confirmed the agreement.
Lackey had a 13-10 record in 2015 but boasted a strong 2.77 ERA with a WHIP of 1.21 that matched his second-best personal mark, per ESPN.com. Thanks to an effective sinker and slider, the 37-year-old has managed to remain a fixture in an MLB rotation even after Tommy John surgery kept him out for all of 2012.
Cardinals communications coordinator Chris Tunno highlighted a notable stat from Lackey’s 2015 campaign:
With a lot of innings on his right arm, Lackey will need to rely on movement, location and contact over pitching power to prolong his effectiveness as a starter. The Cubs present him with an opportunity to win and be part of a talented rotation that includes former Boston teammate Jon Lester and 2015 NL Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta.
The Cubs don’t need Lackey to lead their rotation like he did at the end of last year in St. Louis, when everyone was hurt or underperforming.
Signing Lackey accomplishes two things: It weakens the Cardinals, which Chicago fans will appreciate, and it also strengthens an area of need for the Cubs. He may not be David Price, whom they were interested in, but with Lester and Arrieta in the top two spots, the Cubs didn’t need to add another ace to be a World Series contender.
Lackey is a consistent, reliable performer who is not going to cost much on a short-term deal. He slots in nicely as their No. 3 starter and represents a huge upgrade over the likes of Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks.
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