The Chicago Cubs have added another frontline pitcher to their starting rotation, inking John Lackey to a two-year deal worth between $32 million reports Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Lackey deal with #Cubs is two years, $32M. Pending physical.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 4, 2015
The 37-year-old had a masterful 2015 season with the St. Louis Cardinals, posting a 13-10 record with a 2.37 ERA (3.57 FIP), logging an impressive 218.0 innings. Lackey started Game 1 and Game 4 of the playoffs against the Cubs, as the Cardinals ultimately lost the series in four games. It was a career season for the righty, and although its doubtful he can keep up the same numbers, he still should make for a good number three starter.
Lackey provided arguably the biggest bang for his buck out of any pitcher, as he was one of the lowest paid players in the MLB after a clause in his contract came into effect with the Boston Red Sox after he missed 2012 with Tommy John surgery, giving the Cardinals (who acquired him trade deadline day 2014) a club option for 2015 with a base salary of $507,000 plus incentives. His new contract will earn him more than 30x his 2015 base salary in each of the two seasons of the deal.
Lackey joins a very good rotation in Chicago which features NL Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta and his former Red Sox teammate Jon Lester. Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks currently fill the back end, but the Cubs may pursue more free agent options. The rotation is already in much better shape than last year as the Cubs really didn’t have a fifth starter.
Even at $16 million per season, just two years isn’t a huge risk for the Cubs. Lackey is a proven innings eater who will benefit from playing on an offensively improving Chicago squad. Is he an ace? Probably not. But, they’ve already got two, so even if Lackey regresses to just a slightly above average starter, it’s a pretty solid, much-needed signing.
