John Lackey 2 Years $32 Million

Chief Walking Stick

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37 years old but had a career year last year.
 
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DanTown

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For 16 million, you can spend worse money and the years make sense (just so happens to coincide with Jake's two years before FA). I think this type of move means a trade for an arm is close. I can't imagine the Cubs want two 36+ veterans at the back of their rotation for 162 games. Would assume Hammel is going somewhere (the Cubs can probably eat his option and get him traded in a market that pays Pelfrey 2/16).

It's so tough to judge moves one at a time; have to see the whole picture to judge.
 

beckdawg

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For 16 million, you can spend worse money and the years make sense (just so happens to coincide with Jake's two years before FA). I think this type of move means a trade for an arm is close. I can't imagine the Cubs want two 36+ veterans at the back of their rotation for 162 games. Would assume Hammel is going somewhere (the Cubs can probably eat his option and get him traded in a market that pays Pelfrey 2/16).

It's so tough to judge moves one at a time; have to see the whole picture to judge.

If you reference the tweet I copy pasted in the other thread, sounds like Theo is hinting at a trade being close. I don't want to say done or anything but seems like he thinks something will get done there.
 

beckdawg

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Also

ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 7m7 minutes ago
Lackey deal with #Cubs is two years, $32M. Pending physical.

$32 mil not $34 but kinda nitpicking.
 

DanTown

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I guess I'll set the numbers for the life of the deal

O/U

fWAR: 4
IP: 380
Wins: 25
Playoff Wins: 2.5
DL trips: 1.5
 

TC in Mississippi

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If you reference the tweet I copy pasted in the other thread, sounds like Theo is hinting at a trade being close. I don't want to say done or anything but seems like he thinks something will get done there.

Even if there's no trade for another pitcher they've bought themselves time. The rotation is now solid. If there's a deal they'll make it but this ensures that they don't have to overpay for a Shelby Miller or Carlos Carrasco. It's a solid if unspectacular move.
 

beckdawg

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Even if there's no trade for another pitcher they've bought themselves time. The rotation is now solid. If there's a deal they'll make it but this ensures that they don't have to overpay for a Shelby Miller or Carlos Carrasco. It's a solid if unspectacular move.

Yeah like I said in the other thread, I'm not thrilled by it but it's ok. I just wish there wasn't a QO attached to him. More often than not I think you can't really go wrong on short term FA signings. They are easier to project and if you **** up they don't kill you long term. I really don't distinguish much between him and Shark other than the fact that Shark is probably a little likely to be better given the various ages. From my standpoint though, they both would have met the same goal. Lackey's getting paid like a 2 fWAR player that he was in 2013/14(2.4 both years). If he's anything like he was in 2015 you're getting a steal really. It's easy to forget he was the cardinals game 1 starter the cubs will slot him in at 3.

Does make me wonder what's next though. If a trade is in the works, you have go figure Hammel goes. I mean you're not realistically going to run a rotation of Lackey(37), Lester(32), Hammel(33), Arrieta(30) and new starter right? Surely you want to keep the younger Hendricks. Additionally, Lackey at $16 miil is on the cheaper side which theoretically could mean Heyward is possible.
 

oober

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I'm ok with this, short term contract, solid pitcher, eats a lot of innings. Solid pitcher even at his age. I like the attitude too.
 

beckdawg

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I also like this move because you aren't left holding the bag when all the other players start signing. If the Giants don't get Grienke things could get chaotic with Shark and Leake who were likely the other two names the cubs were in on. If the Giants grabbed one and there were other teams in on the other you might end up in a bid war.
 

beckdawg

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Jerry Crasnick ‏@jcrasnick 2m2 minutes ago
One baseball man thinks John Lackey will mesh well with #Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio: "They're two of a kind."
11 retweets 10 likes
 

Shawon0Meter

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Not a bad signing but hopefully it's starting pitching move 1 of 2
 

FrankieLyrical

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I like the signing a lot. I wanted Price/Greinke, of course, but not for 200 mill. That's crazy talk. I think we're gonna trade for another arm here soon
 

CSF77

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I can't see teams wanting Hammel in a deal unless he headlines a deal that nets a CF and a Controlable SP. the Cubs would have to load it with players that the other team needs.

I just don't see it to be honest. Maybe if they traded Soler and Hammel for Bourn and Miller. I do not see them doing it but that is the type of deal we would be looking at.

I still believe that they will look at a primary CF like Victerino and let Baez get games in CF as the season goes along.

On Lackey. I've felt it made sense. Some pitchers just age well and he is one of them. I would expect 150 ip per year. Any more would be bonus.
 

czman

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Now that Greinke went somewhere surprising, the price for someone like Cueto or Shark just went up even more. This Lackey thing might be a good value

I don't know if I get that. Even if Cueto and Shark go up, I don't see that affects lackey. The Cubs are out of the running now and Leake and Kazmir are still available too. There are only so many teams who will pay for pitching. I think that at the end someone will get a player at a very good price. it usually happens that way. The last guy or two tend to get underpaid not overpaid when there is a glut of one position available in FA.
 

DanTown

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I can't see teams wanting Hammel in a deal unless he headlines a deal that nets a CF and a Controlable SP. the Cubs would have to load it with players that the other team needs.

I just don't see it to be honest. Maybe if they traded Soler and Hammel for Bourn and Miller. I do not see them doing it but that is the type of deal we would be looking at.

I still believe that they will look at a primary CF like Victerino and let Baez get games in CF as the season goes along.

On Lackey. I've felt it made sense. Some pitchers just age well and he is one of them. I would expect 150 ip per year. Any more would be bonus.

Hammel is a quality back end rotation arm. The Cubs might move him to a team who gives up an arm in a deal if the Cubs do a cheap bat for an arm (I.e Soler+Hammel+others for Ross)
 

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I like it! :yes:Better than investing $217 mil in a pitcher that doesnt have great post-season success.
 

CSF77

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Hammel is a quality back end rotation arm. The Cubs might move him to a team who gives up an arm in a deal if the Cubs do a cheap bat for an arm (I.e Soler+Hammel+others for Ross)

Ya but doubtful. I think Theo won't do it. They brought him back on mutual interest and both sides admitted that the play off push rushed him back too soon and he had to compensate thus setting his mechanics out of wack.

if they get a full season like his pre injury numbers 9 mil is a steal.

The guy I worry about is Hendricks. He was gotten to easy the 3rd time through the line up thus Maddon yanking him early. His 5.4 IP per game was due to being ineffective at that point. He was not fooling teams. So with out a track record going on to fall back on and the fact his stuff is not as good as the rest of the staff's I'm thinking they would be wise to use him and some adds to trade up for a arm.
 

beckdawg

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Dan Szymborski
‏@DSzymborski
ZiPS has Lackey at 12-9, 3.34, 114 ERA+, 3.4 WAR and 12-9, 3.54, 107 ERA, 3.1 WAR next two years in Chicago.
 

CSF77

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Wild

While Epstein will continue to pursue young starters in trades, the deal with Lackey (which is dependent on a physical and probably won't be announced until the Winter Meetings) means the Cubs will head toward 2016 with a front three of Arrieta, Lester and Lackey, who combined to go 46-28 with a 2.48 ERA over 98 starts this season.
That's impressive. Ditto the average of 6 2/3 innings per start, the ratio of 8.2 strikeouts and 2.0 walks per nine innings and the combined WAR of 17.5.
 

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