John Lackey 2 Years $32 Million

[CSF77]

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.

wouldn't surprise me. That ERA is realistic.

Ya know a 2nd LH starter would look good after Lackey. Who is out there that fits the criteria for young/controlled and on a team that would trade him?

White Sox and Q. is the only one I can think of.

 

[CSF77]

Drew Smyly

 

[DanTown]

Who had more starts of 7+ innings and 3 or less ER with 21.

A) John Lackey
B) Jon Lester
C) Jake Arrieta
D) All other Cubs SP

Hint: The Cubs aren't it. Lester and Arrieta had 17 and all other Cubs had 15. Lackey? 21. Tied with Kershaw/Grienke.

 

[TL1961]

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.

What don't you get?

LA and SF need pitching and Price, greinke and Zimmerman are gone (not to mention Lackey and Happ)

Prices are going up. Greinke to team other than those two raises price of Shark and Cueto.

There are more P than most years, but no glut.

 

[TL1961]

Who had more starts of 7+ innings and 3 or less ER with 21.

A) John Lackey
B) Jon Lester
C) Jake Arrieta
D) All other Cubs SP

Hint: The Cubs aren't it. Lester and Arrieta had 17 and all other Cubs had 15. Lackey? 21. Tied with Kershaw/Grienke.

That's odd. Late in year ( but before jake went crazy) I heard Lester at 15 with the LA duo each at 17.

How is it remotely possible Jake was not there when his last 15 starts were off the charts?

Edit: stat i read was 2 ER or fewer.

 

[85Bears]

I like it. I think it was a very sensible move, considering the huge money people are paying for the top guys. And Greinke to Arizona knocks LA and SF down a peg which is cool.

 

[SilenceS]

Grienke going to the Backs is great! That is a good team. I like when a team like that gets someone no one ever thought they could get. That lineup is tough. As for Lackey, Im not a huge fan because the Cardinals always seem to get out when they are at their best. But, I will say one thing about Lackey. He lost his velocity but became a better pitcher. He still has a 92 plus fastball and his command has been very good. He doesn't throw 95 plus regularly any more so the Cubs know exactly who they are going to get. He is a competitor and will bring a win attitude. He is familiar with the Central and give the Cubs a tough top 3.

 

[85Bears]

Grienke going to the Backs is great! That is a good team. I like when a team like that gets someone no one ever thought they could get.

Me too - glad to see them get him. My parents live in the Phoenix area now (they're retired, I grew up in Woodstock) and my dad has more or less converted to a Dbacks fan now. I'll have to call him and congratulate him.

 

[Payton!34]

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

I agree 100%!!! I just don't see how Price at over $200mil per year gets you the return on your investment. 200 or 32 in two years - I guarantee you that Lackey will give us much more for the money! His leadership and experience will make everyone better and he will win 11-15 games this year- Price won't win 25 and anything less would be a let down for that kind of money!

Heyward is another sore topic. I just don't see how he's worth that kind of money! If Baez can play center then I think you get lucky but I think he has the physical tools to play that position well. I don't think you lose too much if anything between the two bats, it's the fielding that's the difference! Maybe I'm wrong! I'd love to have Heyward but I just don't think he's worth that much money.

 

[JimJohnson]

I agree 100%!!! I just don't see how Price at over $200mil per year gets you the return on your investment. 200 or 32 in two years - I guarantee you that Lackey will give us much more for the money! His leadership and experience will make everyone better and he will win 11-15 games this year- Price won't win 25 and anything less would be a let down for that kind of money!

Heyward is another sore topic. I just don't see how he's worth that kind of money! If Baez can play center then I think you get lucky but I think he has the physical tools to play that position well. I don't think you lose too much if anything between the two bats, it's the fielding that's the difference! Maybe I'm wrong! I'd love to have Heyward but I just don't think he's worth that much money.

Eventually the Cubs are going to have to spend some money if they want to win. What happens when Jake is getting offered $210/7 in a couple years? Are Cubs fans going to say he's not worth it? What if the Cubs brass says they can't afford him and let's him walk, Cubs fans going to be okay with that?

 

[Parade_Rain]

There has to be a salary bubble at some point. There are only so many advertising billboards and naming rights teams have.

 

[85Bears]

This is old, but amusing.

 

[hyatt151]

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.


I'm going to predict it's Sonny Gray!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JimJohnson]

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.


I'm going to predict it's Sonny Gray!!!!!!!!!!!

Theo is disappointing me lately with his moves. No reason to think he will make my day and get Gray.

 

[beckdawg]

Grienke going to the Backs is great! That is a good team. I like when a team like that gets someone no one ever thought they could get. That lineup is tough. As for Lackey, Im not a huge fan because the Cardinals always seem to get out when they are at their best. But, I will say one thing about Lackey. He lost his velocity but became a better pitcher. He still has a 92 plus fastball and his command has been very good. He doesn't throw 95 plus regularly any more so the Cubs know exactly who they are going to get. He is a competitor and will bring a win attitude. He is familiar with the Central and give the Cubs a tough top 3.

What I like most is that they paid Lackey like he had come off the 2013/14 seasons and not his 2015 season. Leaves you a lot of wiggle room and I'm guessing had he signed else where it might have been for more money. However, the chance to win and be with Lester again probably swayed him some not to mention he knows the front office.

 

[Boobaby1]

What I like most is that they paid Lackey like he had come off the 2013/14 seasons and not his 2015 season. Leaves you a lot of wiggle room and I'm guessing had he signed else where it might have been for more money. However, the chance to win and be with Lester again probably swayed him some not to mention he knows the front office.

I like his competitiveness. Always have. He is a fighter and I think people tend to forget that he shut sown the Cubs in the first game amidst the Cubs bats being very hot, and had he not been on short rest in the other one, probably could have beaten us then too. He imploded in that one inning after it was either a hit by Hendricks or an error (I can't remember), and then Baez HR'ed to RF which sent him fuming.

Oh! Did I mention he has plenty of playoff and WS experience?

Bottom line is, he is a ton better than Haren and a very, very, stable number three, and if Hammel can pitch to the tune that he did when he was healthy, the Cubs staff as a whole just got better.

This also allows the Cubs to be flexible to go either after a cost controlled pitcher if they chose, or fill another hole via trade which I am sure someone has already mentioned.

Next week is going to be very interesting. :yep:

 

[SilenceS]

Eventually the Cubs are going to have to spend some money if they want to win. What happens when Jake is getting offered $210/7 in a couple years? Are Cubs fans going to say he's not worth it? What if the Cubs brass says they can't afford him and let's him walk, Cubs fans going to be okay with that?

Is making it to the NLCS not considered winning? You would think the Cubs only won 75 games last year.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Eventually the Cubs are going to have to spend some money if they want to win. What happens when Jake is getting offered $210/7 in a couple years? Are Cubs fans going to say he's not worth it? What if the Cubs brass says they can't afford him and let's him walk, Cubs fans going to be okay with that?

Jake will NEVER get a contract like that you wife beating moron.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Jake will NEVER get a contract like that you wife beating moron.

You forgot a comma, bozo.

 

[JZsportsfan]

I really like this addition. Throw in the fact that the Cardinals rotation struggled down the stretch last year, and they just lost their best SP then is a huge bonus. I know they will have a couple guys getting back from injury, but still nice to take a guy from them. This gives the Cubs some nice stability in the rotation and they can now sit back and sort of wait for a deal that really fits them, as opposed to being forced to overpay a team because that's their only option. Also keeps the Cubs in the running for a guy like Heyward or Gordon.

Me too - glad to see them get him. My parents live in the Phoenix area now (they're retired, I grew up in Woodstock) and my dad has more or less converted to a Dbacks fan now. I'll have to call him and congratulate him.

Good óle Woodstock

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.


I'm going to predict it's Sonny Gray!!!!!!!!!!!

I would love Gray. Cubs need to infuse a little bit of youth with this rotation. Gray is a legit ace, and is just entering his prime