Cubs Sign John Lackey - 2 years $32M per Rosenthal

[David]

[tweet]

[/tweet] Edited December 4, 2015 by David

[Guest]

[Sammy Sofa]

GROSS.

[Guest]

I'd like him to neither go to the Cubs or Cardinals...but if he had to go to one of those, I'd rather it be us.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'd like him to neither go to the Cubs or Cardinals...but if he had to go to one of those, I'd rather it be us.

With two cancer survivors on the team I think that is a recipe for disaster in the clubhouse.

[Guest]

I'd like him to neither go to the Cubs or Cardinals...but if he had to go to one of those, I'd rather it be us.

With two cancer survivors on the team I think that is a recipe for disaster in the clubhouse.

 

ha

[TarzanJoeWallis]

I'd like him to neither go to the Cubs or Cardinals...but if he had to go to one of those, I'd rather it be us.

With two cancer survivors on the team I think that is a recipe for disaster in the clubhouse.

 

Isn't one of the cancer survivors (Lester) one of his best friends?

[SouthSideRyan]

Boourns

[Guest]

I'd like him to neither go to the Cubs or Cardinals...but if he had to go to one of those, I'd rather it be us.

With two cancer survivors on the team I think that is a recipe for disaster in the clubhouse.

 

Isn't one of the cancer survivors (Lester) one of his best friends?

 

p sure he was joking

[Guest]

Aside from the massive difference between his ERA and FIP in 2015, he's basically the same pitcher statistically as Iwamura, Chen & Kazmir. They are all younger and nicer.

[Guest]

Cafardo feels the Cubs and Giants have the best chance at signing John Lackey, who wants to remain in the National League. The Cardinals have also “kept their toes in the water” for his services. The Red Sox have checked in on Lackey but are more focused on landing an ace starter.

[ScrubMD]

What's John Rocker up to these days? Him and Papelbon could shore up the bullpen.

[davell]

If this is setting up to where Shark or Lackey are the second best pitcher we add this off season, count me in as very happy.

[minnesotacubsfan]

He better be second best

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I could live with Shark and Lackey. Ironically, now that we're actually good, I can see the case for restraint and not needing to go after the tippest-toppest talent.

[shnsajax]

A friend of mine was from Abilene when Lackey was in HS and called him the biggest douche he has ever met. #CSB

[Cubswin11]

[expletive] him, no

[minnesotacubsfan]

I could live with Shark and Lackey. Ironically, now that we're actually good, I can see the case for restraint and not needing to go after the tippest-toppest talent.

 

Yea. It's only been 100+ years so let's not try our best

[Guest]

I could live with Shark and Lackey. Ironically, now that we're actually good, I can see the case for restraint and not needing to go after the tippest-toppest talent.

 

Yea. It's only been 100+ years so let's not try our best

 

There were 33 players who put up 5 fWAR or more last year. The Cubs return 4 of those players, no other team returns more than 2(Heyward, Cespedes, Price, Greinke, and Davis are all FA). That's on top of a plethora of high ceiling youngsters like Schwarber, Soler, Russell, and Baez who could take big steps next year.

 

The moral of the story here is that the Cubs are not hurting for high end talent. You of course always want the best players you can, but the 2016 Cubs are not going to fail for lack of upside. Instead, the larger threats are with depth, specifically pitching depth since the upper levels of the minor leagues are pretty barren with contingencies. That means if faced between the choice of getting say, one top of the market guy and 1-2 other pitchers, or getting two intermediate guys and 1-2 others, the better choice for the 2016 Cubs is the latter.

[mul21]

Yes, what TT said. I don't think everyone is nearly as cognizant as they need to be of how ridiculously healthy the rotation stayed all season. You just can't count on that to continue and there have to be contingency plans. Two legit mid level guys plus depth, while not flashy, is likely a better idea than one big name and filler after that, at least in the near term.

[Guest]

Yes, what TT said. I don't think everyone is nearly as cognizant as they need to be of how ridiculously healthy the rotation stayed all season. You just can't count on that to continue and there have to be contingency plans. Two legit mid level guys plus depth, while not flashy, is likely a better idea than one big name and filler after that, at least in the near term.

 

I will say though, not to discount how much of their health was by design. Pitchers are going to get hurt, but I think some of that health is residue of intentional decisions. Lester and Hendricks specifically made a big difference this past year, and the durability in the past of arms like Wood and Jackson shouldn't be overlooked either. It's no surprise then that the names that they're getting attached to are arms that are pretty free of injury like Price and Samardzija; and not similar caliber players like Cueto, Iwakuma, or even Zimmermann.

[UMFan83]

Shark-Lackey would be ok to me. I was thinking worst case we can be active at the deadline if either of them don't pan out as we would hypothetically hold onto our position player assets.

 

Getting Price would be amazing but it does seem to make sense to get 2 starters for the price of a Price.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I get all of that TT, but I want more then anything a WS win with an undeniable team. And Price or Greinke adds depth. Even if it's top end.

[KrisBryantisaBeast]

What's John Rocker up to these days? Him and Papelbon could shore up the bullpen.

 

Last time I saw John Rocker he was getting voted off the island on Survivor! :lol:

[JennieGarthAlgar]

I get all of that TT, but I want more then anything a WS win with an undeniable team. And Price or Greinke adds depth. Even if it's top end.

 

We can not sign either of those two guys and still win the WS. Deniable teams win it all the time.