UPDATE (5:20 p.m. ET): It appears the Chicago Cubs have landed their man.
Free-agent right-hander John Lackey agreed to a two-year contract with the Cubs worth $32 million, pending a physical, sources told FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal on Friday. Carrie Muskat, MLB.com’s Cubs reporter, confirmed the agreement.
ORIGINAL STORY: The Cubs lost out on David Price to Boston, and it appears a former Red Sox pitcher might be Chicago’s second option.
The Cubs are interested in adding free-agent pitcher John Lackey, according to multiple reports. Yahoo! Sports’ Tim Brown says the club is “pretty hot” on Lackey, exploring the possibility of a two- or three-year deal. FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal has heard similar things in regards to the length of a deal, but says others are involved in the chase.
Adding Lackey would make plenty of sense for the Cubs, as the veteran right-hander has ties to the organization. Cubs president Theo Epstein signed Lackey to a free-agent deal when Epstein was general manager of the Red Sox. Lackey also is good friends with Cubs pitcher Jon Lester, a former Red Sox teammate.
Lackey had a fine season in 2015 with the St. Louis Cardinals, who acquired him at the 2014 trade deadline. The 36-year-old made 33 starts, going 13-10 with a career-best 2.77 ERA. The Cubs know firsthand how good Lackey was in 2015, too. He made three starts against them, going 2-0 with a 1.25 ERA in 21 2/3 innings, striking out 19.
Signing with the Cubs would allow Lackey to avoid facing Lester, who finally picked up his first career hit last season against his ex-teammate.
Thumbnail photo via Jerry Lai/USA TODAY Sports Images
