John Lackey filled in fluidly for the St. Louis Cardinals when ace Adam Wainwright suffered an Achilles injury in early April.
Lackey is now a free agent after declining a $15.8 qualifying offer, and already teams are in pursuit of the 13-year veteran.
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Six teams have shown interest in Lackey
Thursday, Nov. 19
Lackey’s market currently includes the three teams he’s played for previously: the incumbent Cardinals, the Boston Red Sox—the team who traded him to St. Louis—and the Los Angeles Angels, with whom he spent the first eight years of his career.
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs have also reached out to Lackey’s camp. Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported all six clubs that had "checked in" on Lackey.
Lackey has primarily positioned himself by maximizing his value, and declining the handsome qualifying offer came as no surprise. He’s clearly interested in playing toward his 40th birthday and could receive a deal fitting those aspirations.
After being dealt from Boston to St. Louis at the 2014 trade deadline, Lackey appeared on a wayward decline from his early career heroics. He finished with a 4.15 ERA, 7.2 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 in 12 starts with the Cardinals, including two in their run at the National League pennant.
But his turnaround in 2015 was remarkable. Lackey eclipsed 200 innings for the first time since 2010, going 13-10 with a 2.77 ERA, a 1.211 WHIP and 175 strikeouts, his most since his only All-Star season in 2007.
This all from a man who turned 37 in October.
All six of his suitors are in the market for starting pitching this offseason. The Red Sox have been aggressive in free agency under new president Dave Dombrowski, who seems prepared to quench the drama of Boston’s epic collapse in 2011, which Lackey was a part of.
With a suitable overhaul this offseason, the Red Sox could contend for the American League East; the same goes for the Angels in the AL West. The Cardinals’ outstanding rotation could probably make do without Lackey given that he’ll seek years and dollars they may not be prepared to dish out.
The Cubs and Dodgers make most sense. Given his age, Lackey probably has a premium on chasing a ring in his career twilight, and both teams have realistic World Series aspirations in 2016. And though both are believed to be in the market for blue-chip free agents like David Price, Lackey boasts leadership and a postseason pedigree each could benefit from.
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