Dec. 05--Backup catcher David Ross recruited John Lackey during the regular season, but his younger, new teammates made a major impact that helped convince the 37-year-old free agent to agree Friday to a two-year, $32 million contract with the Cubs.
The deal, which will become official once Lackey passes a physical, will complete the first step of fulfilling the Cubs goal to advance to the World Series.
The short commitment gives the Cubs flexibility to sign or trade for another free agent starting pitcher and a center fielder/leadoff batter.
Any questions about the durability of Lackey, who missed all of 2012 because of elbow surgery, are gone after 93 starts the last three seasons. He posted a 2.77 ERA in 33 starts and 218 innings with the rival Cardinals in 2015.
Of more importance to the Cubs, Lackey bolsters a rotation behind 22-game winner Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester.
Lackey also is a proven postseason winner, having won the deciding game in the 2002 and 2013 World Series, the latter with Ross and Lester for the Red Sox.
"He has gotten better since I last caught him," Ross said Friday night. "He has a sharper slider and a cutter, and he still dominated back then. I think we have three No. 1 (starters)."
Lackey beat Lester in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, but he took notice of the Cubs' young talent.
"Talent can take you a lot of places," Lackey said after beating Lester and the Cubs 4-0 on Oct. 9. "I don't care how old you are."
That proved to be true when Javier Baez, 23, hit a three-run homer to highlight a four-run second inning off Lackey, pitching on only three days' rest, to roll to a 6-4 victory in the fourth and deciding game of the NLDS at Wrigley Field.
The contract agreement surfaced about an hour after President Theo Epstein confirmed the team's interest in David Price though it didn't have the financial resources the Red Sox did to sign Price to a seven-year, $217 million contract.
"(The Red Sox) are a little more fully developed and fully realized from a payroll standpoint now, and it's a place we hope to be in several years," Epstein said before the Lackey agreement surfaced. "Right now, we just couldn't compete (financially) at that level."
The Cubs will lose their first pick in the 2016 draft to the Cardinals because of the signing. Nevertheless, Lackey's agreement allows the Cubs to concentrate more on trading for a starting pitcher under team control and examine their center field/leadoff options.
"Sometimes when you make a trade, it opens the ability to sign a free agent," Epstein said. "Not all good players are expensive, especially if you get them through trade.
"You can get creative with how you structure certain deals. We've been working to create a little more room for 2016 within (our) parameters."
In an effort to increase their options, slugging infielder Javier Baez will work in center field for Santurce of the Puerto Rican League in a few weeks. Baez, 23, is considered a superb athlete and Doug Dascenzo, the Cubs' minor league outfield/baserunning coordinator, will supervise his work.
"Who knows what it could lead to down the road," Epstein said. "It will be fun to take a look at him down there."
Extra innings: Left-handed reliever Edgar Olmos was claimed off waivers from the Mariners. ... The Cubs and Mets will play exhibition games at Las Vegas on March 31-April 1. The Cubs will open exhibition play March 3 against the Brewers at Maryvale.
mgonzales@tribpub.com
