By Chris Brown / STL Baseball Today | @cbrown_STLBBT | Nov. 19, 2015, 11:20 pm CT
After one of his best seasons in the major leagues, John Lackey has no shortage of suitors on the free agent market this offseason.
The Cardinals are among half a dozen teams who have “checked in” on the veteran right-hander, along with the Cubs, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Red Sox, and Dodgers, sources tell Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.
The seemingly ageless Lackey had another impressive campaign while pitching for the league-minimum in 2015. The 37-year-old led the Cardinals with his 218 innings of work, compiling a 13-10 record with a 2.77 ERA — the lowest mark of his career — in 33 starts. Over 13 seasons in the big-leagues with the Angels, Red Sox, and Cardinals, Lackey holds a 165-127 career record with a 3.92 ERA.
With the news the Lance Lynn will miss the entire 2016 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, the redbirds could look to bring back Lackey on a two- or three-year deal, though the club is certainly exploring many other rotation options as well. The Cardinals have been tied to both David Price and Mark Buehrle (who are very different types of pitchers), among other starters, in offseason rumors/reports thus far.
As for the sort of contract Lackey is expected to receive, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman projects a three-year deal for $42 million, while MLB Trade Rumors estimates a $50 million contract for the same length.
MARK BUEHRLE UPDATE:
After a report over the weekend that veteran left-hander Mark Buehrle will either pitch for the Cardinals in 2015 or retire (read the full story here), Bernie Miklasz of 101Sports.com provides an update, reporting that the redbirds have “conveyed their interest” to Buehrle, but they aren’t sure whether the veteran of 16 major-league seasons wants to pitch in 2016. Read more on Buehrle and his potential fit with the Cardinals in this post.
More from STL Baseball Today:
Report: Cardinals interested in free agent slugger Chris Davis
Cardinals to kick off 2016 MLB Season as part of Opening Day triple-header
Cardinals add Diaz, Kiekhefer and Tilson to 40-man roster
Cardinals announce 2016 Spring Training Schedule
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Feature image used under Creative Commons by Arturo Pardavila III. No changes made. Image license.
