New York Yankees: Attractive short-term free agent pitchers
By Kyle Cardoza
John Lackey
The New York Yankees were lacking another experienced veteran on the mound to complement CC Sabathia in October. Lackey would be a perfect fit for a team that’s certainly capable of reaching the postseason again in 2018.
Not many pitchers can boast about winning three World Series rings with three different teams. Lackey is an exception, playing a vital role for the Cubs, Red Sox and Angels each respective Fall Classic.
Lackey isn’t the most dominant pitcher in the league, although he has aged well. In 2015, he posted a career-low 2.77 ERA across 33 starts. Last year, the right-hander pitched 188 2/3 innings with a 3.35 ERA and sported the best WHIP of his career.
Clearly, he still has some pitching talent at 39 years old. And, despite his old age, he could still make a go for one more ring before he retires.
Lackey occupied a spot in the Cubs’ rotation for the past two seasons, throwing for more than 170 innings in both years.
He wasn’t his most dominant self in 2017, sporting a ballooned 4.59 ERA, but he can still be a valuable contributor next season. Despite earning an All-Star appearance in just one season, he’s posted an ERA less than 4.00 in 11 of his 17 seasons.
He doesn’t miss many bats, as his career WHIP sits at 1.295. Yet he could still fill a similar role that Sabathia did throughout the past few seasons – eat up innings. Sabathia’s success was more than expected.
Surely, Lackey could play a similar part and be a key addition in a team hungry for a World Series title.