Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs: John Lackey Expects to Pitch Beyond 2017

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:07 p.m. ET

Fansided, Tim Haberin/FanSided via Call to the Pen

As he heads into the last year of his contract with the Chicago Cubs, 38-year-old John Lackey doesn't appear ready to hang up the spikes just yet.

John Lackey and the Chicago Cubs may be focused on defending their World Series title, but that doesn't mean the veteran pitcher isn't thinking past the 2017 season. After all, the right-hander is entering the final campaign of a two-year deal with the Cubs. And though he turned 38 in October, retirement isn't yet on Lackey's mind.

According to Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago, Lackey talked about whether or not he plans to pitch in 2018 and potentially beyond, responding to a recent vote of confidence from Cubs rotation mate Jake Arrieta:

"At this point, I think I'm more likely to pitch next year than not pitch. But we'll see at the end of the season . . . A couple years might be a stretch. But we'll see. I'm just going to pitch this season (first)."

Arrieta claimed that he believed Lackey had three more seasons in him, while also predicting his own ability to pitch until age 40. Arrieta himself could factor into the Cubs' willingness to keep Lackey despite him getting on in years. The former Cy Young winner is also a free agent at season's end, and there is no guarantee the Cubs will meet his asking price. If Arrieta exits and Lackey turns in another solid year, re-signing him to continue providing consistency to the rotation might not be such a bad idea.

Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer hasn't ruled out the possibility to bringing Lackey back. Per Mooney:

"Never say never," general manager Jed Hoyer said. "This guy's been defying Father Time for a while."

"Defiant" is an appropriate word to describe Lackey and his career. He spent his first eight seasons with the Angels, developing into the workhorse of their staff. In 2007 he finished third in the AL Cy Young race, winning 19 games and posting a league-best 3.01 ERA over 224 innings. Lackey moved on to the Red Sox in 2010, but struggled initially in Boston. He was arguably one of the worst starting pitchers in the league in 2011, producing a swollen 6.41 ERA in 28 outings.

Lackey missed the entire next season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. At age 33, it was hard not to wonder if his best days were firmly behind him. He proved the doubters wrong, however, by putting up sub-4.00 ERA campaigns in each of the following four years for the Red Sox, Cardinals and Cubs. Lackey enjoyed the defining season of his renaissance in 2015, when he pitched to a 2.77 ERA over 218 frames for St. Louis.

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Last season, Lackey's first in Chicago, wasn't quite as dominant, but he was still a steadying force at the back-end of the Cubs rotation. He put up a 3.35 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 29 starts, while also generating 8.6 strikeouts per nine, tied for the best rate of his career (2005).

If Lackey pieces together another respectable body of work in 2017, there's no reason he won't be able to continue his career if he chooses, even at 39 years old. Heck, the Braves eagerly added two pitchers past the age of 40 to their rotation this offseason in Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey.

Lackey has aged well to this point, maintaining an average fastball velocity of around 92 MPH over the past decade. However, a declining ground ball rate, along with increasing walk and HR/FB rates over the last couple seasons could spell trouble for him down the road if those trends continue.

Nevertheless, Lackey's veteran presence should enhance his appeal. Despite his surly reputation, he's been credited as a positive clubhouse influence with the Cubs. He also brings 26 postseason game appearances (and counting) to the table.

Whether he spends 2018 in Chicago or elsewhere will likely depend on what kind of contract he seeks. On a one-year deal at an agreeable rate, the Cubs probably wouldn't say no, regardless of what happens with Arrieta. If someone offers him two years and Lackey is interested in pitching that long, his current club might have to think twice about that kind of commitment.