John Lackey signs with Cubs

With a lot of innings on his right arm, Lackey will need to rely on movement, location and contact over pitching power to prolong his effectiveness as a starter. Cubs president Theo Epstein signed Lackey to a free-agent deal when Epstein was the general manager of the Red Sox. Zack Greinke’s anticipated decision between the Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers could come as soon as this weekend, which should start a chain reaction among free-agent pitchers.

The Chicago Cubs landed right-hander John Lackey on Friday, reportedly giving the veteran a two-year, $32 million contact.

CSN Chicago’s Patrick Mooney said a source confirmed the contract details, which were first reported by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. The agreement will become official once Lackey passes a physical examination.

Lackey was exactly the type of pitcher the Cubs were looking for this offseason, a workhorse that can provide great rotation depth behind National League Cy Young Award victor Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester.

Lackey went 13-10 last season with the Cardinals and had a 2.77 ERA. Thanks to an effective sinker and slider, the 37-year-old has managed to remain a fixture in an Major League Baseball rotation even after Tommy John surgery kept him out for all of 2012. Yahoo! Sports’ Tim Brown says the club is “pretty hot” on Lackey, exploring the possibility of a two- or three-year deal. Lackey is 8-5 with a 3.11 ERA in 23 postseason appearances (20 starts) and is 2-1 with a 3.42 ERA in six World Series games (four starts). He has also won two World Series, one with the Angels in 2002 and one with the Red Sox in 2013. He slots in nicely as their No. 3 starter and represents a huge upgrade over the likes of Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks.