The Cardinals have exercised their league-minimum option on right-hander John Lackey, per a report from the Associated Press.
The move is little more than a formality, as there was never any real doubt that the Cardinals would exercise the mere $500K option. That option was a large part of the reason that Lackey was so desirable at this year’s trade deadline and a large part of the reason that the club was willing to part with both Joe Kelly and Allen Craig to land him.
Lackey’s original five-year, $82.5MM contract with the Red Sox contained a clause stipulating that if he were to miss a year due to a significant elbow injury, Boston would gain a sixth-year option at the league minimum rate. Lackey underwent Tommy John surgery during the life of that original five-year term, thus triggering the clause. Though the salary is obviously not ideal for Lackey, he has said multiple times that he plans to honor the commitment.
Lackey, who turned 36 last week, pitched to a 3.82 ERA with 7.5 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 in 198 innings for the Red Sox and Cardinals this season. However, he was markedly better with Boston than he was with St. Louis, as he posted a 3.60 ERA (3.56 FIP) with the Sox compared to a 4.30 ERA (4.27 FIP) with the Cards.
The bigger question is whether Lackey will retire. He is essentially working for free based on how much he made in his career.
I though we had finally gotten past that discussion.
Yeah its a strange one thats for sure.
Coming down from $15.25m to 500k, one hell of a comedown.
Hes no doubt rueing the day he allowed that clause to be inserted into his deal.
Lackey has made 108 MM already, I think he will survive.
Oh no doubt, but that wasnt my point.
Still, id like to suffer through “only” $500,000 for the year too.
I would too at this stage, but if I had already made $108MM there is a big chance I would walk away. 162 game season is grueling.
He will survive, but does he have the drive to continue through it, in order to keep playing. People value there time too.
Yeah, some guys just can’t catch a break :P
He has said many times that he is honoring the contract. So I guess if you want to keep asking it, go ahead. It’s been answered for quite a while.
I think I remember him answering that question and he didn’t seem to have a problem with it.
No, the bigger question is whether he’s gonna stink. Because he kind of did when he joined the Cards. Not sure he’s one of the Cards’ top 5 guys, to be honest. Although he’d be an intriguing piece of trade bait with that contract.
And the biggest no brain decision of the offseason goes to the cards and exercising Lackey’s option
I think Lackey will play. As long as he can continue to play the children’s game, he will, regardless of what he is being paid, because it is a terrible feeling when you no longer can, and to walk away voluntarily over money seems illogical. If he’s good enough to play, he’ll stick around. If the game tells him he’s no longer good enough, he’ll pack it in.
I’m not a huge fan, but I think Lackey will make a legitimate effort, if for no other reason to at least keep his options open for 2016. I also think that most of these guys, like them or not, are in fact professionals, and the idea of purely tanking is probably anathema to them. What pitcher would want to go out with a 5+ ERA and a reputation as a dog?
Probable starting 5 – Wainwright, Lynn, Miller, Lackey I assume and who am I forgetting?
Wacha?
I am a Pirate fan and I am not happy looking at that rotation. lol
Ah, of course.
Ha, another pitcher who did better in the AL than the NL.
Wow! This is a tremendous deal! It’s like getting a solid rotation piece for free. I wonder who they are going to add with the $ they are saving here!?
He should just say that he already got paid for 2015 – the year he didn’t play.
He was paid while injured so he was essentially prepaid for the coming year. Have to admire the man for honoring his commitment in a time when most players probably wouldn’t because their agents would advise them not to. My guess is we will soon be reading about a multi-year deal for Lackey that reworks this one year option.