2015 Cubs Offseason: Building a Winner Around David Ross

[Saul Goodman]

What if you can trade one of the Cubs young hitters for a reliable #3 pitcher or sign Lackey. What do you do?

Which hitter? Which pitcher?

[ChuckD]

What if you can trade one of the Cubs young hitters for a reliable #3 pitcher or sign Lackey. What do you do?

Which hitter? Which pitcher?

Who cares. Do the trade or don't do the trade. Just don't sign Lackey.

[Bort]

What if you can trade one of the Cubs young hitters for a reliable #3 pitcher or sign Lackey. What do you do?

Which hitter? Which pitcher?

Who cares. Do the trade or don't do the trade. Just don't sign Lackey.

Word. I don't care how meatball this sounds: you can give me all the proof in the world that Lackey improves the Cubs, and I still won't believe it.

[ChuckD]

What if you can trade one of the Cubs young hitters for a reliable #3 pitcher or sign Lackey. What do you do?

Which hitter? Which pitcher?

Who cares. Do the trade or don't do the trade. Just don't sign Lackey.

Word. I don't care how meatball this sounds: you can give me all the proof in the world that Lackey improves the Cubs, and I still won't believe it.

I think aside from the whole "winning 97 games and bouncing the Cardinals from the playoffs" thing, my favorite part about this team was that the major contributors all appeared to be really likable and decent people.

The addition of Lackey would seem to be like throwing a simmering pot of shart drippings on that. It's possible he's a really nice guy in person, but literally every piece of evidence I've read or seen suggests otherwise.

[Canadouche]

Lackey would hardly be my first choice, especially if he expects 3+ years on any contract. But he does have playoff experience and success, which can't be said of any Cubs pitchers save Lester.

[Quality Start Machine]

Lackey would hardly be my first choice, especially if he expects 3+ years on any contract. But he does have playoff experience and success, which can't be said of any Cubs pitchers save Lester.

I think Crazy Rumor Guy said 3/50. If his agent calls Theo asking for that, I'm guessing he actually laughs into the phone.

[Armchair_QB]

Signing Lackey would work about as well as the time they brought in Rich Gossage.

[Chuck to Chuck]

Lackey would hardly be my first choice, especially if he expects 3+ years on any contract. But he does have playoff experience and success, which can't be said of any Cubs pitchers save Lester.

What?

[Tonker]

Lackey would hardly be my first choice, especially if he expects 3+ years on any contract. But he does have playoff experience and success, which can't be said of any Cubs pitchers save Lester.

What?

I don't know if you can call what Hammel did "experience".  I think it was more "an experience".

[Slaky]

Lackey would hardly be my first choice, especially if he expects 3+ years on any contract. But he does have playoff experience and success, which can't be said of any Cubs pitchers save Lester.

Arrieta did throw a shut out in a one game playoff. Am I missing the point?

[Canadouche]

Lackey would hardly be my first choice, especially if he expects 3+ years on any contract. But he does have playoff experience and success, which can't be said of any Cubs pitchers save Lester.

Arrieta did throw a shut out in a one game playoff. Am I missing the point?

I guess the point is, he pitched other games after that and didn't look like himself. I'm not trying to say that he can't be relied upon, or trusted, but I wouldn't call the end result of his first go-round a success. I think he'll be more prepared next time, as last year he threw way, way more innings than ever before in his career. Still, it obviously wouldn't hurt to have a playoff-capable starter to bridge the gap between games in which Lester and Arrieta start.

I'm not shilling for Lackey btw. He's too old and past playoff success is not indicative of future playoff success.

[Tonker]

Lackey would hardly be my first choice, especially if he expects 3+ years on any contract. But he does have playoff experience and success, which can't be said of any Cubs pitchers save Lester.

Arrieta did throw a shut out in a one game playoff. Am I missing the point?

I guess the point is, he pitched other games after that and didn't look like himself. I'm not trying to say that he can't be relied upon, or trusted, but I wouldn't call the end result of his first go-round a success. I think he'll be more prepared next time, as last year he threw way, way more innings than ever before in his career. Still, it obviously wouldn't hurt to have a playoff-capable starter to bridge the gap between games in which Lester and Arrieta start.

I'm not shilling for Lackey btw. He's too old and past playoff success is not indicative of future playoff success.

Okay, now I'm confused.

[Canadouche]

Lackey would hardly be my first choice, especially if he expects 3+ years on any contract. But he does have playoff experience and success, which can't be said of any Cubs pitchers save Lester.

Arrieta did throw a shut out in a one game playoff. Am I missing the point?

I guess the point is, he pitched other games after that and didn't look like himself. I'm not trying to say that he can't be relied upon, or trusted, but I wouldn't call the end result of his first go-round a success. I think he'll be more prepared next time, as last year he threw way, way more innings than ever before in his career. Still, it obviously wouldn't hurt to have a playoff-capable starter to bridge the gap between games in which Lester and Arrieta start.

I'm not shilling for Lackey btw. He's too old and past playoff success is not indicative of future playoff success.

Okay, now I'm confused.

Focus more on the first part, big guy. Lackey's age could have an impact on how well he pitches later in a season.

[Eli]

Lackey would hardly be my first choice, especially if he expects 3+ years on any contract. But he does have playoff experience and success, which can't be said of any Cubs pitchers save Lester.

What?

I assume you're just pointing out that other Cubs pitchers now have postseason experience and not that Lester hasn't had postseason success, right?

[Chuck to Chuck]

Lackey would hardly be my first choice, especially if he expects 3+ years on any contract. But he does have playoff experience and success, which can't be said of any Cubs pitchers save Lester.

What?

I assume you're just pointing out that other Cubs pitchers now have postseason experience and not that Lester hasn't had postseason success, right?

Yes.