John Lackey: 3 Best Fantasy Landing Spots

One of the best things about being a part of the fantasy community is that there will be times where you feel like a genius when you correctly identify a breakout or bounce back player at the draft. However, there is also those times where you look like a complete dunce and whiff on predicting a player to be washed up.

For me, John Lackey‘s resurgence has made me feel like I have no clue what I am talking about.

In 2011, John Lackey had a 6.41 ERA with Boston and had elbow surgery shortly there after signifying what I thought was the last time we would see Lackey pitch anywhere close to the level he once could.

He made his way back to Boston in 2013-2014 and pitched well, then was shipped to the Cardinals where he managed to post a 4.30 ERA over his 10 starts in St. Louis. Heading into 2015, Lackey was well off my radar and somehow who I had deemed did not warrant a draft selection as I thought he was surely do for regression at some point.

It is safe to say that in 2015, he not only proved me wrong, but managed to surprise the whole MLB community with his stellar, 13 W/2.77 ERA/175 K, season. He now enters free agency with his value at an all-time high, so here are the three best fantasy landing spots for him in 2016.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs will undoubtedly make a big splash this off season and while Lackey does not constitute that level of excitement, he would definitely improve the ball club. With Theo Epstein, Joe Maddon and even David Ross being with the Cubs, the ties that Lackey has with the team are hard to ignore and appear to be clear signs that they will be a player in signing him.

Entering in his age 37 season, it’s pretty obvious that Lackey wants to make this the last contract he ever signs, but he will also want to go to a place that gives him a chance to win another world series as he is one the fiercest competitors in the game. He is coming off a season where he shut just about everyone in the NL Central, so if he can wind up with the Cubs target him in the mid rounds in 2016.

San Francisco Giants

It seems as though for just about every starting pitcher that will be on the market this offseason the Giants prove to be a great fit. While Lackey lacks the long term potential that other possible free agents offer, he would surely step right in behind Madison Bumagarner and help lead the Giants to the playoffs.

Imagining what he could do in AT & T is interesting as well, as he could see his stats mirror what they were in 2015 if he lands here. Lackey has been pretty solid the last few seasons, production that the Giants desperately need in their rotation. If he can find a way here, feel comfortable drafting him as a SP3.

Washington Nationals

The Nationals are going to be an interesting team to watch this offseason to see if they address their rotation at all. While Max Scherzer is clearly locked in, they are in danger of losing Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez to free agency  next few year. Leaving the Nationals possibly feeling that Lackey would at least offer them a valuable stop gap option to anchor the middle of their rotation in a time of uncertainty moving forward.

Lackey would do well in Washington as the ballpark tends to be pitcher friendly and he should get decent run support from an offense that should rebound in 2016. It seems like a solid fit, so if Lackey can find a way to D.C. his production should stay pretty consistent.