One free agent each MLB team should sign right now

Pittsburgh Pirates: John Lackey

Even after trading away Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole, the Pirates remain committed to fielding a competitive ballclub in 2018. The trades of the team’s stars brought back mostly MLB-ready players instead of prospects in Low-A. For better or worse, the Pirates ownership group refuses to punt and start over.

It’s probably the wrong move for the Pirates to keep trying to win when the rest of their division is way ahead in terms of young talent. Alas, there’s no convincing the Pirates it’s time to strip it down and start over with prospects.

The starting rotation is what will ultimately make or break the Pirates this season. Pittsburgh’s lineup is still good enough to put up runs, especially with the addition of Corey Dickerson and Colin Moran. Jameson Taillon impressed as a rookie, but asking him to lead a staff at this age is too much too soon. Another veteran in addition to Ivan Nova is needed to help Ray Searage’s next crop of pitchers.

John Lackey is in his age-39 season, but has remade himself into a smarter pitcher. Since missing the 2012 season, he is 60-53 with a 3.57 ERA. The veteran right-hander struggled with the home run in 2017, but still showed enough to warrant at least one more season before calling it a career. His style fits with the Pirates pitching philosophy, and at this point, Lackey might be willing to pitch for a price Pittsburgh can afford.