The main focus surrounding the Chicago Cubs is whether or not the team will be able to sign David Price in free agency. However, recent rumors find Chicago could make a run at both Alex Gordon and John Lackey as well.
Here's the latest from MLB insider Peter Gammons:
"Sift through five days of calls and there is a lot of John Lackey and Alex Gordon to the Cubs speculation."
While this is nothing new, the fact that there's a follow-up report suggests Chicago could seriously be interested in these two in addition to signing a top starting pitcher.
With a need in left field, Gordon makes perfect sense for the Cubs, especially since he's of the cheaper top-tier outfield options. Fellow outfielders Jason Heyward, Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton are the ones expected to get the bigger contracts.
Both Gammons and Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported such a possibility within the past month.
Gordon, 31, is one of the best defensive left fielders in the MLB and it doesn't appear as if the Kansas City Royals will be able to retain him due to their payroll restrictions (although that remains to be seen at this point). The three-time All-Star batted .271/.377/.432 with 40 runs scored, 13 home runs and 48 RBI in 104 games en route to the Royals' World Series victory.
As for their need in the starting rotation, Lackey is also a reasonable free agent candidate for the Cubs because he's a formidable depth option that won't break the bank. The 37-year-old had a career year in 2015 after going 13-10 with a 2.77 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 175 strikeouts in 33 starts (218 innings).
This also isn't the first time the right-hander has been linked to the Cubs this offseason.
"Lackey wants to stay in the NL, and the Cubs and Giants may have the best shot of signing him," adds Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. Cafardo also mentioned this possibility back in October.
He expected to fetch a multi-year deal after rejecting the Cardinals' qualifying offer. The only problem with signing both Lackey and Gordon is that the Cubs will have to surrender a first-round draft pick for each of them because Gordon rejected the Royals' qualifying offer as well.
The Cubs have clearly kept their options open in free agency based on the offseason rumors. The team could strike a few signings as soon as the Winter Meetings, which begin on Dec. 6.
