Report: Cubs Will Eye John Lackey This Offseason

(CBS) One of Cubs left-hander Jon Lester's best friends in baseball is Cardinals right-hander John Lackey. As teammates in Boston in 2013, the two were instrumental in leading the Red Sox to a World Series title.

Lackey will be a free agent come this offseason. In their quest to become true championship contenders, the Cubs will be looking to bolster their starting rotation with proven arms. Put those two facts together and what do you get?

The Cubs will be eyeing Lackey in free agency, the Chicago Sun-Times' Gordon Wittenmyer reported Thursday night. That would certainly be music to Lester's ears, as he stumped for his former teammate being a great addition potentially.

"That would be awesome," Lester told the Sun-Times.

"I know if you ask anybody around the game that has ever played with him, they would say the same as I say about him, nothing but good things: competitor, great teammate, great clubhouse guy."

Lackey has been solid for St. Louis this season, going 7-5 with a 3.09 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. He was 14-10 with a 3.82 ERA in 2013.

The 36-year-old Lackey will be part of a stellar free agent pitching crop this offseason. Big names like David Price, Zack Greinke, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija and Jordan Zimmermann will highlight the class.

One Cubs official told the Sun-Times that the Cubs would "love" to add Lackey. Chicago has three quality starters in Lester, Jake Arrieta and Jason Hammel but need more rotation depth.