John Lackey turned down his qualifying offer from the Cardinals on Friday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Lackey turned down his qualifying offer from the Cardinals on Friday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Analysis:

Lackey enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career in 2015, working to a 2.77 ERA with a 7.2 K/9. He'll be 37 years old by the start of the 2016 season, which could scare away some teams from giving him a multi-year deal, but the righty should still generate some interest on the open market. The Cardinals will now get a draft pick as compensation should Lackey sign elsewhere.