WASHINGTON – Left-hander Jon Lester and the Washington Nationals have an agreement in principle for a one-year contract, pending the successful completion of a physical exam, a person with knowledge of the Associated Press confirmed.
The person spoke to the PA on condition of anonymity on Monday evening, as the contract was not yet official.
ESPN was the first to report a deal between Lester and Nationals, whose manager, Dave Martinez, was the coach of the Chicago Cubs, when the starting pitcher helped the club win the 2016 World Series for its first 108-year title.
Lester is expected to meet the need for a starter no. 4 in Washington, bowing in a rotation led by Max Scherzer, three-time Cy Young Award winner, MVP 2019 World Series and leftist Patrick Corbin.
At the end of last place in the NL East in 2020, Washington’s busy off-season has already included the addition of Kyle Schwarber through a free agency – such as Lester from the Cubs – and first baseman Josh Bell in a trade with Pittsburgh pirates
Lester turned 37 this month and will be heading to his 16th season in 2021. He has a record 193-111 and 3.60 ERA for his career, which was spent primarily with the Boston Red Sox. and the Chicago Cubs, plus part of a season with Oakland Athletics.
Lester is a workhorse who has surpassed 200 innings in eight regular seasons and has thrown at least 170 more in each of the last three years.
He was also a star in the postseason, scoring an ERA of 2.51 in 154 innings, while helping Boston win a pair of World Series championships before being part of the Chicago title.
Lester pitched 61 innings in 12 starts during the shortened pandemic of the 2020 season, reaching 3-3 with a career-high 5.16 for the Cubs.
His $ 25 million 2021 mutual option was turned down by the Cubs in October, ending a $ 155 million six-year deal and allowing Lester to become a free agent. Lester has a $ 10 million acquisition from Chicago: $ 2 million every December 31, 2022 to 2026.
He was 77-44 with a 3.64 ERA in 171 starts with the Cubs.