Nationals and left-free agent Jon Lester agree to a one-year deal, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The team has not confirmed the deal, which is waiting for a physicist. Lester, 37, has won 15 major seasons in the league as one of Southpaw’s most influential players.
Nationals and left-free agent Jon Lester agree to a one-year deal, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The team has not confirmed the deal, which is waiting for a physicist.
Lester, 37, has won 15 major seasons in the league as one of the most influential Southpaw rookies in the Majors. The Washington native is a three-time World Series champion, winning titles with both the Red Sox (twice, in 2007 and ’13) and the Cubs (’16), while capturing the ’16 NLCS MVP. and winning five All-Stars. Game selections. He has won the last six seasons with Chicago, ending his memorable Cubs term with a record of 77-44, 3.64 ERA and three crucial victories during the North Siders’ curse races for the World Series 16 title.
The 2020 season saw Lester record the weakest career of 5.16 ERA on 12 starts, including the weakest career of 6.2 shots and 1.6 home runs allowed in nine innings. But Lester also contains a post-season resume with a career-high 2.51 ERA in October. It has also been sustainable, making at least 30 starts in each full season since 2008.
Lester will join a veteran rotation in Washington, led by the trio of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin, who helped the national team capture their first World Series championship in 2019.
Matt Kelly is a reporter for New York-based MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @mattkellyMLB.