*Photo from CBS Sports*
The Washington Nationals were looking to fill a hole in the starting rotation this offseason, and they got it done. The Nationals have signed LHP Jon Lester to a one year, $5 million deal, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. Lester will make $2 million in 2021, with a deferred signing bonus in his contract for $3 million, giving Lester his $5 million.
Lester posted a 3-3 record in the short 2020 season, posting a 5.16 ERA in 61 innings pitched, striking out 42 hitters in 12 starts for the Chicago Cubs. In Lester's long 15 year career, he has a 193-111 record with a 3.60 ERA, throwing 2,598 2/3 innings across 424 games, all but one of them being starts.
Lester has spent his career as a workhorse and an innings eater in the Boston Red Sox starting rotation, as well as with the Cubs, while also spending half a season in Oakland after Boston traded him. Early in Lester's career, he had a bout with cancer, and he came back and threw a no hitter for the Red Sox shortly after his return. Lester has three world series rings, two with Boston and one with Chicago.
Lester's durability is also sure to help Washington's rotation, despite him posting some career low stats in 2020, as Lester has made at least 30 starts in every full season since 2008. Lester's postseason numbers are also special, averaging a 2.51 postseason ERA throughout his career, which is meaningful for a Nationals team looking to make it back to the playoffs. He also is likely to hit the 200 win milestone this season, sitting at 193 total wins.
Lester also has lots of ties to the Nationals, despite only having pitched in Washington 3 times in his career. He is familiar with manager Dave Martinez and pitching coach Jim Hickey from his time in Chicago, as well as former Cubs Wellington Castillo, Kyle Schwarber, and Starlin Castro, all members of the Nationals.
Lester joins a Nationals rotation loaded with high end talent, such as Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin. Joe Ross and Austin Voth are likely to compete for the last spot in the starting rotation, as Lester would likely slide into the 4th spot in the rotation.
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