What Does The Lester Deal Mean For The Cubs?

Photo Credit: Associated Press

With offers from the San Francisco Giants, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and of course, the Boston Red Sox on the table, All-Star pitcher Jon Lester was forced to three top-tier free agent market teams, including his former team in the Red Sox. It was a huge surprise that Lester, known for his great roots with the fans because of his impressive production, had not chosen the Red Sox. He instead decided to sign with the Chicago Cubs for a six-year, $155 million dollar deal.

After spending the latter half of the year with the Oakland Athletics – posting a 6-4 record and a 2.35 ERA – Lester departed to a team in dire need of some hope. No one is/should be screaming for a playoff berth, but this kind of move gets them substantially closer to getting to their destination. The Cubs were 22^nd last year in runs allowed last year and, with an ace like Lester, this team can finally feel comfortable in their pitching staff that was looking for an ace to replace Jeff Samardzija, who was traded in the middle of the year.

Source: Tom Lynn/Getty Images

With studs like Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro, the Cubs batting can rely on their offense to put some more wins on the board in 2015. Lester is not only a pitcher that has been a proven winner, but is the type of pitcher that dominates opposing batters, posting 220+ strikeouts last year for the third time in his career. Lester, of course, also finished with a 16-11 record and a 2.46 ERA in 2014.

Lester finished fourth in the Cy Young voting last year, so Cubs fans definitely have a reason to be excited about what him and Arrieta can bring to the table. Cubs, 2015 World Series champs!…Alright, maybe not, but they’re getting closer to post season contention!