The Chicago Cubs Decline Jon Lester’s Club Option

Jon Lester‘s six-year stint in Chicago is over. On Friday, the Cubs officially declined Lester’s $25 million club option. As a result, they will owe $10 million to Lester as a part of their deal.

It’s been a fantastic couple of years for Lester in Chicago. The Southpaw helped them win their first World Series in over 100 years.

Here is a look at Lester’s numbers with the Cubs.

[Related: Evaluating the Chicago Cubs 2021 Club Options]

Lester’s Stats

In six years with the Cubs, Lester went 77-44 with a 3.64 ERA. He pitched over 1,000 innings and finished with 940 strikeouts.

His best season was in 2016 when he went 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA. In that season, Lester finished two complete games, 197 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.01. He finished second in NL Cy Young voting behind Max Scherzer.

That is also the same season the Cubs won the World Series. Lester was a key piece of their World Series run as he pitched five times going 3-1 with a 1.01 ERA.

Jon Lester celebrates after a strikeout in the World Series (Image Courtesy of Getty Images)

He also came out of the bullpen in Game 7 of the World Series. In that game, Lester went three strong innings giving up one earned run on three hits.

Additionally, Lester had another phenomenal year with the Cubs in 2018. He led the league in wins (18) and finished ninth in NL Cy Young voting. He went 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA and 149 strikeouts.

However, after a mediocre season for Lester, the Cubs decided to move on from him. Last season, Lester went 3-3 with a 5.16 ERA.

Lester was such a beloved member of the Cubs and it’s unfortunate to see him go. He was one of the most significant players for the Cubs over the past couple of seasons.

What’s Next for Jon Lester

Lester, 37, will enter free agency looking to sign a short-term contract. He will be entering his 16th MLB season looking to add another World Series ring to his collection.

Could a reunion for Lester and the Cubs be in the works?

It could happen as both sides would love for that to occur. However, the future of the Cubs is in question so they might want to completely move on from the veteran to add a younger arm.

Either way, Lester should find a home elsewhere looking to provide value to his new club.

Featured Image Courtesy of CBS Sports

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