The Washington Nationals have agreed to a one-year deal with veteran starter Jon Lester. Despite a down year in 2020, the 37-year-old lefty brings some much needed stability to the back end of the Nationals rotation. Financial details are still unknown and completion of the deal is pending physicals.
Jeff Passan over at ESPN first broke the news.
Left-handed starter Jon Lester and the Washington Nationals are in agreement on a one-year deal with a mutual option, pending physical, sources familiar with the contract told ESPN.
After a phenomenal six years in Chicago, Lester off to D.C. to join Scherzer, Strasburg, Corbin.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 19, 2021
In 15 seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics and Chicago Cubs, Lester owns a 3.60 ERA, 119 ERA+ and 45 bWAR. Further adding to his illustrious career are five All-Star appearances and four top-10 Cy Young finishes. Even with his age, Lester remains incredibly durable and should, at the very least, eat up many innings for the Nationals.
Lester also brings with him an astounding postseason resume. A three-time World Series Champion with the Red Sox (2007 and 2013) and Cubs (2016), he also claimed 2016 NLCS MVP honors after recording a 1.38 ERA in two starts against a potent Dodgers lineup. Overall, across 22 career playoff starts, Lester has an ERA of just 2.51.
Lester looks to slot in behind Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg in the Nationals rotation.
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