The Washington Nationals have added a veteran southpaw with championship pedigree to the revolution. The Nationals have consented to a one-year contract with free-agent lefty Jon Lester, forthcoming physical, reports CBS Sports HQ correspondent Jim Bowden. Monetary terms are obscure. Washington has not yet affirmed the marking.
Lester, 37, battled in 2020, tossing 61 innings with a 5.16 ERA with the Cubs. He has been a tick more awful than association normal the most recent two years, yet dealt with a 3.32 ERA in 181 2/3 innings as of late as 2018. In the case of nothing else, Lester will take the ball at regular intervals. He made at any rate 31 beginnings consistently from 2008-19, or more another 12 in the 60-game 2020 season.
The Nationals will front their revolution with Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg. Lester will step in as the innings-eating No. 4 starter and push Joe Ross and Erick Fedde down a stake on the profundity diagram. Washington purportedly had interest in Corey Kluber before he endorsed with the Yankees toward the end of last week.
Lester is the second former to join the Nationals this offseason. Washington marked Kyle Schwarber, who was non-offered by Chicago a month ago, half a month back. Schwarber and Josh Bell are the club’s two major hostile increments this colder time of year. The Nationals could at present get an infielder, explicitly a third baseman, just as warm up area help.
Washington went 26-34 and completed in last spot in the NL East last season. They are one year eliminated from winning the World Series, in any case, and with their best three starters bringing in huge cash, and Juan Soto and Trea Turner actually making beneath market esteem pay rates and giving large creation, it just bodes well to take the plunge in 2021.
Our R.J. Anderson didn’t rank Lester among the best 60 free specialists accessible this offseason.