Cubs sign Jon Lester

by groomsy Thu Dec 11, 2014 3:27 am

SAN DIEGO – The Cubs are back as major players at the winter meetings, selling Jon Lester on their vision of winning big at Wrigley Field and blowing him away with a six-year, $155 million megadeal.

A source involved in the negotiations confirmed the agreement late Tuesday night, and the news rippled throughout the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. After patiently waiting for the right time to strike in free agency – and missing on several high-profile targets – the Cubs finally got their man.

Lester turned down the Boston Red Sox – another industry source had their final offer at six years and $135 million – to join a franchise that hasn’t won a World Series since 1908.

Lester gets generational wealth – the contract includes a reported $15 million vesting option for 2021 – as well as the chance to make history. The Cubs will worry about the dubious history of pitchers and nine-figure contracts later.

http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-sign-jon-lester-six-year-155-million-megadeal