One of the biggest fish of the free agent season has been reeled in.
Well, it took until early Wednesday morning, but finally the first domino has fallen. Jon Lester, who split last season between the Red Sox and Athletics, has agreed to a contract that will make him a Chicago Cub for the next six seasons while paying him $155 million.
Although Lester will be 31 years old when the 2015 season begins, he was highly sought after for his effectiveness and durability. The left-hander has made at least 30 starts in each of the last seven campaigns, which puts him in rare company as far as major league hurlers are concerned. Lester posted at least 3.0 fWAR in all seven of those years, with one of his most successful coming in 2014, when he pitched to a 2.46 ERA and struck out about one batter per inning.
The deal signals the winding down of the rebuilding process for the Cubs, who last had a winning season in 2009. For the past few days we've been told that the Lester signing would kick start a flurry of activity in pitcher movement. Perhaps we may finally seen the Mets trade one of their expendable starters before Sandy Alderson leaves San Diego.