The Cubs Get Their Man
Yes, that man...Jon Lester. Joel Sherman and Ken Rosenthal have both tweeted that Lester has informed Red Sox he won't be signing with them.
More to come...
UPDATE #1: The deal is for 6/155M.
UPDATE #2: Red Sox offer was 6/135, Giants were willing to go 7/168 according to Jeff Passan.
UPDATE #3: Levine says there is a 7th year vesting option.
UPDATE #4: Jon Heyman refutes the Giants offer, saying they topped out at 6/150 with a little room to spare, but wouldn't go a 7th year.
UPDATE #5: Not exactly sure how the 7th year option works, but if picked up, could bring deal to 7/170M according to Bob Nightengale. By the way, Lester's deal is now the 2nd highest annual average salary for a pitcher behind Clayton Kershaw, although Max Scherzer is certain to top Lester's. I do hope the Cubs were able to manipulate the years, so it's a bit more front-loaded, so that in years 4,5,6 and possibly 7, they'll have room to pay their prospects that'll be up for arbitration and free agency or be able to trade Lester.
UPDATE #6: From Passan's article, “The thing I liked about ’em is it wasn’t forced and wasn’t a sales pitch,” Lester said after his meeting with the Cubs. “It was like, ‘This is what we can do.’ I don’t want BS. I don’t want show. I don’t want glitz and glamour. I don’t want to walk out to the field with your name and number on the JumboTron. I’m not 18 anymore. I want you to tell me what you can do for me and my family.”
UPDATE #7: Joe Maddon reacts with, "“We won the baseball lottery.” Also, David Ross has multiple offers according to Chris Cotillo with Cubs, Red Sox, Diamondbacks, Padres and Braves all in play.
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