Jon Lester to Nationals for one-year deal

The Nationals and free-agent left-handed Jon Lester have agreed on a one-year deal, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The team has not confirmed the deal, which is pending a physical. Lester, 37, has pitched 15 big league-seasons as one of the most impactful lefthanded starters for the Majors. The

The Nationals and free-agent left-handed Jon Lester have agreed on a one-year deal, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The team has not confirmed the deal, which is pending a physical.

Lester, 37, has pitched 15 big league-seasons as one of the most impactful lefthanded starters for the Majors. The Washington state native is a three-time World Series champion, earning titles with both the Red Sox (twice, in 2007 and ’13) and the Cubs (’16), while also capturing the ’16 NLCS MVP and five All- Star won. Game selections. He has pitched with Chicago for the past six seasons and finished his memorable Cubs tenure with a record of 77-44, an ERA of 3.64 and three crucial wins in the North Siders’ curse-breaking run to the ’16 World Series title.

In the 2020 season, Lester posted a worst 5.16 ERA in his career across 12 starts, including a career-worst 6.2 strikeouts and 1.6 home runs allowed per nine innings. But Lester also has an excellent post-season resume, with a career 2.51 ERA in October. He has also been durable, making at least 30 starts in every full season since 2008.

Lester will join an experienced Washington rotation led by the trio Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin that helped the Nationals capture their first World Series championship in 2019.