Jon Lester at the Nationals for a one-year contract

The Nationals and free southpaw Jon Lester agree to a one-year contract, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The team did not confirm the deal, which awaits a physical examination. Lester, 37, started 15 big league seasons as one of the Majors’ most impactful left-handed starters. the

The Nationals and free southpaw Jon Lester agree to a one-year contract, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The team did not confirm the deal, which awaits a physical examination.

Lester, 37, started 15 big league seasons as one of the Majors’ most impactful left-handed starters. The Washington state native is a three-time World Series champion, winning titles with both the Red Sox (twice, 2007 and 2013) and Cubs (2016) while capturing the NLCS ’16 MVP and winning five stars. Game selections. He kicked off the past six seasons with Chicago, ending his memorable tenure with the Cubs with a record 77-44, a 3.64 ERA and three crucial wins in the race to break the North Siders’ curse to the title. World Series 16.

The 2020 season saw Lester record his worst career average of 5.16 in 12 starts, including a career-worst 6.2 strikeouts and 1.6 homers allowed for nine innings. But Lester also packs a great playoff resume, boasting a career 2.51 ERA in October. It has also been sustainable, making at least 30 starts in every full season since 2008.

Lester will join a veteran rotation in Washington led by the trio of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin who helped the Nationals win their first World Series championship in 2019.