Welcome Jon Lester

[imref]

1 year deal with a mutual option for 2022 pending a physical.  Value not yet disclosed.

I don't see how he's any better than Ross/Fedde/Voth.

[Lazarchick 31]

1 year deal with a mutual option for 2022 pending a physical.  Value not yet disclosed.

I don't see how he's any better than Ross/Fedde/Voth.

Because he's like every thing we've done so far. High risk. High reward. 

[Lintyfresh85]

As a #4 with Joe Ross a potential #5, I really like it.

[Sirjesse]

Because he's like every thing we've done so far. High risk. High reward.

He should end up being a very nice innings eater and veteran presence on the back end of the rotation.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think Lester at this point is a stable vet at the back of the rotation with a bit of an upside. Very similar to Anibal but I think less of a downside. Rubber arm innings eater

[Sirjesse]

I think Lester at this point is a stable vet at the back of the rotation with a bit of an upside. Very similar to Anibal but I think less of a downside. Rubber arm innings eater

I like him at the back of the rotation as well. If our ties with Chicago run deep.....did Jose Quintana play there when Martinez was there or afterwards?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

As a #4 with Joe Ross a potential #5, I really like it.

this. We aren't force feeding 2 guys with big blow up potential who've never proven anything more than a month in the majors into our rotation.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Because he's like every thing we've done so far. High risk. High reward. 

he's kind of the opposite. There's upside, but he's at worst an innings eater now.

[Slateman]

Because he's like every thing we've done so far. High risk. High reward. 

What's the risk? It's a one year deal.

Theres minimal risk, but a low ceiling

[Kevrock]

I think Lester at this point is a stable vet at the back of the rotation with a bit of an upside. Very similar to Anibal but I think less of a downside. Rubber arm innings eater

Yeah, this. I like the move.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

This is a guy who made 30+ starts every year from 2008 through 2019, and until last year did not have an era or xFIP over 4.50. Maybe last year is his true new level, but it's also true that last year was unusual.  He still made 12 starts, by the way

Also, this is not just a "Davey" guy. Hickey is here and knows Lester.

[DCFan]

What's the risk? It's a one year deal.

Theres minimal risk, but a low ceiling

4th starters of the world unite!

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Really curious what the terms are. I would not want > $6mm guaranteed.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

Lester makes sense.  With our "Big 3," we have upside.  What we needed was a durable innings eater that gives us a chance every 5th day.  Lester fits that bill.  I like Ross as the 5th guy.

This is a team with some holes, but there's a path to contention.  I think we're going to very much evaluate in the first half and potentially make deadline moves as needed.  If our Big 3 aren't healthy/good, then we're sellers regardless.  If they're good, then you look at adding a bat.  I'm ok with giving guys like Kieboom, Garcia, and Stevenson their opportunities and seeing what we have in them.  It shouldn't be impossible to find a bat as needed later.

I don't expect much else other than a decent lefty bullpen addition and then just some bench/depth pieces.  1st half developments will determine if we "go for it" or not. 

[Slateman]

Really curious what the terms are. I would not want > $6mm guaranteed.

It's a one year deal. If I thought spending 10+ million on Lester would inhibit signing someone else, I would be concerned. But the Nats arent, so, meh. I feel the same way about this as I do about Schwarber or Bell. Meh.

[Mathguy]

We will all root for them, regardless of who it is

4th starters of the world unite!

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

If we're out of it in July, some team will take Lester off our hands for a lottery ticket prospect.  Max is the guy who could yield something significant if we end up sellers.  We're definitely straddling the line of going "all in."  Adding short-term guys to plug holes and giving the flexibility to pivot from buyers to sellers as needed. 

[imref]

$5 million is being reported. There are conflicting reports about the option and I assume there are some incentives in the deal.

[raleighnat]

If we're out of it in July, some team will take Lester off our hands for a lottery ticket prospect.  Max is the guy who could yield something significant if we end up sellers.  We're definitely straddling the line of going "all in."  Adding short-term guys to plug holes and giving the flexibility to pivot from buyers to sellers as needed. 

If you traded Max at the deadline, I wonder how his contract would work.  Who would be on the hook for all of that deferred money?

[Slateman]

If you traded Max at the deadline, I wonder how his contract would work.  Who would be on the hook for all of that deferred money?

The Nats would have to pay the deferred money.

[DCFan]

$5 million is being reported. There are conflicting reports about the option and I assume there are some incentives in the deal.

For a 4th starter who's a lefty and has a pedigree that's not bad at all.

[Duke of Earl]

It's January. We're World Champs (I don't count 2020).  And we're already talking about selling at the deadline.

[Slateman]

It's January. We're World Champs (I don't count 2020).  And we're already talking about selling at the deadline.

Because 2020 counted.

[Mathguy]

So does that mean 2 lefties & 2 righties in the starting rotation ?

[Natsinpwc]

So does that mean 2 lefties & 2 righties in the starting rotation ?

3 righties and 2 lefties. Where you been MG? Teams went to 5 man rotations like 50 years ago.