The Chicago Cubs are coming into the offseason with high expectations and names like Jon Lester, James Shields and Max Scherzer could be targets, while a Starlin Castro trade with the Mets or another team also could be in the cards, as the Cubs have a strong organization and solid prospects behind him that could be ready to emerge in the majors.
Castro is an option to trade with the Cubs having so much depth at shortstop, but right now there is no major movement on a deal. The Mets could be an option, as they have pitching depth and they could look at making a deal. The Yankees also need a shortstop, but they don't have enough to make a deal with the Cubs. The Cubs have Addison Russell and other young options and they could move Castro for a group of prospects.
Some reports have the Cubs chasing Lester this year, as they have money to spend and now a fan base that is excited about young players and a new manager. Lester is going to command a ton of money and it comes after he was traded from the Red Sox to the Athletics this past season. Last year he went 16-11 on the year with a 2.46 ERA and 22 strikeouts and now he should get the biggest deal among the pitchers on the market. Lester will be 31 in January and he is still in his prime and is one of the best playoff pitchers in history.
Lester was traded last season to the Oakland Athletics after playing for the Red Sox for his entire career and it appears likely that he will be leaving Boston. The Cardinals just traded Shelby Miller for Jason Heyward and could use another arm, while the Cubs reportedly are willing to spend money this offseason. According to Hardball Talk, Jim Bowden at ESPN.com writes that the Cardinals could be a potential suitor for Lester after making the trade with Miller and after dealing with Michael Wacha's injuries lasts season.
ESPN.com reports that the Red Sox have an offer on the table for Lester and while many don't see him going back to Boston, the team clearly is interested in bringing him back. When Lester was traded this summer he said that he could consider the Red Sox as a free agent, but most in the baseball world speculate that he will not sign back, as he is looking for a bigger contract than they are willing to give. Lester rejected a four year deal in the offseason last year and now he has interest from a number of teams, including the Braves, Blue Jays and possibly the Yankees, according to ESPN insider Buster Olney.
Last season Lester had a strong year and he was traded to the Athletics at the trading deadline in July for Yoenis Cespedes. Lester is turning 31 in January and he is hitting the market at the right time, as he had the best season of his career and could command a contract worth up to $140 million. The Yankees likely will not jump in for Lester since they just signed Masahiro Tanaka to a big deal, but the team could change their minds depending on how the market plays out.
Lester won 16 games last season with a sub 3.00 ERA and over 200 strikeouts and he now is the top lefty pitcher on the market. The Cardinals and Cubs both could be ready to spend some money, as Chicago feels they are close to contending, while the Cards just traded for Jason Heyward and could go all-in on this season. The Cubs have a number of young players ready for the majors and the one major need they have is pitching and with the connections to Boston, Theo Epstein could get Lester in on a lucrative contract, as the team has money to spend.
