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Cubs’ Theo Epstein Would’ve Soaked Himself In Deer Urine To Sign Jon Lester

By Mike Dyce

Aug 14, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs vice president of baseball operations Theo Epstein is dunked with a bucket of water as part of the ice bucket challenge in awareness for ALS research after the game between the Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 14, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs vice president of baseball operations Theo Epstein is dunked with a bucket of water as part of the ice bucket challenge in awareness for ALS research after the game between the Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chicago Cubs‘ Theo Epstein would’ve gone to great lengths to sign Jon Lester, including soaking himself in deer urine.

The Chicago Cubs were the the big winners of Major League Baseball free agent starting pitcher Jon Lester. He was highly coveted and the Cubs were able to outbid the Boston Red Sox for his services.

The Cubs were willing to go extreme lengths to get Lester to sign, including this funny line from President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein.

From CSN Chicago:

"How bad did Theo Epstein want to sign Jon Lester?“I was ready to soak myself in deer urine, if necessary,” Epstein said.The Cubs president of baseball operations didn’t need that for this hunting trip, which finally ended with the $155 million trophy on display during Monday’s news conference at Spiaggia on Michigan Avenue."

Does this mean that part of the recruiting process included or would’ve included going on a hunting trip with Lester? Lester is an avid hunter, writing about it for Mossy Oak.

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Cubs manager Joe Maddon talked hunting when recruiting Jon Lester and used it in his pitch.

“At that time [when I spoke to Lester] I didn’t know that Davey Martinez was going to be part of our staff. So now if he were to be with us now that Davey is there, we can line up these hunting trips on the road,” Maddon said, via Boston.com. “As part of the Rays, our guys liked to hunt and fish a lot, like to shoot things. We would set things up on different road trips. Like a couple of years ago Wade Davis shot a black bear in Toronto prior to the playoffs. I thought that was outstanding. That gave me even more confidence putting him in a game, like in the seventh or eighth inning, facing a normal right‑handed hitter, he shot a black bear, 300‑pound black bear. I like when the guys do things like that. He relayed to me the fact that he likes to hunt and fish. I assured him that I don’t, but I respect it.

“Otherwise we just talked about previous games and series and how this unfolded over the last couple of years, and how much respect I had for him. Pretty much like I talked about in game and how I thought he had a better game in progress.”

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