Chicago Cubs expected to sign Jon Lester in offseason

Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports /
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The MLB hot stove has cooled since the waiver trade deadline passed last month as while teams are still eligible to make trades, whoever is acquired can’t go on the postseason roster. But for teams that are largely out of contention this year, the focus is shifting towards free agency and the offseason, and which signings can help improve clubs for the 2015 season.

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Both the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox are out of the running for the postseason this year but both are going to be big spenders in the winter months to improve their team. The two biggest names attached to either team are James Shields of the Kansas City Royals and Jon Lester of the Oakland A’s.

Boston had eyes set on bringing Lester back this offseason but there are kinks in that plan by way of other teams likely offering more money than the Red Sox. According to Fox Sports baseball insider Ken Rosenthal, in a video on FOX Sports, the Chicago Cubs are the most likely team to snag Lester away from the Red Sox and off the market.

This isn’t the first time we’re hearing this as Lester has been rumored to be drawing interest from the Cubs for months now. The relationship he has with Theo Epstein is deep and tight, which not only give the Cubs an edge over the Red Sox but the deep pockets of the North Siders seems to give them an edge on the market as a whole.

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