Jon Lester leaves door open for return to Cubs after 2020

Jon Lester wants to return to the Chicago Cubs.

The Chicago Cubs are in the middle of a strange 2020 season in which stars like Javier Baez have struggled while relative unknows like Alec Mills made history with a no-hitter. The remaking of the core of the Cubs might finally get kicked off this offseason, as veteran left-hander, Jon Lester is going to hit the open market after his contract expired.

Lester acknowledged that his Cubs career might end after his sixth season with Chicago, but he also claimed that the Cubs are “family” while reaffirming his desire to re-sign with the club in order to pick up his 200th career win next season.

Jon Lester has been slightly below-average for David Ross in 2020

Lester’s 4.91 ERA in eight starts this year isn’t indicative of the player that was integral to Chicago’s championship run in 2016. Lester has a 3.61 ERA in 169 career starts with the Cubs, as his 2.51 ERA in 26 postseason games shows how his deadly accurate cutter can be nearly impossible to get hard contact against when he’s feeling it.

There is reason to be optimistic for the Cubs bringing him back. In addition to the fact that Chicago’s farm system is a bit on the lean side and especially stingy on elite pitching talent, Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks are saving this rotation from complete collapse this season. Lester coming back on a short-term deal could help the Cubs contend in 2020.

Lester might not have the same electric stuff that he did in his younger days with the Red Sox, or even during his early days with the Cubs, but he is more than worth a spot in a starting rotation of any team that needs a veteran presence at the back end. Hopefully, Lester will get the chance to run it back with Chicago.