Nationals sign Jon Lester to one-year deal with mutual option

The Washington Nationals have signed left-handed pitcher Jon Lester to a one-year deal with a mutual option for the 2022 pending a physical, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic previously reported Lester and the Nationals were in contract talks.

The Nationals were in the market for a fourth starter in their rotation. The 37-year old Lester appears to be a good fit for the team. He has familiarity with both manager Davey Martinez and recently-hired pitching coach Jim Hickey, going back to their time with the Chicago Cubs.

As a 15-year veteran, Lester has been a key part of three World Series winning teams, twice in Boston in 2007 and 2013 and with the Cubs in 2016. He spent the past six seasons with the Cubs.

The Nationals are moving on from Anibal Sanchez after a struggling 2020 season. Lester could be a serviceable upgrade to slot behind studs Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin.

Last season, Lester’s numbers were less than ideal in the pandemic-condensed 2020 season. He made 12 starts, pitching 61 innings, posting a 5.16 ERA, which was his career-worst. He also allowed 9.4 hits per nine innings and a career-low 6.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

In six of his starts, he allowed one run or less. However, he allowed 32 earned runs in the other six starts, which was just over five runs per game.

Meanwhile, he averaged five innings per start, which still was slightly better than Sanchez’s 4.8 innings per outing. Lester is three seasons removed from tying Scherzer for the most wins in the NL with 18.

Joe Ross, who opted out last season amid COVID-19 concerns, is coming back to join the Nationals in the upcoming season. Ross is expected to be the front-runner to grab the fifth spot in the rotation. However, he will compete with Austin Voth and Erick Fedde.

Adding Lester would fortify the back end of the Nationals’ rotation. The Nationals have already added sluggers Josh Bell — in a trade with the Pirates — and Kyle Schwarber formerly of the Cubs in free agency to their offense.