Two 2020 Cubs Starters Signed Elsewhere Tonight, We’re Here For You
The Jon Lester era is over in Chicago. Lester, who many saw as the strike to the rest of baseball that the Chicago Cubs were in it to win it, has now signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals. There is a report that the deal is worth $4m, with a mutual option and some incentives, but those rumors have not been confirmed.
If they are correct or not doesn’t really matter here, we all know Lester wasn’t going to be offered a multi-year deal, and the actual salary was going to be low. We also know that the Cubs likely wouldn’t have needed to even match the deal for him to stay here.
So whatever the actual numbers are in the Nationals deal, they offered much more than the Cubs did. Which, is disappointing.
Look, Lester isn’t going to be an ace on any rotation any longer, but he is still a quality veteran arm that will eat innings and he will compete. Or, just the type of pitcher the Cubs could benefit to have in their 2021 rotation. A guy that will give the Cubs innings, a guy that will compete hard, and a guy that will be able to help teach the younger pitchers sure to get starts how to be an MLB pitcher.
I still feel better with Lester being in the clubhouse while David Ross is still learning the ropes. I have stated many times that I personally believe Ross’s experience sets him up very well to manage a team. He also showed promise on the top step in 2020, especially in the shadow of a global pandemic.
Whether it was Lester’s time to go or not, the Cubs absolutely needed a guy like him and he would have come inexpensive all the while being a familiar face and voice. So while I’m sure there will be a hundred smarter than everyone in the room types that suggest they’re happy or it was time (which sure, maybe it was) it doesn’t erase the fact that this should have been an easy match.
The Tyler Chatwood signing in Toronto stings a bit less.
He could have provided innings for a staff that is missing a couple of pitchers. While he hasn’t provided much durability over the last three seasons, he could have kept a rotation spot warm until someone like Adbert Alzolay or Tyson Miller or Brailyn Marquez is ready to run away with it. Then, as he has done in previous seasons, Chatwood could have settled in the bullpen.
Heck, maybe the Cubs should have looked at him to be a reliever from the jump. He signed a one-year deal for the Blue Jays, which reportedly is worth $3 million. While it seemed wasteful to have Chatty in the pen when he signed his original deal in Chicago ($12.7m AAV), but a $3m salary is a lot easier to swallow sitting in the bullpen.
What is insane to think, the Cubs Lester and Chatwood a combined $38.5m (CBT number) in 2020 and they will earn (reportedly) a combined $7m in 2021. Hell, the pitching staff alone shed $70 million in salary this offseason. They couldn’t have taken 10% of those savings to fill two holes?
I don’t know what has gotten into the Cubs brass. Look, I am ok with a re-tooling, I am fine with them taking a step backward before they move forward again. But when the fans that support your business, and the players that put all of themselves on the f*cking line so the Ricketts can cash their million-dollar checks – they absolutely are losing people.
COMPETE COMPETE AND COMPETE
— Willson Contreras (@WContreras40) January 19, 2021
I don’t wanna leave, I WANNA PLAY 😄 https://t.co/n92LysEvWs
— Jeremy Jeffress (@JMontana41) January 19, 2021
I’m not going to stop being a Cubs fan, and that isn’t what I suggest they’re losing people. What I am suggesting is, perhaps the suckers that you sold your dad on might just stop paying your mortgage. You asset rich cash poor mutha’s. Someone should start teaching you a giant lesson. The and don’t deserve your bullshit.
