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MLB Rumors: Chicago Cubs Believe Jon Lester Will Re-Sign With Boston Red Sox

Jon Lester

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With the hiring of manager Joe Maddon and proclamations from president Theo Epstein that the team could compete in 2015, fans of the Chicago Cubs were incredibly optimistic going into free agency. Especially given the fact the team was linked to top free agents such as Jon Lester and Russell Martin, that optimism was well founded.

However, Martin signed with the Toronto Blue Jays on a five-year, $82 million deal and now the team doesn’t look like the favorite to land Lester. That comes after comments made by Peter Gammons on his radio show stating the Cubs believe Lester will re-sign with the Boston Red Sox, the team he’s spent almost his entire career playing for.

Even though they met with the free agent lefty on Tuesday in Chicago, the Cubs may be starting to shift their focus to other free agents. This, in all likelihood, means they aren’t going to have as active an offseason as many thought they would. That’s not entirely a bad thing, though.

If the team, which likely wasn’t going to compete in 2015 anyway, can sign a couple second-tier starters as well as a veteran outfielder this year, they will set themselves up well for the 2016 season. Next offseason, David PriceJohnny CuetoJordan Zimmermann and other top pitchers will be free agents and it would be a surprise if the Cubs don’t land one of them.

Certainly, if they miss out on Lester, they will be very active in the free-agent pitching market next offseason. Since 2016 should be the first season the team figures to compete, it doesn’t really matter that it will be next year instead of this year. Putting two new second-tier starters with Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks (and possibly Price next offseason) would give Chicago one of the better rotations in the league.

We’ve seen rumors be completely wrong this offseason already, but it seems like it’s time for the Cubs and their fans to get realistic. However, just because they don’t make a splash this season, doesn’t mean they’re not going to make quite a few 12 months from now.

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