Good read:

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/cubs ... don-121014

SAN DIEGO —


Ken Rosenthal
FOX Sports

DEC 10, 2014 3:54a ET


This is an earthquake. For the Cubs. For the NL Central. For baseball.

Free-agent left-hander Jon Lester’s six-year, $155 million agreement with the Cubs is that big of a deal, that much of a game-changer, that much of an example of the ground shifting under everyone’s feet.

The waiting is over. The Cubs are back. Wrigley Field is alive. Lester, manager Joe Maddon and Co. are not simply going to aim for 2017 and wait for some of the game’s top offensive prospects to develop. No, the Cubs are going for it, and they’re going for it now.

Rest assured, this will not be the Cubs’ last move. They’ve been talking to some of Lester’s former Red Sox teammates, free agents such as catcher David Ross and outfielder Jonny Gomes. And they’ve got the prospect power to acquire more pitching (Johnny Cueto? Jordan Zimmermann? Aroldis Chapman?) or a big bat (oh, what the heck, Troy Tulowitzki?).

It’s too early to say that the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry again will define the Central, not with the Pirates coming off two straight postseason appearances and reaching agreement Tuesday with free-agent left-hander Francisco Liriano on a three-year, $39 contract. But, as Joel Sherman noted on MLB Network Tuesday night, it will be interesting to see how the Reds react.

The Reds are drawing major interest in Cueto and Chapman, according to major-league sources. They are trying to steer the teams calling on Cueto to their other starters entering their free-agent years — righties Mat Latos, Mike Leake and Alfredo Simon. But the return for Cueto could be massive, and it’s probably time for the Reds to restock rather than try to compete against the coming Cubs monster.

No, not all of the youngsters will become stars; the game does not work that way. But remember, we have yet to see Kris Bryant, the Cubs’ uber-prospect at third base. And the Cubs have improved not just with Lester, but also with the signing of free-agent right-hander Jason Hammel and trade for catcher Miguel Montero.

Of course, Cubs fans being Cubs fans, they’re probably thinking: Something will go wrong. Something will always go wrong. Well, sorry. Lester and Cubs executives Jed Hoyer and Theo Epstein already helped end one curse. They’re not going to be cowed by another.

Four prominent teams wanted Lester, who is represented by Seth and Sam Levinson - wanted him not just for his pitching dominance, but also for his presence and character. Six years is too long for any pitcher, particularly one who will turn 31 on Jan. 7. But a trainer with a rival major-league club said that Lester is as low-risk as they come, given his delivery and powerful build.

So, here we go.

Winning a World Series requires luck as well as skill, and there certainly is no guarantee that this group will be lucky enough to pull off the Cubs’ first World Series title since 1908. But at least now Wrigley will be rocking next summer. And when Wrigley is rocking, even for Cardinals fans, baseball is a better place.

How can you say no one wants our "bums", when your team just traded for our biggest last season? How many games do you think Shark wins next year JORR?

just wait until Kris Bryant joins the team in June!!

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

One could do a lot worse than having Lester, Hammels, and Arrieta on your staff hey buddy.

Sure, it could all go to hell with injuries or people being 'Cubbed', but at least it can't happen today.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Who is Hammels?

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-- source

Same crap they said about M.Prior. Where is PANIC when you need him.

Hol-leeeee shit. The Cubs are in play to get Johnny Gomes?

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

Pardon my superfluous 's'.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Thought you were pronouncing it like Grimace would.

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-- source

I know it's all funny money, but his contract comes to about $750k per start, or about $18.75 for each of the 40,000 seats/tickets at Wrigley (per game).

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At least $20mm signing bonus, per Buster. Love it!

You liking a move made by management may be the upset of the year.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

What's the point of that...it's all guaranteed anyway, right?

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Oh shut up.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

I'd imagine years 4,5,6 aren't as brutal. So when he gets old(er) and sucks he won't be as huge an anchor.

While there isn't a salary cap, there is generally a budget. Will help with spending down the road. Especially during the later years when his value is less likely to match his annual contract value.

It would be cheaper to pay the money to him then than it is now.

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You know me like that.

Imagine how much money the Cubs could save in future years if they gave him all $155 million today! He'd be free!

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Hey, if a trainer says it, then its good as gold

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

They'd be so flexible that they'd practically be bent all the way over.

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You know me like that.

Sure.

Perhaps they want to consume more of this year's budget since so much dropped off the books?
His decline will very likely outstrip the inflation in salaries so they wanted to model his salary to better fit his future production?

I thought the Ricketts were poor?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I would hope the Cubs aren't a short-sighted "use your budget money this year or lose it"-type organization. But, I suppose it's possible.

In any case, it would be cheaper to keep the money and pay him later.

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You know me like that.

Nailed it!

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

I could see it as a smoothing of payroll obligations. The next 2-3 years will have smaller outlays with Bryant, Russell, Arrieta, Hendricks etc. So Lester's bill is shrinking to offset those increases.

Jeff Passan ‏@JeffPassan
Jon Lester's option vests with 200 IP in sixth year or 400 total in the fifth and sixth. Signing bonus $20M upfront, $10M more spread out.

I'll be the first guy to go on record as not liking this deal, for reasons already stated. I'll be Murph's out of step Charlie.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

He's the nephew of Greg Maddox and the best friend of Kerry Woods.

would be funny if Lester ordered a round of chicken and beer for reporters at the press conference

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

ESPN and the local Boston papers are really pushing the "Boston blew the Lester sweepstakes" thing.