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Braves: Jon Lester Could Add Veteran Presence in 2021

By Jake Mastroianni

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 26: Jon Lester #34 of the Chicago Cubs during the game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 26, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 26: Jon Lester #34 of the Chicago Cubs during the game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 26, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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There has been a lot of talk about the Atlanta Braves possibly signing free-agent starting pitcher Jon Lester this offseason. We see if that’s a good idea or not.

I’ve had multiple people ask me about the Atlanta Braves possibly having an interest in Jon Lester this offseason.

My immediate reaction was — “Why?”

He’ll be 27 in January and is coming have back-to-back bad seasons with a 4.46 ERA in 2019 and a 5.16 ERA in 2020.

Perhaps a lot of this talk is because of an NBC Sports Chicago article that is predicting that Lester will sign with the Braves, mainly because he lives in Atlanta (who doesn’t?).

I’d be a little hesitant after what happened with Cole Hamels this past season, but Lester has been ultra-reliable over his career.

Before this shortened 2020 season, he had made at least 31 starts in every season since 2009 — that’s pretty remarkable.

The Braves certainly could use someone like that in the rotation during the regular season that you know is going to take the hill every fifth day.

And he would certainly be a great veteran presence to all the young guys and help them mature — as I’m sure Hamels was able to help them do this past season even though he did play a lot.

From that article linked above, it makes it sound like the Cubs may want him back and he may want to go back. I certainly don’t think the Braves would get in a bidding war over him.

But I could see a deal for Lester making sense if it were a one-year deal for $5 million or less.

I just don’t think Lester is the guy that takes this rotation to the next level in the postseason, and I don’t want to continue blocking our young arms.

Lester is a three-time World Series champion though, and that experience in the postseason could go a long way. But he’s not near the pitcher he was when he helped when those titles.

Next. Don't Be Cheap. dark

I don’t hate the idea of signing Lester if we can get him for cheap to come in be a steady presence in the rotation and a coach for the young guys. But this isn’t a must-have signing for me.

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