Lester’s Signing a Big Deal for Cubs

December 10, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Midweek musings: It is guaranteed that Jon Lester will take less time to say yes or no to pitches his catcher calls for than he did to decide which team to play for in 2015 and beyond. Which is good news for Chicago Cubs fans. Yes, the free-agent left-hander agreed to a deal late Tuesday (in San Diego, where baseball’s Winter Meetings are being held) or early Wednesday (Chicago time), depending how you look at it. Cubs fans no doubt look at it as one step closer to a World Series championship that has eluded the franchise since 1908. If nothing else, Cubs Convention should be a sellout.

Video and photos below of Izabel Goulart and other Victoria’s Secret models.

* Speaking of significant Cubs numbers, the big question facing Lester is what number he will wear. He has worn No. 31 — a number retired after belonging to Hall of Fame pitchers Greg Maddux and Ferguson Jenkins.

* Speaking of Lester, he agreed to a reported six-year, $155 million deal. He did have the chance to return to the Boston Red Sox, who had traded him to Oakland last season. For some reason, he chose the Cubs. Maybe the reason was Boston had offered Lester a six-year,
$135 million deal. As if $20 million is a lot of money or something.

* Speaking of Lester and money, the Cubs can afford to overpay (assuming that’s what they did by signing a 31-year-old whose value likely will diminish toward the end of his contract). The Cubs needed to make a splash this offseason or risk more empty seats in 2015 at Wrigley Field.

* Speaking of Lester and money, his $25.8 million annual average salary is second among pitchers to only Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw ($30.7 million). Well, at least until free-agent Max Scherzer signs with some team.

* Still speaking of Lester, his postseason earned-run average is 2.57. Now all the Cubs have to do is get there. Minor details.

* Speaking of Cubs additions, they traded minor-league pitchers Jeferson Mejia and Zack Godley to the Arizona Diamondbacks for catcher Miguel Montero. His biggest adjustment might be having to find a new number. He has worn No. 26, which the Cubs have retired (for Billy Williams).

* Still speaking of Cubs additions, something says the team will make more moves before the season starts so that the Cubs actually might have a shot at something special. You know, like finishing with a .500 record. Maybe even better.

* While Cubs fans can look forward to the 2015 season and beyond, some of us are looking at something more immediate: “Sports & Torts” at noon Thursday on Talkzone.com with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris. If things go as planned (and they occasionally do), the guests will be former University of Oklahoma and Dallas Cowboys coach Barry Switzer and former Stanford and NFL standout quarterback Jim Plunkett.

* Gee, if some of us hadn’t stayed up past midnight, the highlight of the evening would have been the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (OK, somebody cue a few photos of the models).

The 2014 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show models. We need a wider frame to do them justice.

Izabel Goulart

Behati Prinsloo

Bregje Heinen

Candice Swanepoel

Cindy Bruna

Eniko Mihalik

Joan Smalls

Karlie Kloss

Lais Ribeiro

Lily Aldridge

Lily Donaldson

Martha Hunt

Romee Strijd

Shanina Shaik

***

Here is where to go for a daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the enduring efforts of the editorial and video departments at ElliottHarris.com):