The Chicago Cubs are looking to spend this offseason and they have Jon Lester as their main free agent target along with James Shields and now Theo Epstein has to decide if he wants to make other deals, as a Starlin Castro trade has been rumored now that the team has some solid shortstop prospects coming up the pipeline into the majors.
The Cubs have an offer out to Jon Lester and it comes after weeks of speculation that the team was interested in signing the former Red Sox star. According to Hardball Talk, the Cubs have offered Lester a contract worth up to $135 million over six years. CSN Chicago reported the news first and it plays into what many thought coming into the offseason: that Theo Epstein and his connection to Lester would lead the Cubs to target the pitcher over any other free agents.
The Cubs have a deep farm system and some strong offensive talent around Anthony Rizzo and that is why many felt they would look at pitching. Lester is set to make money no matter where he signs and if he opts to go elsewhere, the Cubs could look at James Shields or Max Scherzer on the market, or they could look at making a trade for pitching. Cole Hamels is likely on the trade block, while the Mariners have Taijuan Walker, but they will want a prime offensive player in any deal for the young star. Lester is getting chased by a number of teams and the San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox could be looking at signing him as well.
Lester was expected to make at least $120 million and he is coming in after one of his best seasons, as he went 16-11 with a sub 3.00 ERA. Lester is one of the top players on the market overall and his age helps too, as he is just 31 and has some prime years ahead of him. The Red Sox may not spend big on Lester, but they reportedly have offered him a deal around the $120 million range. The team has already signed Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval and they could look at trades for pitching if Lester or James Shields don't work out.
The Cubs have a deep farm system and after adding Addison Russell in the Athletics trade this summer, they could look at moving Starlin Castro. Castro has five years of team control left, so any trade they make would have to be for a big haul. The Mets have been mentioned numerous times as an option for Castro, as they have as many pitching precepts as the Cubs have offensive ones.
The Cubs have as much young talent as anyone and they are being picked as a sleeper in the NL. The team added Joe Maddon at manager and now they have the chance to make some major moves and if they add someone like Lester or Shields, they could be the frontrunners in the NL Central along with the Cardinals.