Lester, Cubs anticipating his Wrigley return

“The trash-talking has already started,” said Jon Lester. “It started a while ago at Spring Taining when I saw Rizz [Anthony Rizzo].”

Some called it the greatest free-agent signing in Cubs history, others broadened that to include the entire city of Chicago. In six years, Lester led his team to five postseason runs, including a World Series championship in 2016.

After the 2020 season, the southpaw entered free agency and signed with the Nationals on January 27. He entered a new clubhouse again with something to prove after producing his highest season ERA (5.16) in the season prior.

Lester will make his fourth start of the season at his old stomping grounds in the Nationals' upcoming series at Wrigley Field -- though this time he will turn left off the mound towards the visitor’s dugout.

The veteran is excited to see some familiar faces, including his former catcher, now Cubs manager, David Ross -- and the feeling is mutual.

“I don't know, are they passing out Miller Lites in the stands?” joked Ross in reference to Lester thanking the city of Chicago by buying over 3,000 beers during the offseason. “We should get everybody free Miller Lites. Listen, the guy's super special to me. I hope that the fans give him the welcome back he deserves. He's a special human being. He means a lot to me, he means a lot to this organization and has done a lot for this organization and for the guys in this clubhouse.”

Sure, Lester is excited to go back to his favorite local spots and sleep in his Chicago home, but he is most looking forward to facing his old teammates, and the idea of striking out first baseman Rizzo.

“You get to face these guys in live BPs over the years and stuff and that's fun, because, you get the trash-talking involved,” said Lester. “The hard part is separating. I don't care about who it is. I just get bragging rights afterward. I hope to throw a perfect game, strikeout 27. We can kind of get this over with and be kind of normal again.”

When Lester was traded by the Red Sox to Oakland during the 2014 season, he didn’t get to take a final bow or have a “tip your cap"-type return. He sort of liked the idea of returning to a ballpark without all the “hoopla," but walking off the mound for the final time as your goodbye is somewhat disappointing.

“I knew as soon as I signed and saw the schedule,” said Lester of his inevitable return to Wrigley. “You pick out certain road trips that are always fun and obviously that was one that stuck out. I'm glad that fans are in the stands. It'll be nice to get back and to pitch on Monday and kind of get it out of the way. That way I can just enjoy being in Chicago again.”

Nationals manager Davey Martinez has seen players make their first returns to former stadiums since joining the Nationals, and he’s been on the other side of it, watching a former player come back to Nationals Park.

Martinez spoke specifically about why players who left their teams in 2020 -- as many players from the 2019 World Series club did -- getting that opportunity with fans this season is so important, finally giving these players the sendoffs they deserved.

“It's awesome, especially because of the success they had in their former cities,” Martinez said of the upcoming road trip. “It's gonna be fun to watch [Lester] go in and get to pitch in front Cubs fans. You know he's excited about it.”