Jon Lester On Cubs: 'I Believe In The Plan'
(CBS) In his formal introduction to Chicago as the new ace of the Cubs' pitching staff, left-hander Jon Lester made clear a message.
He's not here to be a savior, but he wouldn't have come to Chicago if he didn't think he was going to be part of a team that could be one to its fans.
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think we could win in 2015," Lester said Monday at a press conference.
"I don't like to lose."
The 30-year-old Lester will immediately become the Cubs' No. 1 starter after signing a six-year, $155-million deal that includes an option for a seventh season. With that comes plenty of scrutiny -- and on Monday, many questions about bringing a World Series title back to the North Side for the first time since 1908.
Lester was a part of two World Series champions in Boston, where he spent his first 8 1/2 seasons in the big leagues before a July trade to Oakland.
"First and foremost, I want to win regardless of where I'm at," Lester said. "That's something that we talked about extensively when we met. I believe in the plan that they have in place right now for the future of the Cubs. Obviously, leaving a place you've already won and the comfort of that is difficult, but I'm also relishing in the … chance of winning a World Series for a franchise that never has (in the last 106 years). It just adds that little extra for me."
In time split between Boston and Oakland last season, Lester went 16-11 with a 2.46 ERA. He has a 116-67 mark with a 3.58 ERA in his career and has been at his best in the postseason, going 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA in the World Series.
"Jon is the perfect pitcher to lead our rotation for where we want to go," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. "And we get better in the clubhouse with Jon's character and his work ethic and his ability to perform at his best when the games matter the most.
"This is a great day for our fans. They've been so patient with us, incredibly patient over the past few years, and they truly deserve a pitcher and a person of this caliber to call their own."
Lester made his final decision last Tuesday night, just "hours" before the news broke for all to hear. He also was pursued heavily by the Red Sox and Giants.
While all eyes were on Lester on Monday, he doesn't expect to be the center of attention all season. He just wants to be himself and utilize his lead-by-example style.
"For the people that know me, I'm not a very vocal guy," Lester said. "I treat my job as a job, but I have fun doing it at the same time. I guess that's the role I'm going to take, the role I've always tried to do. I put my head down and do my work and show guys, 'I'm not here to screw off. I'm here to win. I'm here to do my job to the best of my ability.' That's the way I've always done it. I'm never to say, 'Hey look at me, I'm your leader. Follow me.' I don't believe in that. I think sometimes that can be very fake.
"I'm going to do everything I can to succeed … I'm just going to worry about leading this team the best way I can in the way that I know how."
