Jon Lester is joining Max Scherzer.
According to a source, the former Red Sox ace is in agreement for a new contract with the Nationals, marking his fourth franchise of a 15-year career.
The 37-year-old is coming off two straight down season with the Cubs, finishing 2020 with a 5.16 ERA in 12 starts. The previous year Lester landed with a 4.46 ERA in 31 starts.
The one-year deal was first reported by ESPN.com's Jeff Passan, who states that it carries a mutual option for 2022. The agreement is pending a physical.
Lester will be joining a rotation that includes Scherzer, who is headed into the final season of a seven-year, $210 million deal that was signed the same offseason Lester joined the Cubs. Other members of the Washington starting staff include Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg.
Lester told WEEI.com in May that he was open to a reunion with the Red Sox, saying, "I'm open-minded to anything. Absolutely it would be cool to go back and finish my career where it all started. But, I've got a little time before I really have to sit down and weigh that decision, even if it's something where they want me back. Hopefully, I'm still a good enough caliber pitcher that the want of my services will still be out there for people. We'll see."
According to a source, the Red Sox never engaged Lester this offseason.
The southpaw left Boston just prior to the non-waiver trade deadline in 2014, going to Oakland for Yoenis Cespedes. He went on to ink a six-year contract with Chicago.