Jon Lester: Cubs will 'return to greatness' in 2021

technical details

is_video => false
is_chrome_page => null
article_body => "The Cubs' 2020 season came to an abrupt close, with a sweep to the Marlins in the NL Wild Card Series. A long offseason awaits, but starter Jon Lester has high hopes for the team next season.<\/p>\r\n\r\nSaturday, Lester shared some thoughts on the season ending on Twitter, with a positive outlook on 2021.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<drupal-url data-embed-button=\"url\" data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JLester34\/status\/1312444717146140673\" data-entity-label=\"Embed social\" data-timestamp=\"1601751625\" data-url-provider=\"Twitter\"><\/drupal-url>\r\n\r\nThe Cubs won the NL Central for the third time in five seasons in 2020 but obviously didn't finish the way they'd like, scoring one run in two postseason games. With much of their position player core under contract through 2021, they could bounce back next season, assuming it remains intact.<\/p>\r\n\r\nLester, on the other hand, could become a free agent this winter, if his $25 million option for 2021 is declined. But he's said on several occasions this season he hopes 2020 isn't his last in Chicago.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\u201cI\u2019ve definitely appreciated everything this organization has done for me, and I hope it\u2019s not it,\" <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/why-cubs-jon-lester-john-lackey-ben-zobrist-joe-maddon-pedro-strop-not-ready-toast-his-own-ride-sunset\">he said this week.<\/a> I hope we can figure something out for next year, and these conversations are kind of null and void.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\nCubs general manager <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/cubs\/cubs-jed-hoyer-jon-lester-david-ross-sure-well-have-discussions-2021\">Jed Hoyer said last month<\/a> the club expects to have conversations with Lester about returning next year. Perhaps he'll be part of their return to glory.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<drupal-url data-embed-button=\"url\" data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/cubs-talk-podcast\/episodes\/e8d7c7c8-1885-43b9-bcd6-843d83f739cb\" data-entity-label=\"Embed social\" data-timestamp=\"1601753566\" data-url-provider=\"ART19\"><\/drupal-url>\r\n\r\n<drupal-entity data-embed-button=\"app_promo_embed\" data-entity-embed-display=\"view_mode:block_content.full\" data-entity-type=\"block_content\" data-entity-uuid=\"84a634bd-85a1-4e39-9e2a-7d404e5646e3\" data-langcode=\"en\"><\/drupal-entity>\r\n"
created => 1601753854
changed => 1601754843
status => true
hero_image_credit => "USA TODAY"
tags => null
field_bean_single_col => null
section => null
chrome_data => null
orig_image => {"alt":"","title":"","width":"1280","height":"720","uri":"public:\/\/article\/hero\/lester_j_USATSI_14988048_0.jpg","timestamp":1601753854}
image => {"alt":"","title":"","width":"1280","height":"720","uri":"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/chicago\/2020\/10\/03\/lester_j_USATSI_14988048_0.jpg","timestamp":1601753854}
description => "Jon Lester's future with the Cubs is uncertain but he offered high hopes for them next season."
league => "MLB"
league_id => "98"
sport => "Baseball"
sport_id => "5"
image_credit => "USA TODAY"
no_promo => false
no_trending_in_body => false
no_recirc => false
no_trend => false
short_title => "Lester has high hopes for Cubs in 2021"
sponsorship_type => "presented_by"
type => "article"
alias => "\/chicago\/cubs\/jon-lester-cubs-will-return-greatness-2021"
title => "Jon Lester: Cubs will 'return to greatness' in 2021"
nid => "111051"
author_0 => "Tim Stebbins"
author_0_id => "6476"
mps => {"author_0":"Tim Stebbins"}
region => "chicago"
region_id => "4"
sponsor => null
sponsor_id => null
team_id => "75"
team => "Cubs"
published => 1601753407
article_type => "short"
meta => {"file":"\/mnt\/gfs\/rsnunited\/sites\/default\/files\/archive\/article\/chicago\/cubs\/jon-lester-cubs-will-return-greatness-2021.json","assets":["public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/chicago\/2020\/10\/03\/lester_j_USATSI_14988048_0.jpg"]}

Cubs

/ by Tim Stebbins

Cubs

The Cubs' 2020 season came to an abrupt close, with a sweep to the Marlins in the NL Wild Card Series. A long offseason awaits, but starter Jon Lester has high hopes for the team next season.

Saturday, Lester shared some thoughts on the season ending on Twitter, with a positive outlook on 2021.

Coming up short when you have a group this talented is really tough to stomach. Incredible job by Manager David @D_Ross3 this year, who exceeded even my expectations. This team will return to greatness in â21, and with the City of Chicago behind you, anything is possible! #NVRQT
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) October 3, 2020

The Cubs won the NL Central for the third time in five seasons in 2020 but obviously didn't finish the way they'd like, scoring one run in two postseason games. With much of their position player core under contract through 2021, they could bounce back next season, assuming it remains intact.

Lester, on the other hand, could become a free agent this winter, if his $25 million option for 2021 is declined. But he's said on several occasions this season he hopes 2020 isn't his last in Chicago.

“I’ve definitely appreciated everything this organization has done for me, and I hope it’s not it," he said this week. I hope we can figure something out for next year, and these conversations are kind of null and void.”

Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said last month the club expects to have conversations with Lester about returning next year. Perhaps he'll be part of their return to glory.