San Francisco Giants: Three moves to push the Giants into the playoffs
By Nick Stevens
A veteran left-handed option in Jon Lester makes sense for the San Francisco Giants.
Other than starting pitching, the San Francisco Giants have expressed a desire to add more right-handed bullpen options and a left-handed bat in the lineup to help complement an offense that was very competitive in 2020.
Touching on that left-handed bat later, there’s still work to be done in the starting rotation.
The Giants could go after a veteran starter with a track record of success, but is coming off an injury, allowing the Giants to sign them for a lower price, but if they want to make a serious run at a playoff spot, they need stability.
Jon Lester makes a lot of sense here. A five-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion, Lester may be pushing 37 years of age, but he still has another season or two left in him as a reliable backend of the rotation starter.
There were some struggles last season, but as recently as 2019, Lester pitched to a 13-10 record, a 4.46 ERA, and struck out 165 hitters across 171.2 innings. There’s still plenty left in the tank.
San Francisco heavily pursued Lester six years ago and came close to landing him, but with a number of connections to the current coaching staff, including Gabe Kapler, maybe this year is finally the year the Giants persuade Lester to sign.
A rotation consisting of Kevin Gausman, Johnny Cueto, Tanaka, and Lester instantly becomes a major upgrade, loaded with veteran pieces.