Jake Peavy and Jon Lester can choose their paths this offseason. Perhaps they’ll choose the same one.
Peavy and Lester both are slated to hit free agency, meaning it’s possible they could wind up in the same location. Peavy already has acknowledged he’d welcome a reunion, though he obviously has bigger fish to fry right now with the San Francisco Giants one win away from a World Series title.
“Me and Jon are obviously very close,” Peavy said Monday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Gordon Wittenmyer. “If there was ever a fit with both of us on the team, certainly that would interest me. I know what he brings to the table. We have a crazy good friendship, and I know how bad he wants to win, and I know he’s not going to go to a situation for however many years he signs (for) to lose.”
The Giants could look to re-sign Peavy, who has pitched well since being traded to San Francisco from the Boston Red Sox before the Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline. Peavy’s second-half success is expected to land him a more lucrative contract than originally anticipated, though, so perhaps another suitor will present a more palatable offer.
The Chicago Cubs are an interesting team to watch because of both their budget and their highly regarded prospects. There’s also been speculation the Cubs could consider pursuing manager Joe Maddon, who opted out of his contract with the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend.
A source close to Peavy told Wittenmyer the Cubs are at the top of the 33-year-old’s list of desired destinations. Peavy wouldn’t confirm such, but it’s apparent he likes Chicago, having spent parts of five seasons there as a member of the White Sox.
“You never know what free agency brings,” Peavy said. “I’ve certainly talked to Jon Lester because we’re buddies. So I have a feel for what he does. And I certainly know that Chicago would interest him and interest me.”
Could a Peavy-Lester combo be the key to netting the Cubs their first World Series since 1908?
“It’s hard to have this conversation,” Peavy told Wittenmyer. “That being said, obviously Chicago has got a lot of good pieces in place. They’re going to have money to spend. Who doesn’t want to play in the city of Chicago?”
One can’t help but wonder Lester’s stance.
Photo via Peter Aiken/USA TODAY Sports Images
