How Cubs' Jon Lester Just Got 126 Innings Closer to Returning to Chicago in 2021

The Cubs' longtime ace could benefit from an agreement reportedly reached by MLB and the players' union to allow performance thresholds that trigger vesting options to simply be pro-rated for the shorter season -- which means Lester needs 74 innings in 12 projected starts to vest a seventh year on his original six-year, $155 million contract.