The Chicago Cubs are a team on the rise, and two of the top free agent pitchers have interest in being part of the team’s resurgence.
Jake Peavy expressed interest in the Cubs while speaking with the Chicago Sun-Times’ Gordon Wittenmeyer, and the pitcher also said Jon Lester, his former Red Sox teammate, is interested in the NL Central club.
“Me and Jon are obviously very close,” Peavy said via the Sun-Times. “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.”
Then came the money quote from Peavy that is certain to make Cubs fans drool.
“You never know what free agency brings. 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.”
Wittenmeyer reports that Peavy has the Cubs at the top of his wishlist, which should not be surprising given his quote on the matter.
Peavy said he would be open to the Cubs regardless of their manager, saying he had a good relationship in San Diego with the team’s incumbent manager Rick Renteria, while praising Joe Maddon, who is thought to be a candidate for the gig in the future.
Peavy seems like the more likely player to end up with the Cubs. Wittenmeyer reports that the Cubs are not optimistic about signing Lester because they believe the bidding for the lefty could get out of hand.
We know one thing: based on the cover of their sports page, the Sun-Times sure is trying to sell the fans on the package deal:
