Jon Lester

St. Louis Cardinals, Starting Pitcher
Age: 40y-11m-15d (Jan 07, 1984)
Exp: 15.075 Years
Country: US
Drafted: Round 2 (#57 overall), 2002
Agent(s): Josh Yates (ACES)
RETIRED

2021-2022 free-agent-xxb

Jon Lester signed a 1 year , $5,000,000 contract with the Washington Nationals, including $3,000,000 signing bonus, $5,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $5,000,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $5,000,000
Average Salary:
$5,000,000
Signing Bonus:
$3,000,000
Year Age Status PayrollAnnual Luxury Tax Tax % League Tax Cash Annual Cash Cumulative
2021 37 $698,945 $1,706,989 0.81% $698,945 $698,945
2022 38 - $5,000,000 - - $698,945
Deferred Money
2023 39 $3,000,000 $3,000,000 - $3,000,000 -
Year Age Service Status Base Salary Incentives Likely Incentives Unlikely Payroll Salary Luxury Tax
2021 37 14.075 $2,000,000 - - $698,945 $1,706,989
2022 38 15.075 - - - - $5,000,000
Deferred Money
2023 39 - - - $3,000,000
Year Age Status Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2021 37 $698,945 $698,945 $698,945 - $698,945 $349,473
2022 38 - - $698,945 - - -
Deferred Cash
2023 39 - - $3,000,000 - - $3,000,000 $3,000,000
Contract Notes
  • $3M signing bonus deferred to 2023
  • MVP: $500,000 ($250,000 for 2nd, $150,000 for 3rd, $100,000 for 4th, $75,000 for 5th)
  • Cy Young: $500,000 ($250,000 for 2nd, $150,000 for 3rd, $100,000 for 4th, $75,000 for 5th)
  • WS MVP: $250,000
  • LCS MVP: $150,000
  • $50,000 each for All Star, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger
Source: MLB contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2015-2021 free-agent-xxb

Jon Lester signed a 6 year , $155,000,000 contract with the Chicago Cubs, including $30,000,000 signing bonus, $155,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $25,833,333.
Contract Terms:
6 yr(s) / $155,000,000
Average Salary:
$25,833,333
Signing Bonus:
$30,000,000
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2009-2014 Pre-Arbitration Extension

Jon Lester signed a 5 year , $30,000,000 contract with the Boston Red Sox, including $30,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $6,000,000.
Contract Terms:
5 yr(s) / $30,000,000
Average Salary:
$6,000,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2008-2008

Jon Lester signed a 1 year , $421,500 contract with the Boston Red Sox, including $421,500 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $421,500.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $421,500
Average Salary:
$421,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2007-2007

Jon Lester signed a 1 year , $384,000 contract with the Boston Red Sox, including $384,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $384,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $384,000
Average Salary:
$384,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2008 / UFA
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2006-2006

Jon Lester signed a 1 year , $327,000 contract with the Boston Red Sox, including $327,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $327,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $327,000
Average Salary:
$327,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2002-2002 Signing Bonus

Jon Lester signed a 1 year , $1,000,000 contract with the Boston Red Sox, including $1,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,000,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $1,000,000
Average Salary:
$1,000,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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Seasons

15.075 Years

Career Earnings thru 2025

$195,457,959

Earnings w/ Different Teams

5 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2002 18
Signing Bonus
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
2006 22
Active
$196,903
$1,196,903
2007 23
Active
$384,000
$1,580,903
 Champion
2008 24
Active
$421,500
$2,002,403
2009 25
Active
$1,000,000
$3,002,403
2010 26
Active /
Arbitration 1
Bypassed
$3,800,000
$6,802,403
2011 27
Active /
Arbitration 2
Bypassed
$5,800,000
$12,602,403
2012 28
Active /
Arbitration 3
Bypassed
$7,625,000
$20,227,403
2013 29
Active
$11,625,000
$31,852,403
 Champion
2014 30
Active / Club Exercised
Retained
$2,512,295
$10,537,705
$34,364,698
$44,902,403
2015 31
Active
$30,000,000
$74,902,403
2016 32
Active
$20,000,000
$94,902,403
 Champion
2017 33
Active
$20,000,000
$114,902,403
2018 34
Active
$22,500,000
$137,402,403
2019 35
Active
$25,000,000
$162,402,403
2020 36
Active
Buyout
$18,055,556
$10,000,000
$180,457,959
$190,457,959
2021 37
Active
Retained
$698,945
$1,301,055
$191,156,904
$192,457,959
2023 39
Deferred
$3,000,000
$195,457,959
Total
$195,457,959

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
10 $41,290,108 $1,000,000 $100,000 $42,390,108
1 $2,462,295 - $50,000 $2,512,295
6 $115,555,556 $30,000,000 - $145,555,556
1 $698,945 - - $698,945
2 $1,301,055 $3,000,000 - $4,301,055
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2002
18
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
2006
22
$196,903
$196,903
$1,196,903
2007
23
$384,000
$384,000
$1,580,903
2008
24
$421,500
$421,500
$2,002,403
2009
25
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
$3,002,403
2010
26
$3,750,000
$50,000
$3,800,000
$6,802,403
2011
27
$5,750,000
$50,000
$5,800,000
$12,602,403
2012
28
$7,625,000
$7,625,000
$20,227,403
2013
29
$11,625,000
$11,625,000
$31,852,403
2014
30
$2,462,295
$10,537,705
$50,000
$2,512,295
$10,537,705
$34,364,698
$44,902,403
2015
31
$15,000,000
$15,000,000
$30,000,000
$74,902,403
2016
32
$20,000,000
$20,000,000
$94,902,403
2017
33
$20,000,000
$20,000,000
$114,902,403
2018
34
$22,500,000
$22,500,000
$137,402,403
2019
35
$22,500,000
$2,500,000
$25,000,000
$162,402,403
2020
36
$5,555,556
$10,000,000
$12,500,000
$18,055,556
$10,000,000
$180,457,959
$190,457,959
2021
37
$698,945
$1,301,055
$698,945
$1,301,055
$191,156,904
$192,457,959
2023
39
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
$195,457,959
Total
$161,307,959
$34,000,000
$150,000
$195,457,959

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
10 $41,290,108 $1,000,000 $100,000 $42,390,108
1 $2,462,295 - $50,000 $2,512,295
6 $115,555,556 $30,000,000 - $145,555,556
1 $698,945 - - $698,945
2 $1,301,055 $3,000,000 - $4,301,055

Injuries

Year Dates Reason
2021 WSH Apr 05, 2021 - Apr 30, 2021 COVID-19
2019 CHC Apr 09, 2019 - Apr 25, 2019 Hamstring
2017 CHC Aug 18, 2017 - Sep 02, 2017 Shoulder
  • Jan 12, 2022 Retired from Professional Baseball
  • Jul 30, 2021 Traded to St. Louis (STL) from Washington (WSH) for Lane Thomas
  • Jan 18, 2021 Signed a 1 year $5 million contract with Washington (WSH)
  • Oct 31, 2020 Chicago (CHC) declined a $25 million option for 2021
  • Dec 10, 2014 Signed a 6 year $155 million contract with Chicago (CHC)
  • Jul 31, 2014 Traded to Oakland (OAK) from Boston (BOS) with Jonny Gomes and $1.8 million for Yeonis Cespedes , $650,000 and pick [2015 Competitive Balance B]
  • Sep 10, 2013 Exercised a $13 million club option for 2014 with Boston (BOS)
  • Mar 15, 2009 Signed a 5 year $30 million contract with Boston (BOS)
  • Mar 06, 2008 Signed a 1 year $421k contract with Boston (BOS)
  • Mar 11, 2007 Signed a 1 year $384k contract with Boston (BOS)
  • Aug 13, 2002 Signed a contract with Boston (BOS)
  • Jun 07, 2002 Drafted by Boston (BOS): Round 2 (#57 overall)
Year Team GP GS H R ER BB K HR W L SV IP ERA WHIP WAR
2021 STL 30 28 159 84 74 55 91 25 7 6 0 141.3 4.71 1.51 -0.60
2020 CHC 12 12 64 35 35 17 42 11 3 3 0 61.0 5.16 1.33 -0.21
2019 CHC 32 31 205 101 85 52 165 26 13 10 0 171.7 4.46 1.50 0.80
2018 CHC 34 32 174 75 67 64 149 24 18 6 0 181.7 3.32 1.31 2.68
2017 CHC 32 32 179 101 87 60 180 26 13 8 0 180.7 4.33 1.32 0.64
2016 CHC 33 32 154 57 55 52 197 21 19 5 0 202.7 2.44 1.02 5.63
2015 CHC 32 32 183 83 76 47 207 16 11 12 0 205.0 3.34 1.12 2.75
2014 BOS 32 32 194 76 60 48 220 16 16 11 0 219.7 2.46 1.10 2.76
2013 BOS 33 33 209 94 89 67 177 19 15 8 0 213.3 3.76 1.29 2.72
2012 BOS 33 33 216 117 110 68 166 25 9 14 0 205.3 4.82 1.38 0.24
2011 BOS 31 31 166 77 74 75 182 20 15 9 0 191.7 3.48 1.26 4.34

FEATURED PLAYER NEWS

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2025 MLB Offseason Contract Breakdowns

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TRANSACTIONS

Jan 12, 2022
Retired from Professional Baseball
Jul 30, 2021
Traded to St. Louis (STL) from Washington (WSH) for Lane Thomas
Jan 18, 2021
Signed a 1 year $5 million contract with Washington (WSH)
Oct 31, 2020
Chicago (CHC) declined a $25 million option for 2021
Dec 10, 2014
Signed a 6 year $155 million contract with Chicago (CHC)
Jul 31, 2014
Traded to Oakland (OAK) from Boston (BOS) with Jonny Gomes and $1.8 million for Yeonis Cespedes , $650,000 and pick [2015 Competitive Balance B]
Sep 10, 2013
Exercised a $13 million club option for 2014 with Boston (BOS)
Mar 15, 2009
Signed a 5 year $30 million contract with Boston (BOS)
Mar 06, 2008
Signed a 1 year $421k contract with Boston (BOS)
Mar 11, 2007
Signed a 1 year $384k contract with Boston (BOS)
Aug 13, 2002
Signed a contract with Boston (BOS)
Jun 07, 2002
Drafted by Boston (BOS): Round 2 (#57 overall)

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