Free agent pitcher Jon Lester ran up a $47,000 bill over Halloween weekend at four Chicago bars to buy beers for Cubs fans in thanks for their support.
The Cubs declined a $25 million option on Lester over the weekend, though there is a chance he could return on a lesser deal.
In the meantime, Lester invited Cubs fans to have drinks on him — 4,838 of them for $31,082.63 worth of Miller Lite beers and $16,012.27 in gratuity.
“Thanks for coming out this weekend y’all,” Lester tweeted Monday morning, the four-year anniversary of the Cubs winning the World Series for the first time in 108 years. “Whether this is goodbye or see you next year, I love you Chicago!”
Lester signed a six-year, $155 million contract with the Cubs ahead of the 2015 season. He went 77-44 with a 3.64 ERA in six seasons in Chicago, though just 3-3 with a 5.16 ERA in the shortened 2020 season. He finished second in Cy Young voting in 2016 and twice made the All-Star team as a Cub.
Lester has said he wants to win his 200th career game in Chicago. He’s 193-111 in 15 seasons with the Cubs, Oakland A’s (2014) and Boston Red Sox (2006-14).
“I know there is some doubt as far as the money that’s out there but I would like to think we can definitely get this thing done,” Lester told ESPN 1000 in Chicago on Friday. “I think it’s going to be a long offseason for everybody.”
