According to Jim Bowden of ESPN, the Cardinals are the latest team to show interest in free agent Jon Lester.
Lester has been courted so far by his former employer the Red Sox and is said to have a meeting with the Braves this week.
Bowden swings and misses a lot and his reasoning for the Cardinals wanting to acquire Lester fails to take in account that the team currently has six rotation options heading into spring training.
#Cardinals have joined the Red Sox, Cubs and Braves in pursuit of Jon Lester according to a club source which makes sense after Miller trade
— Jim Bowden (@JimBowden_ESPN) November 18, 2014
The Cardinals traded away Shelby Miller to the Braves for outfielder Jason Heyward but still have Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha, Lance Lynn, John Lackey, Carlos Martinez, and Marco Gonzales on the roter.
More important than the Miller trade is that Wainwright pitched the 2014 season with shoulder questions.
The 30-year-old Lester had perhaps his best season in 2014 posting a 2.46 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 220/48 K/BB ratio in 219 2/3 innings between the Red Sox and Athletics.
Lester is said to be seeking a contract north of $100 million.
