He would cost more. He put up 18.9 fWAR over his Yankees run. That is better than Lester gave to the Cubs in return value. He would be 32 on the contract and pitching with Yu might give him interest in running with him on a 3 year deal.
Chatwood IMO is lucky to get a major league deal. For sure he would be a interesting option but it won't happen.
From Theo
"We're going to talk over the next couple days," Epstein said of Lester. "It remains to be seen whether Jon has pitched his last game as a Cub or not. There's certainly the possibility that he continues to call Wrigley Field home."
Epstein later praised the work of right-hander
Alec Mills, calling the starter a "dependable" and "adaptable" piece for the Cubs. Epstein also raved about the late-season development and MLB showing of righty
Adbert Alzolay.
"Going into the year," Epstein said, "we were hoping that Adbert could develop into a Major League starter, and now we see one. And he's somebody that I think is primed to slide into the rotation."
So from this he said nothing about Q and Chatwood. And rightfully so. Both failed to meet expectations.
Lester did and he is the guy that they would ask back.
Mills had 1 great game but he is a soft tosser and they already have one of those.
Alzolay has higher ended potential and he has been given a spot.
So if all plays out they would be replacing 1 spot and they want to go forward verses spin their wheels with cheaper status que.
Lester makes sense because Marquez is almost ready and they don't need a long term answer.
Mills is not good enough and they need a better answer. Mills started because of injury this year. So I see durability and effectiveness as the goal in a target.
Tanaka has proven to be both. He would be the top target on the market going in because Bauer is looking at 1 year deals and would have a narrow field of team to court him. But on a term deal he is the top pitcher.