Cubs Sign Lester – MLB Roundup

SAN DIEGO (AP) — In one day the Chicago Cubs secured the services of two key players, three-time All Star pitcher Jon Lester and All-Star catcher Miguel Montero. Free agent Lester and the Cubs have agreed to a six year, $155 million deal, while the Cubs obtained Montero in a trade with Arizona. The average annual value of $25.8 million for Lester is the second-highest for a pitcher behind Clayton Kershaw's $30.7 million as part of a $215 million, seven-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers that began this year. Lester began last season with the Red Sox but was traded to the Athletics mid-season.

The 31-year-old Montero hit .282 this year with 18 homers and 86 RBIs. He is owed $12 million next season and $14 million in each of the final two years of a $60 million, five-year contract.

Arizona receives minor league right-handers Jeferson Mejia and Zack Godley in Tuesday's swap.

Chicago's other major league team has been pulling off major deals at the winter meetings. The White Sox have received right-handed pitcher Jeff Samardzija (suh-MAHR'-juh) and Michael Ynoa (IHN'-noh-ah) from Oakland for four prospects. Samardzija was 7-13 with 202 strikeouts and a 2.99 ERA for the Cubs and Athletics last season.

And a person familiar with the negotiations says closer David Robertson has agreed to a four-year, $46 million with the White Sox. Robertson took over from Mariano Rivera as the New York Yankees' closer last season and saved 39 games in 44 chances.

Also in the majors:

— Francisco Liriano isn't going anywhere. A person familiar with the negotiations says the 31-year-old left-hander is staying with the Pittsburgh Pirates, agreeing to a $39 million, three-year contract. Liriano was 7-10 with a 3.38 ERA last season, one year after going 16-8 with a 3.02 earned run average.

— A person familiar with the negotiations says the Atlanta Braves have agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent infielder Alberto Callaspo. The 31-year-old infield hit .223 for the A's this year.

— The Los Angeles Angels have acquired catcher Drew Butera from the Los Angeles Dodgers for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Butera batted .188 in 61 games with the Dodgers last season.

— The Rays have reached a deal with St. Petersburg that would allow the team to search for new stadium sites on both sides of Tampa Bay. The agreement is pending a vote Thursday by the St. Petersburg City Council and would allow the Rays to evaluate sites on the east side of the bay in Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located. The team has played in St. Petersburg since it's inception and has often ranked near the bottom in major league home attendance.