The Houston Astros added a veteran infielder to their young roster on Monday by snagging one of the remaining solid free agents left on the market. In Chicago, the Cubs introduced their biggest free-agent signing this offseason.
Houston signed shortstop Jed Lowrie to a three-year, $23 million deal, according to Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle. The contract also includes a team option for a fourth year that can bring the maximum total to $28 million. Lowrie became the third free-agent signing of the Astros' this offseason, joining relievers Luke Gregerson (three-year, $18.5 million contract) and Pat Neshek (two-year, $12.5 million contract).
Lowrie spent the 2012 season with the Astros during which he batted .244/.331/.438 with 16 home runs and 42 RBIs in only 97 games after suffering knee and ankle injuries in the middle of the year. The infielder also has experience at second and third base, which has Drellich speculating he could move to third at some point during his contract, probably to make room for prospect Carlos Correa.
The 30-year-old Lowrie spent the last two seasons in Oakland and slashed .271/.334/.405 with 21 home runs and 125 RBIs in 290 games.
Speaking of free-agent signings, the Chicago Cubs introduced Jon Lester on Monday, who landed the biggest contract of the offseason and Cubs' history. Lester joined the Chicago last week when he agreed to a six-year, $155 million contract during the MLB Winter Meetings. The left-hander will be the ace of the team's staff for 2015 and will help be a clubhouse leader on a young roster.
"This signing really marks a transition of sorts for the Cubs, the start of a period where we are clearly very serious about bringing a World Series to the Cubs and the people of Chicago," president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said, via this MLB.com article. "It's a great day for our fans. They've been so patient with us, incredibly patient, over the last few years and they truly deserve a pitcher and a person of this caliber to call their own."
Lester mentioned he was "very excited" and hopes to bring a World Series to a franchise that hasn't won since 1908. Lester and Chicago will kick off the 2015 MLB season when they host the St. Louis Cardinals on April 5.
UPDATE: The breakdown for Lowrie's contract is $8 million in 2015, $7.5 million in 2016, $6.5 million in 2017 and a $6 million team option in 2018 or a $1 million buyout.