Report: Nationals SP Jon Lester headed to St. Louis Cardinals

The Washington Nationals are sending SP Jon Lester to the St. Louis Cardinals, according to Jesse Rogers. Lester is 3-5 on the season with a 5.02 ERA, but does bring some championship experience to St. Louis. The Cardinals continue to bolster their pitching staff at the deadline, also adding J.A. Happ.

The Nationals make Lester the latest player in a massive effort to sell at the deadline. Washington dealt ace Max Scherzer and star Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers and sent power bat Kyle Schwarber to the Boston Red Sox. While Lester has lost some of his talent over the last few seasons, he was a key part of Washington’s rotation prior to the trade.

The Cardinals are currently 9.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. They are clearly attempting to make a playoff push in the final third of the season, although it’s unclear how much Lester and Happ will help that cause.