How the Lester deal could impact the Nats

SAN DIEGO - Day Two of the Winter Meetings finished with a flourish, as Jon Lester and the Cubs agreed to terms on a six-year, $155 million contract, a deal that could quickly shift the offseason landscape and lead to increased action during our remaining time in San Diego. Lester chose the Cubs over the Red Sox and Giants, and depending on who you believe, the Dodgers might have jumped in as a late candidate for the ace left-hander's services, as well. This contract immediately vaults the Cubs into the "contender" category in the National League Central, and speeds up their rebuilding process. It also leaves the Red Sox (and possibly the Giants) looking for other ways to improve the top of their rotation. This is where the Nationals could potentially factor in. The Nationals have said that they're willing to listen to offers for pretty much anyone on their roster, including Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister, both set to become free agents after the 2015 season. Boston has loads of talented, young, controllable prospects that either are in the early stages of their big league careers, or are poised to break through at the major league level in the near future. Some of those prospects might be viewed as untouchable by Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington (Mookie Betts might be one of those Cherington refuses to deal). But there is certainly enough talent in the Boston organization for negotiations to get rolling. Is there a potential fit here? Maybe, but if the Red Sox were to acquire Zimmermann or Fister, they'd need to give up top young talent, and then be prepared to either pony up big-time money for a contract extension or risk losing their newly acquired right-hander to free agency after just one year. With Lester, the Red Sox would've needed to just hand over a massive paycheck. With these trade scenarios, the cost will be both prospects and cash. When it comes to the trade market, the Red Sox have been linked fairly extensively to the Phillies and left-handed ace Cole Hamels, and Boston could now revisit that option. The Red Sox have also reportedly had conversations with the Diamondbacks about lefty Wade Miley, who isn't as accomplished as Hamels or Zimmermann, but is only entering his first year of arbitration and is still under team control for three more seasons. Or, they could look to one of the Nats' right-handers. Regardless, the Red Sox are now on the prowl. A secondary factor here is that the Lester deal helps set the market for Zimmermann as he gets closer to free agency. Rizzo said yesterday he plans to meet with Zimmermann's agent before the end of the Winter Meetings to discuss a possible contract extension, and now the parameters for a deal might be slightly more clear. It seemed that over the first couple of days of the Winter Meetings, there were a lot of teams and agents waiting to see where Lester would land and for how much. Now that he's signed, things could pick up. "I don't think we need specific dominoes to fall," Rizzo said last night, prior to the Lester deal, "but when dominoes do fall, it kind of does change the landscape." The landscape could be changed now that Lester has made his decision, and it could lead to a lot of action in the final 24-plus hours of the Winter Meetings.