4 years agoWashington Nationals left-handed pitcher Jon Lester (thyroid) returned to Spring Training on Monday, following surgery that was performed on his thyroid gland last week. Having already been cranked up to a 50-pitch allotment, it doesn't appear as if the southpaw has been sidetracked by the absence, which does not figure to impact him long-term. After posting alarming barrel rate (12.3 percent), K rate (15.8 percent) and xSLG (.517) numbers last year, Lester has likely moved off most season-long draft boards. While his name carries heft, and he threw at least 171 innings in each season from 2008-19, the 37-year-old can best be seen as a streamer option in advantageous matchups until he shows glimpses of bottling his past form.--Jesse Borek
Source: Mark Zuckerman