The Chicago Cubs declined the $25 million option on Jon Lester’s contract recently, which could put an end to the lefty starter’s career in the Windy City, a run that lasted six years and included winning the team’s first World Series since 1908.
So if the Cubs don’t end up re-signing the vet, it’s a goodbye to the man who’s won 193 games in a career that’s included stops in Boston and Oakland.
How did he thank Chicago? He tweeted on Friday that he’d pay for one Miller Lite per fan at four Chicago bars, and it ended up being A LOT of money on Lester’s tab.
Regardless of what's next I want to thank the fans for the past 6 years. So this weekend (10.30-11.1) Im buying y’all my favorite beer. Make a res at @Hopsmithchicago @LodgeTavern @ButchMcGuires @ShenannigansHOB & your 1st @MillerLite is on me. Just tell em to put it on #JonsTab
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) October 30, 2020
It caused a credit card fraud alert!
Nice work Chicago! 2,771 @MillerLites & a fraud alert yesterday. So far y’all have put a total of 3,466 beers on my tab. Let’s finish strong today, and mask up damn it! #JonsTab @Hopsmithchicago @LodgeTavern @ShenannigansHOB @ButchMcGuires pic.twitter.com/adZgB2Jhcf
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) November 1, 2020
The grand total: a whopping 4,838 Miller Lites and over $47,000 spent — per ESPN — that included the beers and 34 percent gratuity in honor of his uniform number.
Thanks for coming out this weekend y’all! Yesterday we added 1,372 @MillerLites to my tab, bringing our grand total to 4,838. Shout out to all the bars, their staff, and those cheers-ing from afar! Whether this is goodbye or see you next year, I love you Chicago! #JonsTab pic.twitter.com/OTEIO2gOjc
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) November 2, 2020
What a gesture!