I think the other important thing Lester did in addition to providing the veteran intangibles – is that it signaled to the league the Cubs were “in business” and willing to spend money to free agents. Without Lester you never got Lackey (at the price he signed for especially) nor likely Fowler or a discounted Heyward. And of course David Ross is just some old guy who used to play for Boston and Atlanta and he never helps any of your young players to mature on, and off the field. The Cubs might have been viewed by free agents and their management teams as ‘still trying’ to become a competitive team rather seeing serious veterans who had (sometimes) better offers elsewhere choose the North Side.

To me – anything Jon does above serving as a #4 or higher starter until is option year is gravy to me. As you said, we have the trophy, we have the aura and we have the swag of perpetual champions. That never happens IMHO without Lester coming here.