CHICAGO - Jon Lester insisted theres no reason the Chicago Cubs cant contend next year and even capture their first World Series title since 1908, around the time the Model T was rolling off the assembly line. Fred Arbanas Jersey .Im going in with the intention of winning in 2015, he said.The Cubs are, too.This signing really marks the start of a transition for the Cubs, the start of a period where we are clearly very serious about winning the World Series, President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein said Monday, when the team and Lester finalized a $155 million, six-year contract. The deal, agreed to during the winter meetings last week, set baseball records for largest signing bonus and biggest upfront payment.Chicago hired one of the games top managers in Joe Maddon, then added Lester, a three-time All-Star who won two World Series with Boston.Were not hiding the ball, Epstein said. The fact that we havent won in so long helps define who we are. ... I think it attracts players who arent afraid of that challenge and want to be here for the right reasons. It definitely attracted Jon Lester.Lester receives a record $30 million signing bonus, of which $15 million is due by April 1, $2.5 million each by Dec. 31 in 2018 and 2019, and a final $10 million installment by Sept. 15, 2020.He gets salaries of $15 million next year, $20 million each in 2016 and 2017, $22.5 apiece in 2018 and 2019 and $15 million in 2020. There is a $25 million mutual option for 2021 with a $10 million buyout, and the option would become guaranteed if Lester pitches 200 or more innings in 2020 or 400 or more in 2020-21 combined.Lesters deal includes a hotel suite on the road, a provision that he cant be traded without his consent and the right to 25 hours of private-plane use for him and his family annually.His wife and two young children joined him at Restaurant Spiaggia along with other family members and agents Sam and Seth Levinson. His 4-year-old son Hudson took a seat on his lap during the news conference.The no-trade clause is a break from the norm for Epstein. He said the Cubs initially resisted but conceded because it would have been difficult to land Lester without one, particularly after he was dealt from Boston to Oakland last July.Epstein also acknowledged the deal carries a risk for the Cubs, considering Lester turns 31 next month.I know exactly what shoulder program hes been on since he was 18, Epstein said. I know how well hes executed that shoulder program. How diligent hes been. I know what his MRIs look like. I already signed him to a contract extension in the past; that comes with MRIs. His work ethic didnt change one bit. His passion didnt change one bit after signing that first contract.The fact that hes a lefty is another plus to Epstein, and he thinks Lester can pitch well deep into his 30s like former Yankee Andy Pettitte.Left-handed pitchers in this bucket tend to perform throughout their contracts better than right-handed pitchers, Epstein said. Hes got the right amount of pitch mix that will allow him to age gracefully because he doesnt get hitters out just one way.A total of 1,686 players have appeared for the Cubs since Orval Overall retired Detroits Boss Schmidt for the final out of the 1908 World Series, according to STATS, and all have failed to bring another title to the North Side.Lester hopes he and a promising core of young players can end the slide along with Maddon, who left Tampa Bay for a $25 million, five-year contract with the Cubs.When you make a statement like bringing in Joe Maddon, that adds to the decision-making, makes it that much more interesting, he said.Lester went 16-11 with a career-best 2.46 ERA and 220 strikeouts last season and is 116-67 with a 3.58 ERA in nine big league seasons. He also had been sought by the Red Sox, World Series champion San Francisco and the Los Angeles Dodgers.Lester is headed to a team that hasnt made the playoffs since 2008, but he knows Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and senior vice-president of player development and amateur scouting Jason McLeod from their time together in Boston. He had a chance to talk to pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel about the Cubs after they got traded to Oakland. He also spoke with Ryan Dempster, his teammate in Boston and now a member of Chicagos front office.Lester will be joining a rotation that includes Hammel, who agreed to a $20 million, two-year contract last week. The Cubs also acquired two-time All-Star catcher Miguel Montero from the Arizona Diamondbacks at the winter meetings and have a pending $4.5 million, one-year agreement with reliever Jason Motte.Lester has worn No. 31 for most of his career, but the Cubs retired that number in honour of Greg Maddux and Fergie Jenkins. Hell wear Kerry Woods old No. 34 in Chicago — with Woods blessing, according to Epstein.Its always been one of my favourite numbers other than No. 31, said Lester, who pointed out that Nolan Ryan and Chicago Bears great Walter Payton also wore 34. I just feel like it was a good fit. LeSean McCoy Jersey . Lynchs attorney, Ivan Golde, told The Associated Press on Thursday of the plea deal that was reached with the Alameda County District Attorney Office. The plea will be formally entered in court in Oakland, Calif. Bashaud Breeland Jersey . Whenever United loses, its crisis. When other top teams slip up, its the quirky nature of the Premier League. The predictable reaction speaks to the sky-high expectations for a team proven perennial contender and 13 times Premier League champion. http://www.customchiefsjersey.com/custom-morris-claiborne-jersey-large-1476n.html . Henrik Samuelsson and Luke Bertolucci also scored for the Oil Kings, who are now 9-0 on home ice in the playoffs to cut Portlands series lead to 2-1. Chase De Leo and Mathew Dumba responded for the Winterhawks, who suffered just their fourth loss in their last 46 games, a string of success running all the way back to Jan.TAMPA, Fla. -- Henrik Lundqvist had a positive return performance to help the New York Rangers pull out a one-goal victory. Lundqvist made 37 saves in his first start in four games, and Mats Zuccarello had a goal and two assists in the Rangers 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday night. "Sometimes its a good thing to get a lot of work," Lundqvist said. "Theres been a lot of games where Ive been waiting for shots, and then theres been some odd-man rushes or breakaways, and its been hard to really get the game going. "A game like this definitely helps you to work on your positioning and a lot of different things, so Im pleased with the win and the way I played." Lundqvist watched from the bench as backup Cam Talbot started the previous three games, winning two, after Lundqvist struggled through a 1-4-2 stretch. "He played a real strong game, gave us a chance to win, especially in the third when they had a real strong push and they were tough to handle," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "He had some huge saves to make, and he did." Rick Nash, Chris Kreider and Benoit Pouliot also scored for the Rangers, who had three power-play goals. Ryan McDonagh and Derick Brassard had two assists each. Tampa Bay got goals from Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Valtteri Filppula. The Lightning were coming off a 2-1 shootout loss Saturday night to Montreal. "They earned that victory," Lightning captain Martin St. Louis said. "We got what we deserved." The Rangers went up 4-2 on second-period, power-play goals by Kreider and Pouliot. Kreider beat Anders Lindback with a backhander at 4:35, and Pouliot extended his point streak to seven games with an in-close redirection 3:16 later. Tampa Bay pulled within 4-3 on Filppulas tip-in 8:14 into the third. Gary Barbaro Jersey. It was one of 16 shots the Lightning had on Lundqvist during the period. "Hank was our best player," Zuccarello said. "He played really well for us. They had numerous chances, and we were a little bit nervous there in the third period." After Johnson tied it with a power-play goal at 10:41 of the first, Palat scored a rebound goal from the left circle to make it 2-1 with 3:55 left in the period. Nash snapped his seven-game goal drought to put the Rangers up 1-0 just 4:30 into the game. Derek Stepan set up the goal after stealing a pass by Lightning defenceman Radko Gudas. Zuccarello got the Rangers even at 2 during a power play when his pass into the low slot deflected off Gudas into the net at 18:25. The centre assisted on goals by Kreider and Pouliot. "I dont think Ive seen us mismanage the puck more," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "That was painful to watch, to be honest." NOTES: Lightning star Steven Stamkos, out since breaking his right leg on Nov. 11, did a series of agility drills during a 30 minute on-ice workout. The centre, who hopes to return in February, resumed skating 2 1/2 weeks ago. ... Rangers RW Ryan Callahan (sprained knee) had a limited workout, wearing a no-contact jersey, during the teams morning skate. ... Tampa Bay D Eric Brewer (upper body), Sami Salo (upper body) and LW Ryan Malone (broken ankle) could return during a four-game trip that starts Wednesday at Vancouver. ... New York D Marc Staal (concussion) and D Anton Stralman (left hand and wrist) practiced. ... Tampa Bay D Dmitry Korobov assisted on Filppulas goal for his first NHL point. ... Rangers D Conor Allen played nearly 16 minutes in his NHL debut. ' ' '