NEW YORK -- Before Jon Lester agreed to pitch for the Cubs, Theo Epstein had to convince him they weren't the second coming of the 2014 Red Sox.
Eleven months ago, as Lester weighed his options for where to pitch this season and beyond, Epstein flew the free-agent lefty, his wife and his agents to Chicago and put on a show. There were slides and a packet detailing the nicest places to live on the North Side and the renovation of Wrigley Field. There was even a video that featured highlights of the Cubs' collection of talented young players, some of whom had not yet graduated from the minor leagues, bashing titanic home run after titanic home run.