In one of the least surprising moves of Spring Training, Joe Maddon named the grizzled vet Jon Lester his Opening Day starting pitcher.

Even though it wasn’t a decision that will be argued too hard, there were plenty of other options for Maddon. The starting rotation includes two other guys that have made Opening Day starts in the past in Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels. He also could have gone with Kyle Hendricks, arguably the team’s best pitcher over the last three seasons.

It’s hard to imagine that Lester is about to begin his fifth season on the North Side as it seems he signed his franchise-altering contract just yesterday.

The bulldog lefty has proven to be the best free agent signing in Chicago Cubs history during his time with the Cubs and has earned his spot as the starter for the first game of the season as long as he suits up in this uniform.

Over the first four years of his six year deal Lester has put together a 61-31 record with a 3.33 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP while averaging 32 starts a season.