Feb. 28--MESA, Ariz. -- Jon Lester downplayed the suggestion that his success is tied solely to catcher David Ross.
"I think a lot of that stuff is getting overblown now," Lester said Saturday. "It kind of makes it sound like I can't throw to anybody. I had a pretty good career before he came along as well."
Lester wasn't knocking Ross as much as he was stressing the need for him to get acclimated to other catchers. The issue is important because Miguel Montero is expected to handle the majority of the catching duties for the Cubs and has caught in 131 games or more in three of the past four seasons.
"(Ross) knows how to push me, push my buttons and when to let off on the gas and let me be me," Lester said. "I've got new guys here. We got to build that relationship with Miggie and other guys who are catching."
Montero understands that Ross and Welington Castillo remain in camp and that it will be up to manager Joe Maddon to decide who handles Lester, who had a 2.77 ERA in 29 starts caught by Ross the last two seasons.
Montero, 32, tempered the thought that receiving more rest could make him more productive at the plate. Montero batted .235 the past two seasons for the Diamondbacks, who crashed to last place in the National League West last season.
"It was hard for me to play when you're 20 games behind first place and 17 behind the wild card, and going to the clubhouse and they were trying different things every day," Montero said. "It was hard to go out there and perform because your mind is not right, it's not there anymore. I'm not the guy who likes to play for numbers.
"I like to win and going to the field knowing there's a small window of a chance to win a game, it was difficult to prepare yourself with that mindset. It was hard. 'Oh my God, we got to go through this again.' ''
You prepare yourself in the off-season to feel pretty good.
In other developments Saturday, top pitching prospect C.J. Edwards said his right index finger is fine after throwing a bullpen session. Edwards said he split the nail on his finger and sported a small bandage on Friday.
