2. Jon Lester

By Chad Finn, Boston.com Columnist

It wasn’t so long ago that the big lefthander was one of the premier pitchers in the American League, with at least 15 wins and an ERA between 3.21 and 3.47 every year from 2008-11. It just feels like a long time ago because Lester was terrible in 2012, with a 4.82 ERA, just nine wins, and a diminished 7.3 strikeout rate. If the Red Sox are going to have any shot at contention, it’s imperative that the 29-year-old rediscovers his previous form.