Jon Lester Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation Surrounding Star Pitcher

Free-agent pitcher Jon Lester is one of the hottest commodities on the market this offseason. Early Wednesday morning, Lester chose to sign with the Chicago Cubs for six years, $155 million. The Boston Red Sox finished as the runners-up with the San Francisco Giants also in the hunt until the very end.

Continue for updates.

Tuesday, Dec. 9

Lester Signs with Cubs

Boston.com's Nick Cafardo offered confirmation from Theo Epstein:

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal first reported Lester's decision.

Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan reports the financial end of things: 

Giants Asst. GM Bobby Evans Confirms Team Is Out of Race, Decision Expected Tonight 

Giants assistant general manager Bobby Evans confirmed San Francisco is out of the Lester race, via Eno Sarris of FanGraphs:

Joel Sherman of the New York Post had another note on the Giants and Lester, along with an update on Lester's decision-making process:

Earlier in the day, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reported that Lester is believed to make his decision tonight: 

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports breaks down the current landscape Lester is looking at:

"

The Jon Lester sweepstakes are winding down to a close, and the star free agent lefthander is said to have multiple six- and seven-year opportunities, with a near certainty he'll exceed $150 million and a possibility he could get close to $170 million.

There is no definitive word about where the four bona fide contenders for his services -- the Giants, Cubs, Red Sox and Dodgers -- stack up. But the Giants, who were believed to have a geographic disadvantage, seem to figure somewhat more prominently than some would have imagined when the process started.

"

Giants Investigating Lester Backup Plans

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports that the Giants are working on contingency plans in case they miss on Lester:

Monday, Dec. 8

Lester's Decision Expected No Later Than Tuesday

Buster Olney of ESPN reported on a timetable for Jon Lester's decision:

As Lester nears his decision, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports that he's seriously considering joining the reigning World Series champion, the San Francisco Giants and that he's narrowed it down to the Cubs and the Giants.

However, Lester's agent has denied that, via Rob Bradford of WEEI:

While teams aim to land the star pitcher, Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com reported on Lester's agents and their hopes for his next contract:

"

Meanwhile, executives from one major-league team were told that Lester's agents, Sam and Seth Levinson, were giving the process a little more time in the hopes that one of the four known bidders -- the Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers -- would up their offer to $150 million.

For now, it's believed that no team has gone much beyond $140 million for six seasons. Reaching the $150 million plateau could make the difference in the negotiations. Similarly, a team willing to go to a seventh year -- or a vesting option for a seventh season -- could separate itself from the pack.

"

Sunday, Dec. 7

Lester Still Speaking with Four Teams

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has the latest update on Jon Lester and the multiple teams he is still in talks with:

Saturday, Dec. 6 

Red Sox Owner John Henry Visits Lester 

Rob Bradford and Alex Speier of WEEI.com provides an update on Boston's pursuit of Lester:

"

According to multiple major league sources, Red Sox principal owner John Henry flew to the Atlanta area Friday to personally visit with free agent pitcher Jon Lester. 

With Lester on the cusp of making a decision as to where he might sign, Henry´s visit was thought to be a chance for the owner to re-emphasize the Red Sox´ interest in signing the lefty. It was the second time Henry has met with Lester at the pitcher´s home during the free agent process, although the previous get-together was with other members of Sox' ownership.

"

Thursday, Dec. 4

Lester Expected to Decide After Winter Meetings

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal shares an update on when to expect Lester's decision:

Wednesday, Dec. 3

Dodgers Enter Lester Sweepstakes

Rob Bradford and Alex Speier of WEEI.com have the latest on Lester:

"

While the Red Sox, Cubs and Giants have all been part of a public courtship process of Jon Lester, interest from the industry’s financial heavyweights — the Yankees and Dodgers — had not been documented. But multiple sources connected to teams interested in Lester have told WEEI.com that the Dodgers are a late entrant into the sweepstakes, with both serious interest in the top left-hander on the market and the resources to make a hard, late charge.

"

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal confirmed the Dodgers' interest:

Deal Not Done for Lester Yet, Possible to Come This Weekend

Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com has an update on the Cubs' interest in Jon Lester:

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports first reported that the Cubs had made an offer to the left-handed ace on December 1.

Rob Bradford of WEEI.com went a step further, shooting down any reports that a deal was done with any team:

McAdam also reported a timeline for the decision:

"

The Jon Lester Sweepstakes could be reaching a conclusion soon.

One baseball executive said it's "likely'' that the free agent pitcher will make his choice before the end of the week. Earlier reports had Lester wanting to finalize his deal before the winter meeting officially kick off next week in San Diego.

Barring a late entry into the field, Lester is trying to choose between the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and a return to the Red Sox. Lester has met with representatives of all three teams in recent weeks. 

"

Monday, Dec. 1

Braves Out of Lester Sweepstakes

Daniel O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the latest on the Braves' interest in Jon Lester: 

"

The Braves are out of the Jon Lester sweepstakes, which was a little too rich for the blood of a franchise in transition and rebuilding for 2017 and beyond.

Bidding for the free-agent pitcher already climbed well above $20 million annually in six-year offers from the Cubs, Red Sox and possibly the Giants, and the Braves decided they couldn’t afford a competitive offer for the left-hander, who makes his offseason home in the Atlanta area.

"

Giants Meeting with Lester

ESPN's Buster Olney reported the news Monday morning:

Red Sox Willing to Go to $130 Million

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported on the market for Lester:

"

David Kaplan of CSN Chicago first reported the Cubs bid at least $135 million for Lester. The Red Sox started this winter at somewhere between $110 million and $120 million, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported, but word is they will go to $130 million, at the least.

"

Sunday, Nov. 30

Braves GM Speaks on Lester

Jim Duquette of MLB.com provided a statement from Braves general manager John Hart discussing the possibility of signing Lester on MLB Network Radio Sirius 209 XM 89:

Wednesday, Nov. 26

David Ross on Lester Suitors' Radar

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal notes that teams that are interested in Jon Lester are also targeting his preferred catcher on the free-agent market:

Lester Reportedly Not Expected to Sign Soon 

Rob Bradford of WEEI.com provides an update on Lester's decision-making process:

Tuesday, Nov. 25 

Lester to Meet with Giants Next Week, Cubs Deny Making Offer

ESPN's Jim Bowden provides an update on Lester and the Giants:

Meanwhile, the Cubs are denying a report that they have offered Lester a deal, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times:

Monday, Nov. 24

Multiple Teams Interested in Lester

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported Lester could be an option for the Giants:

Yesterday, Rosenthal reported additional teams are considering the star pitcher:

"

Teams continue to jump into the bidding, and at least six are interested, according to major-league sources. 

The known suitors – the Red Sox, Cubs and Braves – all have met with Lester. The Cardinals, Royals and Blue Jays reportedly are in the mix. And while the Yankees deny interest, the entire sport is bracing for them to snap to attention, as they always do.

"

Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reported on Lester and the Red Sox:

Wednesday, Nov. 19

Red Sox Offer in $110-$120 Million Range

Boston.com's Nick Cafardo has the latest on talks between Boston and Lester:

Cubs Make Offer for Lester

According to ESPNChicago.com's Jesse Rogers, the Cubs have made their pitch to Jon Lester:

"

After a day and night of courting by the Chicago Cubs, free-agent hurler Jon Lester is moving on, presumably to talk with the Atlanta Braves and possibly the St. Louis Cardinals, according to various reports.

The Cubs made their big pitch to the lefty pitcher on Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the situation. It was probably similar to the one they made last week to catcher Russell Martin that involved a tour of Wrigley Field under renovation, a presentation expressing the potential of the team’s future and then, dinner. The Cubs lost out on Martin to the Toronto Blue Jays and could lose out on Lester for similar reasons: They aren’t desperate enough to get into a bidding war.

"

Red Sox Bracing for Long Talks With Lester

ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes has an update on Boston's talks with Jon Lester:

Tuesday, Nov. 18

Cardinals Join Lester Sweepstakes

ESPN's Jim Bowden reports St. Louis will pursue the star left-hander:

Braves to Meet with Lester

ESPN's Buster Olney reports when Lester will meet with Atlanta: 

Sunday, Nov. 16

NL Executive Surprised by Lester's Agents' Comments

Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe provides a statement from one NL executive discussing comments made by Jon Lester's agents: 

"

While Lester’s agents, the Levinson brothers, have been telling the media he has six legitimate suitors, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. Lester has certainly had that many inquiries, but six teams won’t be bidding until the end. 'Really? Six teams are going to be six years at $150 million for Jon Lester?' said one NL executive. 'Sounds like agent enhancement of his client to me.' It’s expected that three or four teams will be in the hunt in the end, two of them being the Red Sox and Cubs.

"

Wednesday, Nov. 12

Lester Meets With Red Sox

Rob Bradford of WEEI.com has an update on the Red Sox's pursuit of Jon Lester:

Bradford provides more information from Red Sox GM Bob Cherington:

"

During a briefing with the Boston media Wednesday at the general managers’ meetings, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said while he did meet with Lester’s representatives Tuesday night, no figures had been exchanged.

I met with them kind of socially and talked about all sorts of things,” Cherington said. “I expect the conversation will continue. They have to go through their thing. I still feel like the relationships are in place we can have those conversations.

"

Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal added more details on the meeting:

Despite only having informal talks to this point, Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com reports that his former team will get the first chance to sign Lester:

"

In the strongest indication yet of the Red Sox’s interest in re-signing pitcher Jon Lester, team ownership is planning to meet with Lester’s agents, Seth and Sam Levinson, perhaps as soon as the end of the week. 

Seth Levinson said Wednesday that he has been in touch with Red Sox owners, attempting to arrange a meeting in the next several days. Lester also has meetings scheduled with other clubs next week, but the Red Sox will have a chance, in advance of Lester’s meetings with other clubs, to launch a preemptive strike and persuade Lester of how much they want him back. 

"

Meanwhile, a National League team also plans to meet with Lester next week, according to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com: 

Tuesday, Nov. 11

Red Sox Interest in Lester Surfaces

Starting pitcher Jon Lester is among the hottest commodities on the MLB free-agent market this offseason, and there has been no shortage of buzz regarding teams with potential interest.    

The 30-year-old southpaw spent parts of nine seasons with the Boston Red Sox and was named to the All-Star team on three occasions. He is also a two-time World Series champion and a proven commodity come playoff time.

It seemed as though Lester might be a member of the Red Sox for life, but his tenure came to an end prior to the 2014 trade deadline, as he was dealt to the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

However, a reunion may be in the cards, as Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com passed along what he was hearing regarding Boston's interest in bringing back the star pitcher:

Lester was spectacular in 11 starts with the A's, going 6-4 with a 2.35 ERA. With that said, it was apparent from the start that he was nothing more than a rental. After the Kansas City Royals eliminated Oakland in the American League Wild Card Game, Lester became a free agent for all intents and purposes.

Rumors and speculation started to pick up from there, but there was actually a great deal of talk about Lester's future immediately following his trade. Many, including ESPN's Jim Bowden, were of the opinion that his departure from Boston might only be temporary:

Rob Bradford of WEEI.com added some fuel to that fire by suggesting that Boston would be "aggressive" in its pursuit of Lester during the offseason.

Mostly, though, Lester's own comments led to speculation regarding a return to the Red Sox. Shortly after the trade to Oakland, he made it clear on The Hill-Man Morning Show on WAAF that he harbored no ill will toward the organization for a failure to reach an agreement on a contract extension, via Bradford:

"

I understood where the starting point was. It wasn't like they offered that and things stopped. The offer was closer to end of spring training so we had a little bit of time to negotiate, we used that time to the best of our ability and just couldn't come up with a deal from there. No, there's no animosity. There's no hatred or anything like that. Those guys didn't get to own the Boston Red Sox by being stupid and just starting at a point where you kind of laugh at them as far as too high or too low. They know what they're doing and that's how they wanted to start negotiations. But there are no hard feelings behind that.

"

In addition to that, Lester even said that the manner in which his time with the Red Sox ended would have no bearing on him considering signing with them during the offseason, according to the Boston Herald (h/t John DeMarzo of the New York Post):

"

My time there, the memories and all that stuff don't get erased based on this whole ordeal. I'm glad with where I'm at, and I understood where (Red Sox general manager) Ben (Cherington) was at. At the end of the season, it's not going to change my mind about going back there if they are aggressive and competitive and do the things they say they're going to do. Boston is definitely a place I would go.

"

Lester's history of success in Boston is something that no other team can offer, but in the end the southpaw decided to embark on a new challenge in The Windy City.

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