Report: Jon Lester likely to make free agency decision before end of week
Free agent pitcher Jon Lester will likely choose a team before the end of the week, reports Sean McAdam of Comcast Sports Net.
Lester posted a 2.46 ERA with 220 strikeouts and 48 walks over 219.2 innings pitched this season. After spending the first eight-plus seasons of his career with the Boston Red Sox, the team traded him to the Oakland Athletics before this year's July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
In his lone postseason start in 2014, against the Kansas City Royals in the American League Wild Card game, Lester yielded six runs and eight hits over 71/3 innings.
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According to McAdam, Lester is "trying to choose" between the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and the Red Sox. Lester has reportedly had meetings with representatives from each of those three teams.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports reported this week that sources "suggested" the Cubs have offered Lester $138 million over six years, with the Red Sox "suggested at least a willingness" to offer $130 million over six years.
The annual Baseball Winter Meetings will run from Dec. 7-11 in San Diego.
