Report: Giants, Jon Lester's agent meet in hopes of striking deal
The San Francisco Giants met with the agent of free-agent pitcher Jon Lester in hopes of getting a deal done with him over the next few days, reportsUSA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
According to the report, Lester’s agent Seth Levinson and Giants officials met Sunday night.
MLB’s winter meetings begin this week in San Diego, where a flurry of trades and free agent moves are expected to be completed.
Lester, 31, has reportedly been pursued by the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers during this offseason. CSN Chicago reported last month that the Cubs offered Lester a contract worth more than $135 million.
Lester went 16-11 with a 2.46 ERA in 2014, pitching a career-high 219.2 innings with the Red Sox and Oakland Athletics, who acquired him at the trading deadline. He went 6-4 with a 2.35 ERA in 11 starts and 76.2 innings with the A’s.
The Giants would like to acquire Lester to bolster their pitching rotation. Matt Cain is recovering from elbow surgery and right-hander Ryan Vogelsong is a free agent. Two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum is expected to rejoin the rotation next year, while World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner is under contract through at least 2017.
- Scooby Axson
