Levine: Jon Lester Noise Grows Louder
By Bruce Levine-
(CBS) The Twitter world has begun to fire off false alarms as to the next destination for prized free agent left-hander Jon Lester.
This type of inevitable shoddy journalism usually takes place as free agents like Lester finish the final process of deciding where do go and whose money to take, as Lester appears to doing in considering the Cubs, Red Sox, Giants, Braves and perhaps others.
In Lester's case, the domino effect of where he signs may begin a chain reaction of other signings and trades moving toward the winter meetings that begin next week.
CBSSports.com MLB insider Jon Heyman has reported that the Cubs offered Lester six years and $138 million, which jives with other reports. The next-best offer has come from Boston at a reported $130 million. My sources say the final number may be closer to $150 million for Lester.
That price may include a possible option year and buyout number that would keep the annual average salary of the deal at around $25 million per year.
The fact Cubs front office members Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod have a personal relationship with Lester is important but not the final factor for the pitcher's next professional stop. Lester was drafted by the Red Sox while that trio was there, and he spent his first 8 1/2 big leagues seasons in Boston before a trade to Oakland last July.
"Theo, Jason and I have known him since he was 18 years old," Hoyer said last week on 670 The Score. "We are talking about a special guy in a lot of ways. We saw him beat cancer and then win the deciding game for us in the World Series the next year. That said, our relationship with Jon will not be the final reason for his decision. He must decide where he and his family want to be over the next years of his career."
Lester will have an immediate impact on the Cubs' 2015 season, regardless of what his final decision is. The Cubs need two outfielders, two starting pitchers and bullpen help to compete with the Cardinals and Pirates for a division title next season.
"We have looked at free agent pitching and acquiring pitching through trades," Hoyer said. "We are in just the first or second inning of this offseason game. We have a need in pitching and filling some spots in on-base (percentage) issues. We need to be patient and go through all the possibilities."
That process will be made significantly easier if the Cubs can indeed lure Lester in their first big offseason move.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
