Cubs' Jon Lester Buys Is Quite Generous In His Giving To John Lackey

(CBS) It's well known that Cubs starters Jon Lester and John Lackey are the best of friends. Their bond dates back to their days playing together in Boston, which included leading the Red Sox to the 2013 championship.

After Lester was influential in recruiting Lackey to sign with the Cubs this past offseason, that friendship has regularly been on display around these parts. It also has manifested itself in some goofy, light-hearted ways.

That includes Lackey wearing cleats that are custom made for Lester, as Scott Miller of Bleacher Report noted in an in-depth feature story.

"We have the same size feet," Lackey told Bleacher Report. "I wear his shoes, for God's sake.

"Pretty much whatever he gets, he gets two of and hooks me up. He takes good care of me."

Earlier in their careers, it was Lackey who had the bigger contract. With Lester signing a $155 million deal with the Cubs in December 2014, he's the one with the bigger payday day, and he always quick to keep Lackey furnished with whatever he needs, Miller reported.

Among the other items Lester has bought Lackey recently is a new bow, as the two each enjoy hunting.

"That's pretty sweet," Lackey told Bleacher Report. "He does stuff like that all the time."

Lester believes he's just following an example that Lackey set earlier for him.

"He did a lot for me when I was younger in Boston," Lester said, according to Bleacher Report. "A lot of the stuff I do here, I learned from him. I'm just trying to pay him back. It's not a matter of getting things for guys or tipping guys; it's just a matter of how you treat people."

Click here to read Miller's full story, which traces through many of the strong bonds the Cubs have made with one another.