Report: Jon Lester Meeting With Giants
(CBS) Free agent left-hander Jon Lester is meeting with the Giants on Monday, according to ESPN.com.
The 30-year-old Lester is the Cubs' top free agent target, and he met with the team in Chicago a couple weeks ago. The Cubs have reportedly made Lester a six-year offer that some say is worth $135 million or more. It's widely expected that he'll command upward of $25 million per season on a multi-year deal.
Lester also has serious interest from the Red Sox and Braves. The Red Sox have reportedly made an offer as well, with the Boston Globe saying it's for six years and in the range of $110 million to $120 million.
ESPN's Buster Olney reported that "almost everything in the pitching market seems to be on hold until Lester makes his choice among offers" from the Cubs, Red Sox and Giants. Max Scherzer and James Shields are two other big-name free agent pitchers, and Oakland right-hander Jeff Samardzija is on the trading block.
Lester went 16-11 with a 2.46 ERA last year in splitting time between the Red Sox and Athletics. His in-season trade means a team won't have to give up a draft pick to sign him.
Lester has connections to the Cubs, Red Sox and Braves. He spent his first 8 1/2 seasons in Boston, where at the start of his career Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein was the Red Sox general manager. Lester also resides in the Atlanta area in the offseason.
