Jon Lester is under contract for 2014. The lefty’s future beyond that is a little less clear.
Lester is entering the final year of his current deal. The Red Sox are expected to open negotiations with Lester around spring training, but the two sides haven’t engaged in talks about a contract extension to this point, according to WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford.
Lester’s $13 million option was picked up by the Red Sox shortly after the World Series. The 29-year-old is coming off a strong 2013 campaign that was highlighted by an impressive postseason. It’s possible, however, that the Red Sox could wait until after Opening Day to finalize an extension — if the two sides do indeed come to an agreement.
Lester went 15-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 33 starts during the regular season, and then went 4-1 with a 1.56 ERA in five postseason starts. The southpaw even outdueled Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright twice during the World Series.
Jake Peavy and Ryan Dempster are among the other Red Sox starters entering the final year of their respective contracts. Clay Buchholz is under team control through the 2017 season, and John Lackey will certainly have his 2015 option — which is for the major league minimum because of his Tommy John surgery — picked up.
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