Jon Lester figures to be one of the most coveted free-agent starters this offseason, and he’s apparently on the radar of the American League champs.
FOX Sports reported Friday that Lester’s agents have had preliminary discussions with the Kansas City Royals, citing sources close to the situation. They added that one of the pitcher’s representatives was believed to have made the trip to Kansas City.
However, their source warned that the meeting might not mean much, saying “I don’t know how much I would read into that.”
Royals general manager Dayton Moore kept mum on the Lester front.
“We are talking to everyone at this point,” Moore told FOX Sports. “We are trying to determine what the best direction is for our organization in regards to available players. That’s all I can really say.”
Money is a big reason that Lester likely won’t be Kansas City-bound. The southpaw is expected to fetch a deal in the $120 million range, which probably is out of the Royals’ reach. Six teams are said to have legitimate interest in Lester — including his former Boston Red Sox — and at least one should be able to offer him a fat paycheck.
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