The MLB Winter Meetings are here, and the Jon Lester sweepstakes are in full swing.
The annual confluence of front-office executives, general managers and countless reporters always seems to produce plenty of rumors, but the hot stove seems to be at an especially high temperature this time around.
On the front burner is lefthanded pitcher Jon Lester. After being dealt to the Oakland Athletics at the MLB’s non-waiver trade deadline, the former Boston Red Sox ace is a free agent once again, and many teams are clamoring for his services.
It’s hard to separate rumors from truth, but the according to recent reports, the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox appear to be the leaders in the Lester sweepstakes. Lester has received contract offers in the six-year, $150 million range from all four teams, according FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.
So for which team will Lester suit up in 2015? Will he opt for the World Series champion Giants, or will he reunite with Theo Epstein in Chicago to try to bring a title to a championship-starved franchise? Will Lester team up with Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw in sunny Los Angeles, or will the allure of Boston bring him back to the squad with which he spent nearly a decade?
Lester could make a decision as soon as Tuesday night and as late as Wednesday, according to recent reports. Until then, all we can do is speculate, so cast your vote about where you think he’ll land in the poll below.
You’ll notice the New York Yankees are on the list too, because if there’s anything we’ve learned over the years, it’s that the Yankees are never out of the race for a prized free agent.
Thumbnail photo via Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports Images
