Highly coveted free agent left-handed pitcher Jon Lester has a lot of suitors and while the Chicago Cubs have emerged as the favorite to land the southpaw, the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals are set to meet with him.
CSN Chicago reported on Tuesday that the Cubs offered Lester a six-year deal that is north of $135 million, skyrocketing the franchise to being the favorite to land the former Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics pitcher's services.
Multiple sources have reported that the Giants and Cardinals are also planning on meeting with Lester next week.
The Red Sox have also offered Lester, who spent the first nine years of his career in Boston before being traded to the A's in July, a deal that is said to be worth in the $110-120 million range.
Lester turned down an offer from the Red Sox in the middle of the 2014 season that was reportedly worth just around $70 million.
Boston already spent over $180 million to bring in third baseman Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, who the team plans to play in left field.
Red Sox owner John Henry said the team is willing to go over the $189 million luxury tax threshold if it meant bringing Lester back into the fold.
"I'm hopeful," Henry said about the team's pursuit of Lester, according to MLB.com. "The way [the luxury tax is] structured, we can blow through one year. Again, for next year we have tremendous flexibility, so we could go through for one year and have it not overly affect us."
The Cardinals and Giants are set to meet with Lester next week and the Atlanta Braves are also said to be in the mix for him.
After losing Sandoval to the Red Sox, the Giants may use the money saved to try to thwart off Boston's chances of a reunion with Lester by offering him a lucrative deal when the sides meet next week.
Lester, 30, went 16-11 overall between the Red Sox and A's in 2014 and ranked fourth in the American League with a 2.46 ERA and fifth with 220 strikeouts in 32 starts.
Lester, a three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, is 116-67 in his nine-year career with a 3.58 ERA, 1.276 WHIP and 1,457 strikeouts.
During Thanksgiving week, the hot stove continues to heat up around Lester.
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