dirt

its been a few hours

do you still think lesters back in boston?

I'm not dirty but like I said earlier if the reports are true from yesterday then he is definitely not coming back. Six years and $120 million is just not going to get it done.

Fourth team in Jon Lester bidding

The final bidding on Jon Lester involves more than just the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants, an official of one club in the bidding told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark on Wednesday.

The identity of the fourth team isn't known to the other clubs involved. But there is speculation among rival teams that the St. Louis Cardinals remain interested in the free-agent left-hander.

[+] EnlargeJon Lester
Bob Stanton/USA TODAY Sports
Teams pursuing free-agent left-hander Jon Lester have suspected for some time that there were other clubs interested whose identity had never surfaced.
The Red Sox, Cubs and Giants were believed to be the last three teams still actively negotiating with Lester and his agents, Seth and Sam Levinson.

The Cardinals and Atlanta Braves, the other two clubs previously linked with Lester, had made public statements recently that appeared to downplay their interest.

However, teams pursuing Lester have suspected for some time that there were other clubs interested whose identity had never surfaced.

And Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak has never publicly commented about Lester specifically.

Mozeliak did tell the St. Louis Post-Dispatch last week that his team was "always open for business" and still exploring the free-agent pitching market in an "opportunistic" manner.

The Los Angeles Dodgers also have entered the mix, Boston radio station WEEI reported, citing multiple sources connected to teams interested in Lester.

On a conference call with reporters Tuesday night, Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi said the team's series of incremental moves so far, some of which were intended to bolster the team's Triple-A depth, could foreshadow bigger things to come.

"Having that base of depth gives you the opportunity to make more aggressive, needle-moving moves as the offseason goes on," Zaidi said.

Lester is described by clubs in the bidding as anxious to finish the process and choose a team. He had hoped to sign before the winter meetings, which begin next week. But with those meetings only a few days away, "that doesn't leave a whole lot of time," an executive of one team said.

espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/11975072/jon-lester-bidding-includes-fourth-team

Sox owner Henry makes personal pitch to Lester
BOSTON -- The Red Sox provided a personal touch to their negotiations with free agent Jon Lester on Friday when owner John Henry flew to Atlanta to visit with the lefty, MLB.com has confirmed.

Earlier in the free-agent process, a contingent of Boston's ownership group flew to Atlanta to meet with Lester, who lives in the area, but it's believed the latest meeting only included Henry.
It isn't known if money was discussed in Friday's meeting.
Lester is engaged with the Red Sox, Cubs, Giants and Dodgers in contract negotiations, and possibly some other teams. The negotiations are believed to be in the late stages, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Lester pick his new team during the early portion of the Winter Meetings, which start on Monday in San Diego.
WEEI.com was first to report that Henry met directly with Lester.
For the most part, the specifics of offers that have been made to Lester have been kept secret. There have been reports that the Cubs offered the lefty $138 million over six years, and the Red Sox came in somewhere around $130.
There seem to be a lot of appealing options for Lester.
He has a good relationship with Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, and is familiar with several other executives in that front office. There is also the allure of trying to help the Cubs win their first World Series championship since 1908.

MLB.com columnist Lyle Spencer discusses the Dodgers reportedly making a late run to land lefty ace Jon Lester
Though Lester doesn't necessarily seem like a Hollywood kind of guy, he could join forces with Clayton Kershaw with the Dodgers for what would be the most formidable lefty-ace combo in the game.
Lester could have a similar dynamic in San Francisco with the World Series champion Giants, who have Madison Baumgarner at the front of their rotation. Giants manager Bruce Bochy was part of the Giants' delegation that met with Lester earlier this week.
But the Red Sox offer the type of history with Lester that no other suitor can match.
Back in 2002, Lester was the very first draft pick during Henry's tenure as owner. Lester won a World Series with the Red Sox in '07 and another in '13. From 2008-14, Lester was Boston's best starting pitcher.
Out of contention in the postseason race, the Red Sox traded Lester to the Athletics for Yoenis Cespedes on July 31.
Lester spoke at length about his fondness for the Red Sox and Boston, both during his time with the club and after he was traded.
With 110 career wins in a Boston uniform, Lester would have a chance of topping Cy Young and Roger Clemens (192 wins each) as the club's all-time leader in victories if he signs a long-term deal to return to the Red Sox.
About 10 days ago, Henry told reporters he was "hopeful" the Sox could bring Lester back to Boston.


And on Friday, Henry made another face-to-face pitch to Lester.


m.mlb.com/news/article/103357070/red-sox-owner-john-henry-meets-privately-with-free-agent-pitcher-jon-lester

OverTheMonster retweeted
Jim Bowden ‏@jimbowden_ESPN 4m4 minutes ago
Evans told us that Lester told them he is not going to the highest bidder #Giants @mlbnetworkradio



This obviously means he is coming back to the Sox unless someone blows him away with money!

I want him back on the Sox but really just want him to make up his mind!!!

The Braves already bowed out so I guess I hope he goes back to the Sox to make all these guys happy.