Report: Cubs' Offer To Jon Lester Is For 6 Years, $138 Million
(CBS) The Cubs' bid for free agent left-hander Jon Lester is for six years and about $138 million, the highest offer known to this point, CBSSports.com MLB insider Jon Heyman reported Monday.
That news jives with a previous report from CSNChicago.com that Lester had a six-year offer from the Cubs that was "north of" $135 million.
Lester is being heavily pursued by the Cubs, Red Sox, Braves and Giants. He's visited with all four teams, including San Francisco on Monday. Giants manager Bruce Bochy was on hand to meet with Lester in the Atlanta area, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, and pitcher Tim Hudson -- who is a good friend of Lester's and a fellow Atlanta area resident -- is said to be a key part of the team's recruitment.
The Red Sox have bid about $120 million over six years for Lester and may go to $130 million, the Boston Globe reported. The Braves have bid less than that, Heyman reported.
A decision from Lester doesn't appear imminent, as he reportedly will talk with a few more teams later this week.
Lester went 16-11 with a 2.46 ERA last year in splitting time between the Red Sox and Athletics. His in-season trade means a team won't have to give up a draft pick to sign him.
Lester spent his first 8 1/2 seasons in Boston, where at the start of his career Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein was the Red Sox general manager.