With another passing day comes more news on free agent southpaw Jon Lester, who reportedly has just a handful of suitors at this stage – including the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers.
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The Dodgers, the newest entrant into the sweepstakes, could “blow everyone out of the water,” according to Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston. Whether or not more money plays into Lester’s decision remains to be seen, but as Edes points out, Los Angeles offers him an array of perks as opposed to some of the other potential landing spots.
"Lester has said he wants to pitch where he and his family are most comfortable, that it will be a “stupid amount” of money regardless of where he pitches, and that an extra $20 million isn’t going to impact his lifestyle. The Dodgers can offer all the comforts of a SoCal lifestyle, 45,000 fans a night at Dodger Stadium, a chance to contend every year, and that extra $20 million or more."
Prior to Los Angeles’ entrance into the sweepstakes, the Red Sox and Cubs were believed to be the top two horses in the race, but now, it appears to be an open chase for arguably the most-coveted arm on the free agent market. Chicago is moving out of a top-to-bottom rebuilding effort that coincides with a $575 million renovation of Wrigley Field, while Boston is looking to return to the Fall Classic after stumbling through the 2014 season.
While the Dodgers have one of the most formidable rotations in all of Major League Baseball with the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu at the helm, both Boston and Chicago lack a bona-fide ace. The Cubs currently have right-hander Jake Arrieta, who broke out in a big way last season, as the team’s top starter, while the Red Sox will likely turn to Clay Buchholz – who has had his own share of struggles in the past.
The fourth team believed to be a finalist for Lester, the Giants, are coming off yet-another World Series championship with a rotation that still has some question marks behind ace Madison Bumgarner. Matt Cain is returning from injury and former two-time National League Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum has not been the same pitcher he once was in recent years. Adding Lester would fortify the rotation, although adding an impact bat will likely be a major focus for the team after losing fan favorite third baseman Pablo Sandoval in free agency to the Red Sox.
Despite the field narrowing to this handful of clubs, according to Ken Rosenthal – no decision is expected before the Winter Meetings in December.
Sources: Lester decision unlikely before winter meetings.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 5, 2014
All four teams have very different situations. The Dodgers are in search of a title – much the same as the Cubs.