Free agent pitcher Jon Lester is expected to make a decision about his future sooner rather than later. All indications are that the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants are the finalists to sign the 30-year-old lefty. You didn’t really think the New York Yankees would just sit back and watch the situation unfold, did you?
According to Matt Abbatacola of 670 The Score in Chicago, the Yankees have entered the Lester sweepstakes with a late offer. Naturally, it’s reportedly a big one.
Yankees in on Lester with a late and large offer…
— Matt Abbatacola (@MattAbbatacola) December 3, 2014
@jab_lo_now_ski Not sure what your angle is… Yankees made a "blow the competition away" type offer
— Matt Abbatacola (@MattAbbatacola) December 3, 2014
For what it’s worth, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com believes the Yankees would rather sign Max Scherzer if they make a big splash in free agency.
nothing to indicate yanks in on lester, who has at least cubs, bos & sf bidding. if nyy makes big SP play it'll be scherzer
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 3, 2014
The Cubs reportedly have the best offer on the table for Lester, and it is said to be somewhere in the six-year, $140 million range. The Red Sox have offered something close to that, otherwise Lester would have already told them to go pound sand.
We have seen this act from the Yankees before, and it often ends with them getting their guy. Rather than getting into a bidding war with other teams, they wait in the weeds and jump in at the last second with a huge offer. If the report is true, my guess is New York offered something in the $150-$160 million range and they will probably give Lester a deadline to make a decision.
