Report: Jon Lester unlikely to return to Red Sox

Though left-hander Jon Lester repeatedly expressed his affinity for the Boston Red Sox, it's reportedly unlikely the impending free agent reunites with his former club this winter, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.

Lester spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Red Sox before getting shipped to the Oakland Athletics at last month's trade deadline. However, Heyman maintains the 30-year-old will likely sign elsewhere at season's end:

Still, it's quite a leap from loving his stay in Boston to being likely to return there this winter as a free agent. The reality is, it's probably the opposite. The strong belief around the game is that Lester is likely to sign somewhere other than the Red Sox.

The Red Sox broached a contract extension with Lester during Spring Training, but the three-time All-Star rejected the club's four-year, $70-million offer. Through 25 starts this season between the Red Sox and Athletics, Lester owns a career-best 2.58 ERA while notching 174 strikeouts over 170 2/3 innings.