Report: Lester to meet with Cubs next week

The sweepstakes to land top free-agent starter Jon Lester is heating up and is expected to intensify over the next seven days.

Lester is scheduled to meet with representatives from the Chicago Cubs next week, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers. The Cubs are among the favorites to land the 30-year-old left-hander given the franchise's resources and Lester's history with team president Theo Epstein.

Lester is also reportedly weighing a return to Boston. 

WEEI's Rob Bradford previously reported that the Red Sox are one of six teams showing legitimate interest in Lester, adding that general manager Ben Cherington met with the nine-year veteran for an extended period of time Tuesday night. 

Further fueling rumors of a Fenway reunion comes a report from ESPN's Gordon Edes, who said Wednesday night that Red Sox ownership will meet with the lefty's agent as early as this week.