Lester open to Red Sox reunion: 'It would be cool to go back'
Time may have helped heal old wounds between Jon Lester and the Boston Red Sox.
Lester, who first rose to stardom in Boston, expressed openness towards returning to Beantown once his contract with the Chicago Cubs expires. The veteran southpaw could become a free agent as soon as this winter if his $25-million mutual option isn't picked up.
"I'm open-minded to anything. Absolutely, it would be cool to go back and finish my career where it all started," he told Rob Bradford of WEEI. "But, I've got a little time before I really have to sit down and weigh that decision, even if it's something where they want me back."
Lester spent most of his first nine seasons with the Red Sox, becoming their ace and a fan favorite for both his work on the mound and his comeback from testicular cancer in his rookie season. He was a three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion in Boston, and he also threw a no-hitter in 2008.
But the relationship between the player and the organization soured during extension negotiations in 2014, and the Red Sox dealt Lester to Oakland at that year's trade deadline. Their attempt to bring him back as a free agent that winter failed, as he signed a $155-million deal with the Cubs instead.
Red Sox owner John Henry admitted last year that the team "blew it" by failing to re-sign the pitcher.
Lester was an All-Star for the Cubs in 2018, but he took a step back last year when he posted a 4.46 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 32 starts. That makes rebounding in 2020 even more critical for the 36-year-old, who also understands that the ongoing coronavirus hiatus could negatively affect his playing future.
"With how our game is now with everybody so focused on your age and all that, this really hurts people. On a personal level, this hurts me," Lester said. "I'm not getting any younger and coming off a year like I had last year, this isn't going to help me."
He added, "Hopefully, I'm still a good enough caliber pitcher that the want of my services will still be out there for people. We'll see."