The Jon Lester tour generating offers

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Eric D. Schabell
Contributing Writer

Jon Lester has started his free-agent road show this week, visiting with the Red Sox, Cubs and Braves.

Early in the week he met with Red Sox owners to talk about an eventual return to the organization.

According to a major league source, they made him a contract offer but the terms of the offer were not disclosed.

All very hush hush.

The same source stated that it was not expected that Lester would make a quick decision.

On Tuesday he met with Cubs in Chicago at Wrigley Field.

Before his visit to the Cubs, Peter Gammons commented that the Cubs feel Lester is headed back to the Red Sox but will do their best to convince him otherwise.

"I think there's a chance, I really do," said Gammons. "I think the one thing — obviously the Cubs are going to make every play — I get the feeling the Cubs think he's going to go back to Boston. I think it's very smart for Lester and his agents to hold for another week. I think there is a feeling it is going to go past Thanksgiving, maybe into the first week into December."

If the Yankees start to get interested, then this would turn into "...the Red Sox ownership's worst nightmare — the Yankees and Theo Epstein negotiating against them."

There is no word on any offer being made by Theo Epstein as a result of the Cubs meetings with Lester yesterday, but one can assume something solid was put on the table.

Before the Yankees can get involved, Lester will be meeting with the Braves Thursday in his off season home of Atlanta.

The feeling there is that he might be more interested in being closer to family and by trading Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden to the Cardinals on Monday, the Braves shed what could have been as much as $10 million from next season's payroll.

Aside from the Yankees, the Blue Jays and Cardinals have also signaled having an interest in Lester.

There have been no reports of planned meetings between Lester with any of these three teams.

Popular opinion is that Lester is projecting to command a contract for at least six years in the $130 million to $150 million range.

The question holding all of Red Sox Nation captive is will the Red Sox offer be enough?

Post a comment or via twitter @erics_redsox with your thoughts.

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