The bidding war for Jon Lester is heating up as reports indicated that interested teams have intensified their pursuit of the free-agent pitcher.
The Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants were considered as possible landing spots for Lester, but WEEI reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers are now in the mix as well.
Reports indicated that the Dodgers are making late push to convince Lester to move to Los Angeles next season. Sources said that the Dodgers are serious in their pursuit and are determined to outbid the early favorites.
The Dodgers are aware of the fact that the Red Sox, Cubs and Giants are on top of Lester's list at this point, but they are not losing hope. They are hoping that they could win the bidding war similar to the way the New York Yankees swooped in to acquire Mark Teixeira with their late bid in 2008.
While the Dodgers have been very quiet on the free agency market over the past several weeks, reports indicated that they are determined to improve their already-formidable rotation that is headlined by Clayton Kershaw and Zach Greinke.
Team executives are reportedly convinced that adding another dominating pitcher could push them over the hump next season, and Lester has the pitching quality that they are looking for.
The 30-year-old pitcher, who was traded from Boston to Oakland Athletics before last season's trade deadline, went 16-11 last season with a 2.46 ERA and 220 strikeouts.
Lester, who spent eight full seasons in Boston before moving to Oakland, is reportedly willing to reunite with the Red Sox despite his former team's decision to trade him last season.
Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, who voiced out his frustration when Boston decided to trade Lester, is hoping that the left hander will decide to return, but he insisted the Red Sox should make a stronger bid because other teams might edge them in the race to sign the nine-year veteran.
"He was devastated when he got traded. I know that. I can personally tell you that," Ortiz said of Lester in an interview with Boston Globe. "But this is business. I know he understands that. Now is the time for us to step up, man up, and make the guy happy."
