Dec. 10--SAN DIEGO -- It was just one executive's opinion, but San Francisco Giants assistant general manager Bobby Evans hinted the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox are the front runners for the services of marquee left-hander Jon Lester.
Evans told a group of writers at the winter meetings that he felt the Giants were "in the back seat," adding "the sense I get is we're not in the driver's seat."
Evans didn't downplay the fact that Lester, 30, has a history with the Red Sox, for whom he played for 8 1/2 season, and the Cubs, led by President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and senior vice president of scouting and player development Jason McLeod.
Evans admitted that Lester has "strong and deep relationships" with the Red Sox and Cubs. Epstein, Hoyer and McLeod have known Lester from their days in Boston prior to the 2003 season.
Meanwhile, new Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he spoke with Lester for the first time shortly before Thanksgiving but didn't have a sense when Lester would make a decision.
"We'll just wait for the white smoke," Maddon deadpanned.
Maddon did say he had a pleasant conversation with Lester and admired his work from the days when Maddon managed the Tampa Bay Rays and Lester pitched for the Cubs.
"I always admired his work from a distance," Maddon said. "This is a guy that, when the game was really big, he was at his best. To possibly get this opportunity to work with him for the first time is very exciting. I, honest to God, don't know where it's at right now.
"It would be a great boon to us to pull this off.''
The Giants will continue to pursue Lester, but the relationships with the Red Sox and Cubs may sway him, according to Evans. The Red Sox have reinforced their efforts to re-sign Lester after trading him on July 31 and shortly after he filed for free agency.
Owner John Henry has made two trips to Georgia to visit Lester, and Red Sox slugger David Ortiz said at his golf tournament last week that the Red Sox need Lester.
There's also the familiarity that Lester has with the Red Sox's organization.
But Lester's past association with Epstein, Hoyer and McLeod may provide some comfort in the event he's willing to seek a change of scenery, especially since Lester has spent his entire career in the American League.
This marks the latest twist to the Lester sweepstakes. As recently as Monday night, an agent scheduled to meet with Giants officials has his session postponed because they were negotiating with Lester.
