The Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, and Los Angeles Dodgers are the leading candidates to sign pitcher Jon Lester, all offering contracts in the neighborhood of six-years, $150 million, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
However, there is a "mystery team" that has come in and offered a seven-year, $175 million contract to Lester, and several league officials believe that team is the Yankees. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick has also been told not to count New York out of the Lester sweepstakes, which seems to indicate the Bronx Bombers are that team.
The Yankees are interested in free agent pitcher Max Scherzer as well (whom they prefer over Lester), so they might be unwilling to throw big money at both guys. Then again, this is the Yankees, who have deeper pockets than anyone else in the league.
If New York does manage to sign Lester, it would provide them with the big name, No. 1 starter their pitching rotation has been lacking. If not, look for them to throw everything they have at Scherzer.
More Yankees news & rumors | Sign up for a free Chat Sports account for up-to-the-minute coverage!
Back to the New York Yankees Newsfeed