Being that report early this week had free agent lefty Jon Lester coming to a decision by the end of this week, and then reports swirled yesterday about the Dodgers jumping in with a potentially strong late push, I’m not so crazy about what Ken Rosenthal just tweeted:
Sources: Lester decision unlikely before winter meetings.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 5, 2014
To be sure, the earlier reports on a decision this week could have been erroneous. Or there could be completely innocuous reasons for the delay.
But it’s not hard to concoct in your mind a scenario where Lester was very near to a decision because his camp had a pretty good idea of where the Cubs, Red Sox, and Giants (and any other previously-engaged suitor) stood. And then the Dodgers jumped in heavy, per multiple independent reports, and now Lester’s got a lot to think about. And maybe another round of negotiations with interested parties.
Then again, maybe it’s not the worst sign in the world that, after the Dodgers got involved with what some suggest could be a “blow away the field” type offer, Lester didn’t immediately jump.
All I know? Today was strangely quiet after so much bluster yesterday.