Lester: Love For Red Sox Stronger Than Cubs?

It is very refreshing, lately, to see professional athletes who have loyalties.

Not to say that those relationships are built on virtue and pure sacrifice, but we should take what we can get. LeBron went home to Cleveland. John Lester could go back to Boston. At least he is conflicted about it.

Sean McAdam, a Red Sox Insider, reported Bobby Evans, the San Francisco Giants assistant general manager, saying that Lester has shifted his focus again to joining either the Chicago Cubs or Boston Red Sox. “I think you have a player who is very passionate about his teammates in Boston,” said Evans, while alluding to the fact that the Cubs general manager Theo Epstein is a major reason why the Cubs are still in the picture. The Giants were said to be in the hunt yesterday, while the Red Sox were falling behind. Apparently, loyalty has come to the forefront in the decision.

This show of friendly bonds is not the first time for the Red Sox. John Farrell took over for the absolute mess Bobby Valentine left all over Red Sox Nation, after Farrell spent time as the Toronto Blue Jays manager. For Farrell, his days as the Red Sox pitching coach were fonder to remember than being the chief in Toronto. To be the leader in Boston, and reunite with many of his former players and friends, was too good to pass up. Lester, himself benefitted from the reunion, floundering a bit like many of the Red Sox until Farrell righted the ship to win the World Series in 2013.

The 2014 World Series champions in San Francisco definitely look attractive, and could easily be seen as the best option at the moment for Lester, in terms of winnings. Yet, two other teams, who have made roster moves since their poor performances last season, seem to have the lead in Lester’s heart.

Pete Abraham tweeted just before 6 p.m. tonight that he was told that the Red Sox “have a meeting set up with John Lester’s agents this evening. Perhaps that will decide this one way or another.” Either way, nobody can say that Lester did not have his heart in this process. In the age of athletes being as ruthless as corporations, branding themselves and trying to make as much money as they can, it is good to see that the loyalties we make with friends has not been forgotten.

Then again, it was not the only part of the decision, considering how much and how long this process has weighed on the hearts of Red Sox fans, everywhere.