Boston picks up Lester's contract option for 2014
Left-hander had solid regular season, then dominated in playoffs for champs
The Red Sox have exercised their $13 million option on left-hander Jon Lester for next season.
Lester, 29, was 15-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 33 starts this season and was even better in the playoffs, going 4-1 with a 1.56 mark and 29 strikeouts in five postseason starts, leading the Sox to their third World Series title in 10 seasons.
Lester led the Red Sox in starts, innings pitched (213 1/3), strikeouts (177) and quality starts (20). His 213 1/3 innings pitched were a career high, while his 33 starts matched a career high for the third time.
Lester, Boston's second-round pick in the 2002 Draft, is 100-56 with a 3.76 career ERA and his 1,237 career strikeouts are the most by a Red Sox lefty and rank fifth overall in team history.
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