Lester Not Worried About Trade Talk

Jon Lester's stirring return from cancer took another triumphant turn Nov. 28 when the left-hander was named the 2007 winner of the Tony Conigliaro Award.

The award is given to a major league player who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage that were trademarks of Tony C's baseball life.

"It's just a storybook-type ending," Lester said when he learned that he'd won the same award as Bo Jackson, Jim Abbott and Mike Lowell. "If you'd have told me that at the end of last year in spring training that we would have been in (the World Series), I probably would have laughed at you. This just fits ... it's a great honor."

One year ago Lester was battling his way through treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but on Nov. 28 the 23-year-old southpaw was happy to close the chapter on his comeback from cancer and again become Jon Lester, major league pitcher.

Instead of talking about chemotherapy treatments and a possible return to the big leagues, Lester was discussing his role in Boston's starting rotation next spring and adding a little weight this winter to augment his strength and endurance.

After undergoing cancer treatment during the off-season, Lester started the year on the disabled list before spending more than a month in the minors.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder was recalled in July and made a memorable start against the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field before finishing the regular season with a 4-0 record and a 4.57 ERA. Lester then went on to throw 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball during the decisive Game 4 of the World Series to cap off his comeback campaign.

"It'll be a question I'll probably always answer regardless," said Lester of the constant curiosity surrounding his recovery. "But hopefully I can just go back to being me and being a normal pitcher that just goes out every day and does his job.

"To regain confidence in my stuff and my command and mechanics and where I was at physically, it was great. You couldn't have asked for a better ending. It's always good to go out on top."

Lester has also heard his name mentioned in trade rumors, most prominently in trade talk involving himself along with minor league players for Minnesota Twins lefty Johan Santana, but he isn't fazed.

"Until Theo (Epstein) calls me, I don't even worry about it," said Lester, who was similarly involved with the Nomar Garciaparra trade rumors in 2004. "If that happens, it's something you have to deal with at that point, but most of the time it's just speculation.

"Until Theo calls me and says, 'Hey, you're no longer a Red Sox,' we'll worry about it then."

The southpaw takes it as a compliment that he's been mentioned in deals for two of the most accomplished pitchers in the game, but make no mistake about which uniform he wants to wear next season.

"Dan Haren and Johan Santana, that's not bad," Lester said. "But like I said, I want to be a Red Sox. I want to be here and pitch here for a long time and win more World Series."