San Francisco has need for a front-line starting pitcher and was expected to get busy in the free agent market after losing the slugging third baseman to the Boston Red Sox. Lester, who turns 31 in January, was dealt by the Red Sox to the Oakland Athletics at the trade deadline in July and helped the A's reach the playoffs for the third straight year before a 9-8, 12-inning loss to Kansas City in the AL wild-card game. Manager Bruce Bochy has said two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, who played a minimal role this past postseason, will begin the 2015 season in the rotation.