Why Cubs’ Lester turned down a bigger offer from Giants

Why Cubs’ Lester turned down a bigger offer from Giants

On the December night in 2014 when free-agent pitcher Jon Lester chose the Cubs over the Giants and Red Sox, Bobby Evans, then San Francisco’s assistant general manager, told reporters, “We did not receive a rose.”

For the record, Lester does not watch “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” but said his wife does.

Lester’s deliberations are described in great detail by author Jeff Passan in his groundbreaking new book, “The Arm,” which confirms contemporary reports that the Giants offered the left-hander the biggest contract before he signed a six-year, $155 million deal with the Cubs.

“The Giants were more money, but for me they could have offered me $300 million,” Lester said.

Lester picked the Cubs because Chicago is closer to his Georgia home, allowing him to see his children more often.

The Giants also made a compelling pitch.

Team executives joined manager Bruce Bochy and Georgian Buster Posey on a trip to Lester’s house.

“I loved everything about the Giants,” Lester said, everybody that came in, the front office, Boch and Buster.

Given the Giants’ rotation issues, 2015 might have looked a lot different with Lester joining Madison Bumgarner at the top end.

Teams usually get word from the players’ agents when they pick a team, but Lester phoned Evans.

“They did me the courtesy of coming all the way to my house and sitting down with my family and talking and laying their hearts on the line for me,” he said.

Sergio Romo, who has not pitched since April 10 because of strained flexor tendon, threw another inning at extended spring camp in Arizona and is expected to begin a formal rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento, Bochy said.

Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.

Friday marked 10 years since Barry Bonds hit his 714th home run to tie Babe Ruth for second most all time.

The homer helped the Giants win in Oakland.