Sox, Lester agree to contract

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox and pitcher Jon Lester have agreed on terms for a five-year contract extension with a club option for 2014.

The team announced the new deal Sunday for Lester, who went 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA over a team-high 33 starts in 2008.

The Sox did not disclose terms of the deal, which has been widely reported to be $30 million over five years.

The 25-year-old lefty finished in 2008 among American League leaders in shutouts, ERA, innings and wins. Lester’s 16 wins were the most by a Red Sox southpaw since Bruce Hurst’s 18 in 1988.

Lester also threw the 18th no-hitter in Sox history in a 7-0 win over Kansas City on May 19, 2008, at Fenway Park. That made him the first Red Sox left-hander to toss a no-hitter since Mel Parnell against the White Sox on July 14, 1956.