SPORTS.RttP{Lester, Red Sox agree to deal}

Jon Lester's fairy-tale story appears to have reached new heights.

The left-hander has agreed to a 5-year, $30 million extension with the Red Sox, according to a Yahoo sports report on Sunday. Boston reportedly holds a $13 million option for 2014.

Lester was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma during his rookie season in 2006. He was declared cancer-free later in the year.

He returned in 2007 to appear in 12 regular-season games. The 25-year-old was on the postseason roster and ended up getting the win in the World Series-clinching Game 4 in Denver against the Rockies.

Lester broke through last season, going 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA in 33 starts. He surpassed 200 innings and, more importantly, his velocity returned to his pre-cancer mid-90s mph level.

On May 19, Lester's feel-good story became more dramatic when he threw a no-hitter against Kansas City at Fenway Park.

Lester would not confirm the report to the Boston Globe on Sunday, but he knew that talks had intensified between his agent, Josh Yates, and the Red Sox.

"I know that the past couple days have been pretty good," he said, according to the newspaper.