Jon Lester took the mound for the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day Monday without a contract past this season.

The two sides announced a "pause" in talks on Saturday. Lester can hit the free agent market this winter.

"It's kind of like having the elephant in the room — we all know the circumstances that are there this year," Lester said."I would like to think I'm good about dealing with outside things. When I'm at the park I'm thinking about what I need to do that day to get better and worry about the other stuff when I'm done. It is what it is, I can't change it. It's something that's going to be there and there are going to be questions, and I'll have to give answers but it's something we'll deal with along the way."

The sides "are all in a good place," said Lester.

"There's no animosity," he said, and, "both sides have been very reasonable."