Report: Exec Predicts Red Sox Will Re-Sign Jon Lester
BOSTON (CBS) -- The free agent market is open in Major League Baseball, and one of the best arms available is Jon Lester.
The former Red Sox ace is coming off one of the best seasons in his nine-year career, going 16-11 with a career-best 2.46 ERA in 32 starts between Boston and Oakland. When he was sent to Oakland for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes at the trade deadline the Red Sox brass made it clear that they would be open to a Lester reunion in the offseason, but with a new philosophy of not locking in a pitcher over 30 years old to a long-term deal, it seemed that was just a pipe dream.
But according to ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes, one MLB executive thinks the Red Sox will break away from that newfound philosophy to bring their former ace home again:
Few things invite more skepticism than the suggestion that the Boston Red Sox will re-sign free-agent pitcher Jon Lester. Given where the market for elite starting pitching is headed, and the fact the Sox offered Lester only four years and $70 million this spring before trading him in July, that skepticism is well-placed.
But Monday night, a well-connected baseball executive who has had conversations on the subject with the Red Sox, predicted that Boston will indeed re-sign Lester, and may make an exception in Lester's case to their pledge not to offer a long-term deal to pitchers north of 30 years old.
How high would the Sox go, and for how many years? The executive said he did not rule out a six-year offer for at least $20 million a year.
The Red Sox need at least one top rotation pitcher this offseason, and given his familiarity and success in eight seasons with Boston it makes sense that Lester could be GM Ben Cherington's top target.
Lester went 6-4 with a 2.46 ERA for the A's following the trade, and Boston fans know all they need to know about the two-time World Series champ. Though he turns 31 in January, not many would argue against giving Lester a long-term deal to bring him back to the front of Boston's rotation.
Longtime Red Sox beat writer Sean McAdam came on with 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich show Tuesday morning to discuss the Edes report.
McAdam believes it's a "longshot," but is leaving the door open to the possibility for two reasons.
Listen below!
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