Lester's option picked up

[jacksonianmarch]

Lester's option for 2014 was picked up today

[Thunder]

Of course you post this...

[a700hitter]

The timing is very interesting.

[Youk Of The Nation]

No surprise there. Glad they did it.

[Thunder]

Jonny needs a confidence booster. This helps.

[VA Sox Fan]

Lester's option for 2014 was picked up today

 

Source?

[rjortiz]

Never that much of a doubt. That leaves them with six starters going into 2013. Dempster probably gets the boot, but he won't bring back much in a trade.

[rjortiz]

Source?

 

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/1061/jon-lester

 

The Sporting News' Anthony Witrado reports that the Red Sox have agreed to pick up Jon Lester's $13 million option for 2014.

Witrado notes that the contract might still need to be signed, but Lester will be back in Boston in 2014. It comes as no surprise, as while the left-hander has been up-and-down the last two seasons, bringing him back for $13 million on a one-year deal is a pretty easy decision. Lester has put up a 3.86 ERA with 160 strikeouts over 193 1/3 innings this season.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Buchholz-Lackey-Peavy-Lester-Doubront sounds really, really, really awesome.

[VA Sox Fan]

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/1061/jon-lester

 

Okay! Cool!

[Station 13]

Good. Lester is 1 outing away from another 200IP season. You don't know how valuable it is for starters to do that. Last year just 31 starter did it. So about 1 average starter per club.

 

Red Sox need to keep an eye on Homer Bailey after next season.

[sk7326]

Easy call - Lester is a clear $15-$16M a year guy in this baseball economy. One of the league's most reliable starters - it is nice to not have to worry about one spot in the rotation. I could quibble that he is not amazing - but quality bulk is still very hard to find.

[rjortiz]

Good. Lester is 1 outing away from another 200IP season. You don't know how valuable it is for starters to do that. Last year just 31 starter did it. So about 1 average starter per club.

 

Red Sox need to keep an eye on Homer Bailey after next season.

 

Lackey, Buchholz, and Doubront are the only starters inked through 2015. I think 2/4 of the Barnes, Ranuando, Webster, and Owens are probably going to be contributing. Really depends on what he does in 2014. The Reds probably won't let him find out. They have a new TV deal coming up pretty soon, and locking up a pitcher with two no-hitters is going to look better when they go to the negotiating table.

[jung]

Predictable.....said they would pick it up...even if they did not want to keep him for some reason...sign and trade would be a better move than just not picking up the option.

[rjortiz]

It's an idea, but Lester probably has more value to the Red Sox next year if they are going to compete. I don't think pitchers with one year of control will bring enough back to make a move. Edited September 10, 2013 by rjortiz

[mvp 78]

@alexspeier: Red Sox likely to pick up Jon Lester’s 2014 option, but no formal decision to be made till after World Series

 

Incorrect thread title. Move along folks.

[rjortiz]

@alexspeier: Red Sox likely to pick up Jon Lester’s 2014 option, but no formal decision to be made till after World Series

 

Incorrect thread title. Move along folks.

 

That does make more sense. He could blow out his arm in the next month and a half.