The Jon Lester contract situation

[seabeachfred]

Who cares if he becomes a Yank? They like any other team signing him are probably getting 2 good years and ?'s anything after that. CC fell off a cliff. Could happen to Lester. I would find a useless CC and a declining Lester clogging up the Yanks rotation funny. Ya maybe he goes there and is aces for 6 or 7 years, in today's game I don't see it happening. If the Sox signed him to 6 or 7 years I would not be excited at all.

 

If they decide to see everyone not named Pedey, Papi, Xander, and Napoli on the ML roster should be available imo. Lester, Lackey, Koji, AJ, Ross, and Drew could net a huge overall haul of prospects. The Sox farm system would be absolutely bursting with top 100 talent. They could make a big trade in the off season or use that talent in a Sox uniform. I think watching a young group come up around Pedey, Ortiz, Xander, and Napoli.

 

No BSN---you can think that and you're entitled to. I think such a scenario is ******** because you know what?????? In the early years of that contract the Yankees might win a couple of WS while we're sucking wind, that's why. Look at CC. Yes, he is hurting now but he had given them three solid seasons and a WS Title in 2009. I don't want that to happen again and it could if Lester goes there. Besides, Jon has always pitched well against them and has already beaten them twice this year, both in their own ballpark. No, we keep Lester.....and BTW, this was only my prediction but don't be surprised if by Farrell's action in the stupid moving of Bogey to third so he could put his love child at short that he hasn't crushed the young man's confidence. I urge you and other to keep a close eye on X from here on in this season.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Letting the Yankees dictate your baseball operations is the pinnacle of lunacy.

[a700hitter]

Letting the Yankees dictate your baseball operations is the pinnacle of lunacy.

That is the term that I would apply to ignoring your chief rival and competition.

[jacksonianmarch]

The Yankees will sign a top flight pitcher this offseason. I will guarantee that. Whether it be Scherzer or Lester is irrelevant. One will be signed in NY

[a700hitter]

The Yankees will sign a top flight pitcher this offseason. I will guarantee that. Whether it be Scherzer or Lester is irrelevant. One will be signed in NY

And Red Sox Nation will gleefully laugh and mock at your Yankee stupidity 5 years down the road after crying for 4 years as that pitcher owns us . Haha! The joke is on you. I love torture followed by delayed gratification!

[win red sox]

Hopefully the sox make there best offer prior to the deadline, if no deal is reached then move him. It would be unacceptable to let him go for a comp pick.

[Spitball]

The Yankees will sign a top flight pitcher this offseason. I will guarantee that. Whether it be Scherzer or Lester is irrelevant. One will be signed in NY

 

Honestly, how will that work with Alex Rodriguez's money back on the books?

[jacksonianmarch]

Honestly, how will that work with Alex Rodriguez's money back on the books?

 

They'll increase their payroll. Simple as that. Kuroda and Jeter are off the books, ARod is back on the books. That's a financial wash. They go into the offseason with Tanaka, CC, Nova, and Pineda as your 4 entering the yr, knowing you wont get a fully ready Nova back until probably the ASB. You can fill that 5 hole with your depth that is starting now, but you need a #2 behind Tanaka. Scherzer or Lester fills that role

[sk7326]

They'll increase their payroll. Simple as that. Kuroda and Jeter are off the books, ARod is back on the books. That's a financial wash. They go into the offseason with Tanaka, CC, Nova, and Pineda as your 4 entering the yr, knowing you wont get a fully ready Nova back until probably the ASB. You can fill that 5 hole with your depth that is starting now, but you need a #2 behind Tanaka. Scherzer or Lester fills that role

 

Given the odd penny pinching this offseason - it is hard to say Hank's goals relative to George's as far as going balls to the wall here. Their offseason spending this year didn't make any sense baseballwise aside from Tanaka.

[Behindenemylines]

Honestly, how will that work with Alex Rodriguez's money back on the books?

 

If the $pankees don't make the playoffs again this year they will open the vault to buy more players at top $$$$$$$. If the Sox are worried about the length of the contract with Lester then make it 4 years at bigger $$$$$ per. Lester is big and durable and has to have 4 solid season left. Tell me it wouldn't kill everyone to see him in a $pankee uniform replacing CC in the rotation.

[a700hitter]

Jon Lester Would Consider Mid-Season Extension

By Jeff Todd [July 4, 2014 at 9:40pm CDT]

 

Red Sox staff ace Jon Lester would consider an in-season extension, if the team comes forward with an offer that seems likely to lead to quick finalization of a deal, reports WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford.

 

Recent reports have fluctuated as to the plausibility of an in-season extension between the two sides. After we learned that the club intended to make a final run at a deal, a later report indicated that the lefty prefers to avoid the distraction of talks during a campaign. It now appears that he is not entirely unwilling to talk contract, so long as the side effects can be minimized.

 

Bradford writes that Lester might be inclined to allow a re-opening of discussions if the team ups its offer to the five-year, $120MM range. That would represent a major jump up from the last reported offer, a four-year, $70MM price that the club has since characterized as a starting point. As Bradford notes, that would land in the neighborhood of the Cole Hamels extension (six years, $144M), which was signed under somewhat similar circumstances.

git'er done! Edited July 5, 2014 by a700hitter

[Station 13]

120M is a bargain today. Top FAs market starts at 150M.

[Palodios]

Buy or Sell, I am starting to care less and less -- just don't let him go away in free agency for nothing.

[a700hitter]

Buy or Sell, I am starting to care less and less -- just don't let him go away in free agency for nothing.

This is the problem confronting the FO. If diehards like you, are despondent and uninterested, their business has a problem- a big problem.

[Palodios]

This is the problem confronting the FO. If diehards like you, are despondent and uninterested, their business has a problem- a big problem.

 

I'm not disinterested-- I am just tired of the Lester Saga. I want him here for the rest of his career, or I want a top 20 prospect for him.

[a700hitter]

I'm not disinterested-- I am just tired of the Lester Saga. I want him here for the rest of his career, or I want a top 20 prospect for him.

I am glad that you are still engaged, but I do think they will be confronted by a big decline in fan interest if they keep rolling out garbage and losing.

[sk7326]

I'm not disinterested-- I am just tired of the Lester Saga. I want him here for the rest of his career, or I want a top 20 prospect for him.

 

that is reasonable. I do think if the team shows it is not willing to pay top dollar for top talent, the fanbase will be onto them.

[seabeachfred]

that is reasonable. I do think if the team shows it is not willing to pay top dollar for top talent, the fanbase will be onto them.

 

Another great job by Lester today. He should now have two shutouts in a row. Right now he is almost as good as the best two pitchers in baseball. For pete's sake Cherington sign the guy.

[redsoxrules]

Go figure, Lester is having a career year.

Probably numbers we wont see from him again in the rest of his career.

[Station 13]

Time to pay Lester. 6/120M starting the extension talks.

[Behindenemylines]

Maybe shorter years at higher dollars will get it done. The guy is big and has proven to be durable. I'm thinking it is going to take 24 mil per year (5/ $120). He will be 36 when it is done.

[reYoukilis]

Go figure, Lester is having a career year.

Probably numbers we wont see from him again in the rest of his career.

Career year yes but hes always been solid and hes still fairly young, sign him.

[Palodios]

Some choice quotes from Lester at the All-star game :

I look at it this way: This is where I want to be,” Lester said

 

“When it comes down to it, the first day (of free agency) I hope Boston is the first team that calls me and I don’t have to worry about it. “I’m playing right now for the Red Sox and I want to play for them for the rest of my career. … It’s all I’ve known. I don’t like the unknown.”

 

“This is where I want to be. Let’s say the year ends tomorrow and I go to free agency. It doesn’t mean I don’t still want to be a Red Sox. It doesn’t change anything. Now they just have more competition

 

If this deal doesn't get done, I blame Henry and Lucchino. Lester wants this to get done. Get it done.

[reYoukilis]

Some choice quotes from Lester at the All-star game :

 

 

If this deal doesn't get done, I blame Henry and Lucchino. Lester wants this to get done. Get it done.

But now he says he wants to wait til the end of the season. Is this a sign that he wants to make them pay for not doing it sooner? Or is this him thinking this team is worse than he thought they would be? Or is this as he says, not the time because hes trying to concentrate on pitching? Id like to think the latter and also find somewhat likely in that hes thinking it might bring bad luck to do it while hes hot.

[sk7326]

I agree with the Red Sox in theory - that you don't want to go 5 years with 30 year olds more or less. However - you have to make individual evaluations, and sometimes you overpay to win an auction. The question is do you think you will get 1000 innings of #2/#3 sort of production on average (you build in some decline)? I think with Lester it is almost assuredly yes - certainly nothing he has done up to this point (where he is a clear #2 starter level, who has #1 performance in him) with his performance and injury history and mechanics suggest he is a huge likelihood to get hurt.

[seabeachfred]

I came back after five days in Chicago and Lester is still not signed. Why am I not surprised at this? Once again John "Prune Face" Henry is allowing Larry the Lip Lucchino to meddle in baseball operations and I wonder if Cherington any longer has the autonomy to sign the players or does Lucchino always have to be behind him pecking at his ass and trying to pretend that he is a real baseball man---which he most certainly is not. He is a meddler, pure and simple and this is now that third major time he has interjected himself into BO and the third time Henry has had to deal with this. The problem is Prune Face is reluctant as hell to tell Lucchino to stay the hell in his office and concentrate on promotions and fund raising and public releations. Larry has never been a baseball whiz and n ever will be.

[Palodios]

A beat writer interviewed 4 agents and 4 baseball execs. They all gave predictions for Lester -- all between 144 and 190 million.

 

If the Red Sox can get him for 120 million, they should just do it. Pinching pennies with extremely consistent players willing to meet you in the middle is unwise.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I still think they should trade for Lee, dish Lester, and give yourself another 2 years with a top of the rotation ace (Lee) while your prospects develop, but don't handcuff yourself with a 5-6 year deal on a guy who is going to have 1,600 innings on his arm before he starts his contract.

[a700hitter]

I still think they should trade for Lee, dish Lester, and give yourself another 2 years with a top of the rotation ace (Lee) while your prospects develop, but don't handcuff yourself with a 5-6 year deal on a guy who is going to have 1,600 innings on his arm before he starts his contract.

So, you would get rid of Lester in favor of 2 hopefully ace like years of Lee. After the 2 years of Lee, Rubby, Owens, Renaudo, Cecchini, Bradley and XB will all be established stars or very good players? I think that might be just a bit overly ambitious.

[Bellhorn04]

I still think they should trade for Lee, dish Lester, and give yourself another 2 years with a top of the rotation ace (Lee) while your prospects develop, but don't handcuff yourself with a 5-6 year deal on a guy who is going to have 1,600 innings on his arm before he starts his contract.

 

But Lester is at 1600 innings because he's never on the DL. Plus he hasn't had any really excessive innings numbers in any one year. He's a good bet to stay healthy.