The Boston Red Sox have failed to secure a new contract for Jon Lester making him trade bait in the next 24 hours. The pitching market is hot right now with several teams looking for another ace to help push them to the postseason. With the Red Sox sitting near the bottom of the standings, they are selling rather than buying. After scratching Lester for him upcoming start, it is pretty clear who is getting sent packing soon.
The Boston Red Sox have announced that Lester has been scratched from his Wednesday start amid trade rumors. Brandon Workman will start in his place. Does this mean Lester is getting traded in the upcoming hours? The Red Sox have been quiet regarding the pitchers future. The two sides have been negotiating a multi-year extension over the past few months, but have failed to come to an agreement. The team tabled discussions until the end of the season, making him poised to be a rental for any team in playoff contention.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the favorite to win the Lester sweepstakes. The team has been looking for another top arm to round out their already impressive pitching rotation. Their pursuit of players like David Price and Cliff Lee have gone nowhere and most recently a deal for Cole Hamels was rejected. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Philadelphia Phillies offered up Hamels in exchange for several top prospects included Joc Pederson and Corey Seager. That would clean out the Dodgers best minor league players and Los Angeles deemed the deal not worth it.
The Dodgers had no interest in taking on Hamel's large contract, knowing they would eventually end up eating the money. They also did not want to sacrifice Pederson or Seager. With Matt Kemp also on the trade blocks, Pederson could easily step into his place as one of the better young prospects poised to make some noise in the majors. It was simply too much to give up for the pitcher.
Lester is a smart trade thanks to his expiring contract. The Dodgers are only interested in a rental at this point. If this deal falls through, the New York Yankees could also come calling. After several injuries, they too are only interested in a rental to help them get into the playoffs. Lester is the best available.