Jon Lester trade rumors: Pirates, Cardinals ‘pushing hardest’ for Lester

There are less than 16 hours until the 2014 non-waiver trade deadline will pass on Thursday afternoon.

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As time ticks away, there is one big question that looms above the rest: where will Jon Lester be traded?

Ever since the Boston Red Sox made it clear that Lester will likely be dealt, Lester has been the biggest name available in terms of guys who seem guaranteed to be on the move. Otherwise there are players like David Price or Cole Hamels who seem just as likely to stay put as to be traded.

A number of teams are supposedly in the mix to land Lester, many of them in the National League. And with the reports that the Baltimore Orioles were unable to pull off a deal, it seems even more likely that Lester will join the senior circuit between now and the deadline.

Of those NL teams, the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly making the biggest push for Lester. Oh, and that one other team with a bunch of money and resources is hanging around too.

All that seems certain is that Lester will be on the move. Where he goes will be decided by 4:00 P.M. EST on Thursday.

Be sure to stay tuned to FanSided’s MLB Rumors page to stay up to date with the latest action and rumblings from the baseball hot stove this trade season as Thursday’s deadline approaches.