Boston Red Sox rumors: Jon Lester very open to return
By Bryan Rose
Some said the Boston Red Sox had the best pre-waiver trade deadline in Major League Baseball. It’s hard to disagree considering the amount of talent they stocked up on and the contracts they moved off their books.
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But what would make their trade deadline unheard of would be re-signing Jon Lester, who the Red Sox traded to the Oakland A’s in exchange for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.
After the deal went through there were whispers suggesting that Jon Lester may potentially be open to returning to the Boston Red Sox, though understandably was excited to be with the Oakland A’s and in the midst of an American League West title.
However, with a few weeks passed since the deadline, the question regarding Lester returning to Beantown was proposed again and this time his answer was far more candid.
“At the end of the season, [the trade is] not going to change my mind about going back there if they are aggressive and competitive and do the things they say they’re going to do. They told me, ‘We’re going to be aggressive. You’re going to get blown out of the water by some of these [other] offers,’” said Lester. “I’m not going to the highest bidder. I’m going to the place that makes me and my family happy. If that’s Boston, it’s Boston.”
So in short, the Boston Red Sox could possibly have traded Lester for a very good outfielder with 40-home run potential and could in fact re-sign the ace pitcher in a matter of months and possibly on a hometown discount contract? Impressive.