MLB Trade Deadline: Top 5 candidates with predictions

1. Jon Lester, SP

At this time of year, any ballclub acquiring Price will do so hoping to get Jon Lester. That may appear somewhat complex and controversial, but it’s entirely true. Any team shopping at the deadline dreams of finding a bonafide, playoff-tested ace who’ll put them over the top, distinguish them from the field, make them World Series favorites. Lester, the three-time All-Star who pitched the clinching game of Boston’s 2007 championship and was a linchpin of it’s 2013 winner, is undoubtedly that impact guy.

In 2014, he’s been better than ever, pitching to a career-best 2.52 ERA and 1.119 WHIP thus far, with 10 wins and 149 strikeouts in 143 innings of work. Despite his masterful dominance, Boston appears reluctant to pay Lester what he’s worth; negotiations to extend the southpaw’s contract, which expires in two months, bordering on the ridiculous at times. Lester loves Boston and ideally wishes to end his career as a Red Sock, a desire GM Ben Cherington has manipulated in attempt at eking out a bargain deal. Naturally, discussions reached an impasse, leaving the Red Sox with little option other than to shop Lester who, at thirty, is available at the zenith of his powers.

Naturally, Boston has been bombarded with phone calls since signalling it’s intention to sell by sending Jake Peavy to San Francisco for prospects last week. Lester, who reluctantly opened a pathway to being dealt by conveying his willingness to return to the Red Sox as a free agent even if a deal is concluded, is the organisations biggest available commodity, with Baltimore and Seattle showing particular interest of late. Expect many more teams to join the bidding on this rental player who could make all the difference in these final weeks.

PREDICTION: Traded to Dodgers for Joc Pederson.

We heard plenty of whispers linking Los Angeles with Lester over the past weekend, as the free-spending Dodgers have both the fiscal and prospect resources to complete a deal with Boston.

Whilst rampant conjecture tying Matt Kemp into these negotiations may be inaccurate (both clubs have been burned dealing multiple superstars to each other in the not-too-distant past), the Red Sox are still likely to levitate towards the Dodgers as a trade partner. Boston is aware that Los Angeles has a vastly-undervalued farm system, and would like to ideally trade Lester to a National League club.

Boston, with it’s increased reticence towards humongous contracts and burgeoning belief in young talent, will insist on a package of prospects in return for Lester, rather than an expensive Major League gamble. Ideally, Boston would target a strong offensive prospect with considerable power, a deficiency within its otherwise enviable system.

At this point, negotiations would likely swing back in the Dodgers’ favor; Los Angeles hoping to convince the Red Sox that two months of Jon Lester deserves as few pieces as possible in return.

Naturally, this leads both clubs to Joc Pederson, the Dodgers’ 22-year old outfield starlet.

Some may argue that relinquishing Pederson, thus far untouchable in Los Angeles’ trade discussions, for a luxury rental player is lopsided. But, when considering the identity and calibre of that rental player, and the success his insertion into a starting rotation alongside Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke could inspire, this prospective deal seems fair.

It gives both organisations exactly what they want.