Jon Lester trade rumors: Orioles’ efforts to add Lester break down
By Hayden Kane
As the Boston Red Sox field many different offers from many different teams for ace starting pitcher Jon Lester, it sounded like an especially unlikely suitor was emerging as a favorite to land Lester on Wednesday afternoon.
The Baltimore Orioles, a team in the same division as the Red Sox, were reportedly making progress towards a deal.
#RedSox in discussions on a deal that would end Jon Lester to the #Orioles sources from both teams say. Would return a pitcher
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) July 30, 2014
Hearing Orioles are close to a deal with the Red Sox for pitcher Jon Lester. Same as @PeteAbe
— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) July 30, 2014
At that point the sources were busy. If you were anybody anywhere, and you had a source, you probably issued a report saying that a trade between the Orioles and Red Sox was “not close.”
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As for where those talks stand now, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports that the two sides did indeed talk about a Lester deal earlier today, but those talks have since faded.
"Though the teams were “definitely” talking, as one source put it, a deal was never close. The reason? The Orioles, who just received news that top pitching prospect Hunter Harvey will miss the rest of the year with an elbow injury, did not want to meet Boston’s reasonable asking price by giving up additional top prospects for Lester.It is unclear if talks could be revived before the Thursday 4pm deadline."
The Red Sox do appear to remain open to a Lester trade within the division, so if they get the right offer, that very well could happen yet. Otherwise the Red Sox will likely engage the many National League teams interested in Lester.
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.