Jon Lester

Don’t act surprised.

Were you not paying attention?

The Red Sox are going to trade Jon Lester either today or tomorrow and it’s been pretty much a given that the deal would happen since the Red Sox tried to open contract negotiations with Lester prior to the start of this abysmal season.

Every pundit on the planet agreed that signing Lester would take at least 20 million dollars a year over at least five years, and that includes a home town discount. The Red Sox initial offer? Four years at a total of 70 million dollars. Not only did Lester’s people ignore it, but they were so floored by how completely unrealistic it was that they were never able to figure out how to counter it. The offer was so insulting that it effectively ended negotiations before they started.

After seeing that, how could you possibly expect that this would end with anything other than Lester getting traded at the deadline?

The question now becomes, if we trade him now will he sign with us in the off season?

My thought is: No.

If we weren’t going to put up the money to keep him last off season, why should anyone expect us to put up the money next off season?

The (two time World Series hero) Jon Lester era will be coming to an end within the next 31 hours or so.