Jon Lester told Alex Speier of WEEI.com that he hopes to sign an extension with the Red Sox at some point. The Red Sox already extended Lester once and control his rights through 2014, at which point the left-hander wants to re-sign in Boston.
“Hopefully I’ll stay here, and hopefully we’ll be able to do it,” Lester said. “That’s a couple years away, but it’s something I’ve always thought about, and hopefully it’s something we can get done at some point.”
Clay Buchholz said in May that he would like to sign long-term with the Red Sox, but he hasn’t approached the club about a deal, and the Red Sox haven’t brought the subject up either. Buchholz isn’t arbitration-eligible until after 2011 or free agent-eligible until after 2014, so he says he isn’t worried about his long-term future yet.
“I think time will take care of all that stuff,” said Buchholz. “I’m going to focus on playing.”
The Red Sox have Daisuke Matsuzaka under team control through 2012 and John Lackey and Josh Beckett through 2014, so they have more pitching locked up long-term than just about any other team.
Would love to keep both guys here for a real long time. Lester is a trooper, pitching through sickness, good times and bad. All around great person and player. Buchholz put up with a lot of waiting, waiting and waiting to finally get his chance to start every day and he has been absolutely electrifying, really buckling down and becoming what the Sox thought he could. They are really special, I hope they stay and stay productive
Not to mention Lester is one of the best left handed pitchers in the league.
Lester should be starting in the all star game over Price he has been better and more dominant than Price who is just been lucky.
I don’t think luck is a factor when your ERA is 2.42
Tell that to Livan Hernandez.
Luck can certainly be a factor, and Price has had his share, but he’s still a damn good starter, and it’s far from a stretch to have him start. Sure Lester’s worthy too, but it’s not like they’re running Scott Kazmir out there this year.
ERA is a hollow number when your FIP is 3.59 and your LOB% is over 80%. And he hasn’t been dominant at all. A 7.8 K/9 isn’t good for a power lefty with a slider like his. In comparison Lester has a K/9 over 9 and they both walk the same amount of guys per 9. Also from ERA-FIP differential Price is the 6th luckiest pitcher in the majors. Lester also has a better BAA and HR/9 = more dominant.
He has a 80.2 LOB% and a 3.59 FIP. He’s been a little lucky.
Lester has a 2.97 FIP and his BABIP is a little bit lower than his career average, but not unsustainably so, given his improved peripheral numbers each year.
Both are excellent pitchers and been the recipients of some luck, as that’s the game, however Lester has been pitching more consistently to his ability. Not that it matters.
I ignored the BABIP because last I checked both pitchers had around the same number. Only Lester Ks more when means that his BABIP allows less baserunners than Price who opponent batters hit the ball in play more.
Also, remember when the Twins could have had Lester, Ellsbury, and Lowrie for Santana? Man I remember saying that I wanted that to get done but I guess it’s a good thing it didn’t. Poor Twins
Edit: Ignore me I was wrong
At no point were Lester and Ellsbury in the same package.
True, but Lester and a bag of balls would have been 1000 times better than what the Twins actually got.
Edit: You were right, my bad.
Didn’t mean to like that… was merely going to comment that the offer you suggested was never on the table.
It was Ellsbury plus trash or Lester plus trash. One of the reasons a Boston trade didn’t happen was because Smith was holding out for more than just one of the two.
Not that I’m defending the move. Obviously Lester alone would’ve been a better return, but hindsight is 20/20 for Smith. I never wanted a Carlos Gomez package, but it’s in the past now.
Actually the Sox held out on offering more because of concerns over Santana’s elbow.
I wouldn’t call the supporting casts of the trade rumors as trash. One of the deals on the table was Jon Lester, Justin Masterson, Jed Lowrie, and Coco Crisp. I believe that the deal with Ellsbury had a similar supporting cast as well, with maybe Michael Bowden.
Come on guys, were Red Sox fans, but this is the Alll-Star game, at this point Price deserves the start. Some great Lefty’s going into tomorrow, Price, Lester, CC.
Cant wait.
Actually I think Liriano should start really. He has the best FIP in the majors (better than Josh Johnson, Ubaldo, Halladay). But his ERA is too high even it is just bad luck I’m sure is the manager’s thinking
It’s a shame that managers would never look up such a statistic.
agreed 100%
Forgot about Lee.
Price has been a very good pitcher this year. I’m sick of people disregarding hits as luck. He has a low WHIP and has been pitching very deep into games. His controllable stats are still decent enough, but he has been the best pitcher on the Rays, though maybe not the best in the AL.
CC wont pitch in the AS game… no pitcher who pitched on Sunday will pitch…. and as for “locking up” starters… I am all for doing it with Buchholz and Lester long term… and THANK GOD Dice K is SAYONARA after next year…….. Sept 2011 Red Sox nation can say GOOD RIDDANCE to diceK… he can go back to Japan… I can’t wait to hear BORASS spin how DiceK is a combination of Nolan Ryan, Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax…
I personally see a little more Cy Young than Bob Gibson. 😉
Guess I’m wondering why this is news. It’s barely news worthy when a player says something like this in the season prior to FA (see Adam Dunn and the drama in Washington for the past year). In this case we are 3.5 years away from FA. A lot can happen in that time period. His comments have absolutely no bearing on a future contract. He is playing the part of a good team mate and fan favorite. I have no doubt that he really wants to stay in Boston and that he is sincere. I just doubt anyone who is making plans this early – especially when they have little control over the process.
As nice as it is to have Lester and Buchholz locked up through 2014, I am really pessimistic about having Beckett and Lackey signed through 2014. I would be shocked if either of those deals ended well for the Sox.
As nice as it is to have Lester and Buchholz locked up through 2014, I am really pessimistic about having Beckett and Lackey signed through 2014. I would be shocked if either of those deals ended well for the Sox.
It’s nice that Lester would like to stay in Boston. He’s signed through 2014 and he’s a pitcher. No way I extend that until get at least 2013. A lot can happen in a few years and Lester has proved durable, but he’s a PITCHER, and pitchers have all kinds of things that can go wrong.
I hope it works out for Lester, he’s a great pitcher, and seems like a decent guy. But no extension. It just isn’t necessary right now.
Not taking anything away from David Price, but also consider price pitches in a considerably larger overall stadium for 1/2 of his games and lester, LH pitches with that LF wall so close and as most Sox fans know.. Not very many LH starters have had success for Boston over the years. Some of us have gone over this before and it is a VERY short list of Boston LH starters to do this. That cutter of his is the key on RH batters and his ability to jam and pitch inside.
Bobby Ojeda, John Tudor were moved on and had success else where after being mediocre. Bruce Hurst and Bill lee being about the 2 best in the last 40 years beside Lester for a several year period.
Lester=BEAST in the EAST