2:12pm: The A’s are paying $650K of Cespedes’ salary but are getting back $1.8MM from the Red Sox for Lester’s salary, tweets Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
11:35am: The teams have announced the trade. Nightengale tweets the exact figure that will be heading to Oakland: $650K.
10:09am: Dave Cameron of Fangraphs reports another wrinkle in the trade: Cespedes’ contract calls for him to be non-tendered at the end of his deal (if he is not first extended) in order to assure him early free agency, and he therefore is ineligible to receive a qualifying offer following the 2015 season (Twitter links).
9:14am: The Red Sox are sending under $1MM to the A’s in the trade, tweets Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Meanwhile, J.J. Cooper of Baseball America tweets that the value of the Competitive Balance pick that Boston receives will be roughly $800K.
8:54am: Passan tweets that Oakland is also sending a competitive balance draft pick to the Red Sox in the trade, and Boston is sending cash to Oakland. The A’s landed the second pick in Comp Round B in last week’s lottery.
8:49am: The Athletics have acquired Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes from the Red Sox in exchange for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com (Twitter links). Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports first reported that Lester had been traded to an unknown club, while Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com first connected the A’s and Lester earlier this week.
The addition of Lester will give Oakland an incredibly formidable rotation for the balance of the regular season, but perhaps more importantly, in the playoffs. Lester, who has posted a 2.52 ERA with 9.4 K/9, 2.0 BB/9 and a 43.2 percent ground-ball rate, will join fellow trade acquisition Jeff Samardzija, free agent signing Scott Kazmir and homegrown star Sonny Gray atop Oakland’s rotation.
It’s possible that the struggles of Jason Hammel, acquired from the Cubs along with Samardzija back on July 4, prompted A’s GM Billy Beane to aggressively pursue another sizable rotation upgrade. While the loss of Cespedes will hurt Oakland’s lineup, the team can afford to part with some offense; the A’s rank first in the Majors in runs scored, sixth in on-base percentage and eighth in slugging percentage. Gomes won’t replace Cespedes’ power or his .256/.303/.464 batting line, but he’s a formidable opponent against lefties, having slashed .302/.400/.431 against southpaws in 2014 and .279/.379/.495 in his career.
Cespedes will bring the Red Sox a much-needed outfield bat, though he’s only under team control through the 2015 season due to a clause in his contract that allows him to forgo arbitration and hit the free agent market after his initial four-year term. He’s slated to earn $10.5MM next season — the same sum that he is owed in 2014. John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets that Cespedes recently voiced a disinterest in playing center field with the A’s, but he did so through a teammate rather than by approaching manager Bob Melvin directly, which likely didn’t sit well with the team (Twitter links).
The pair of blockbuster trades by Beane signifies a clear “all-in” philosophy on the 2014 season. Oakland has traded its best prospect (Addison Russell), a 2013 first-round pick (Billy McKinney) and one of its most dangerous bats (Cespedes) in an attempt at the most dominant pitching staff it can muster for the playoffs. There will be no compensation if (or, perhaps more appropriately given his likely price tag — when) Lester departs as a free agent, as baseball’s collective bargaining agreement prohibits players who did not spend the entire regular season on one team from receiving qualifying offers.
For the Red Sox, who hope to re-sign Lester as a free agent this offseason, this trade at least gives them a chance, perhaps a slight one, to have Lester and Cespedes on the same team in 2015 when the club takes another shot at contending. Beyond that, the addition of a draft pick is an interesting wrinkle, as it allows Boston to enjoy the best of both worlds, in a way. GM Ben Cherington could have kept Lester and extended a qualifying offer in hopes of recouping a draft pick if Lester signed elsewhere in free agency. Now, the Sox will get a bonus pick regardless (albeit a slightly later one), and they also are guaranteed a middle-of-the-order bat for the 2015 season. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Boston engage Cespedes in extension talks either, though that is nothing more than my own speculation at this juncture.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
ok that’s kind of weird, but good for Boston I think? Honestly this is a weird trade, Lester and Cespedes have been worth the exact same amount this year according to BR. The A’s took a bat out of the middle of their lineup, and the Sox get 1 year of him. Why?
Yeah. Who wouldn’t want someone with a .303 OBP? OK, probably Billy Beane, for one.
I don’t like this deal for Boston much. Cespedes is only under contract for a year. They get a draft pick, somewhere around 35-45, where the probability of success is already significantly reduced. It doesn’t seem to me that this helps them much for the future. Couldn’t they have gotten legit prospects from another team?
I wonder if the Masterson trade really hurt them here. The Cardinals had younger, more projectable players to offer.
It’s not that Cespedes isn’t a good return for Lester per se, it sjut appears to be a short term fix, which is weird for a team moving veteran talent.
They can trade Cespedes for prospects too this offseason or next year tradeline if they have a bad 2015
He might be a better option to be traded once again to a team needing help on offense like the Seattle Mariners by still hanging on in the wild card race. Remember Mark Langston who was traded from the Matiners to the Expos and then to the Angels 24 years ago?
That’s exactly what I was thinking/hoping! I wonder what kind of prospects it would take to get vespers from Boston
Wonder if it’s Cespedes and Napoli as Patrick Kivelhan, Gabriel Guerrero, John Hicks, James Paxton/Taijuan Walker, and either Corey Hart/Logan Morrison/Jesus Montero heading to Boston. Mariners should also look into Ethier or Kemp also to bolster the team since Ackley or Saunders would be perfect to come off the bench & give someone a day off or so.
How about smoak, Franklin, and Erasmo Ramirez instead of kivelhan and Guerrero
he’s the final piece in the offseason move for Stanton.
Oops. No prospect.
See Dave Cameron update.
wut.
Red Sox win this deal by A LOT.
Especially if Lester goes back to Boston.
Well, he’s not going to get a deal from Oakland. So Red Sox will win it anyway.
Still might stay on the west coast and sign with LA (either of the 2 LA teams)
It’s fantastic for him now contract-wise because the team that signs him won’t have to give up a pick – just money. That really opens up possibilities.
I’m pretty sure a big reason why the Red Sox traded Lester was precisely because they could not afford to resign him. So I don’t think that’s really an option for them.
I disagree. It could be the reason, but if Lester didn’t care about being a career BoSox, then the Red Sox did right here by improving their 2015 roster. Cespedes + Lester for ’15 is better than neither Cespedes nor Lester and just Cespedes. They’ve maximized their chances of competing in ’15.
Sure, but it looks like just in ’15. Cespedes wants to hit the open market.
Saying Red Sox and “could not afford” together is like saying Rays and “spending spree” together.
Times have changed in Boston and they’ve made it clear that they aren’t just going to resign their guys for however much that guy wants (we saw this with Elsbury last year, right after the world series no less). Maybe they could “afford” to pay him but the point is, they won’t give him what other teams can offer.
Not necessarily. They may recognize that they CAN re-sign him and, with this season basically over, they may as well get something for him. For all we know, they have a handshake agreement to bring Lester back next season. Now they get Cespedes too.
That is what I think… They already have a deal in place… BUt Boston has been very public about giving 5 year deals to Pitchers in and around 30… We know how pitches now regress at this point (CC, Haren, etc)
It’s a smart strategy if that’s the case. The Sox are done this year and Lester has a chance to go win a ring. They could get a basic agreement in place, shake hands, and reconvene this winter. Sox get a player (cespedes) for nothing basically and get their man (Lester) back.
“Sox get a player for nothing” … assuming they, in fact, have a hand shake agreement, and Lester honors it, then they got something for nothing. Otherwise, they have picked up Cespedes in exchange for a compensation pick. Supplemental 1st round picks in the last 15 years include the likes of Kelly Johnson, David Wright, Adam Jones, Gio Gonzalez, Huston Street, Clay Buchholz, and Josh Donaldson.
I would take Cespedes over most of those except Wright, Jones, and Donaldson, and Donaldson himself was developed by Oakland and less heralded originally.
and a host of other guys who never panned out.
Exactly.
If Boston was willing to pay Lester what he wanted, he’d still be there. I don’t think he’s going back.
I agree. They kind of burned a bridge and it will be tough to get both sides back on the same page together.
Don’t believe its a burned bridge at all. Though unpleasent, this whole thing never got contentious between the two. Lester’s already stated he’d re-sign w/ Boston if the numbers worked out.
Stating it to the media is public posturing though. Seriously, the Sox offered less than half of what he was after in salary. That is a pretty big gap to try to fill in on a compromise.
We don’t know what Boston’s latest offer would be. 4/70 was the starting point. If they’re willing to go 5/120? Who knows..
Players and teams always say they are open to resigning them the year after a trade, but it never seems to happen.
Lester was the guy who claimed during the offseason he would give the Sox a hometown discount. Then negotiations start and the FO finds out that he was lying and wants over 20 million a year. Its not entirely the teams fault here.
20 MM per is a hometown discount. He didn’t lie. Greinke signed for 6 @ 24.5. Hamels for 6 @ 24. Lee for 5 @ 24. Hernandez for 7 @ 25, 5 @ 27 in new money, Verlander 7 @ 25+, 5 @ 28 in new money, Kershaw signed for 7 @ a little over 30. 5/110 or so is still a discount, and he would’ve signed that in Spring Training apparently.
I disagree. Notice who they traded him to– THE A’S. Not exactly a big market team. No way they are going to commit 40% of their payroll to one pitcher for the next 5 years. And they are the only team with an inside track on him. If they had traded him to a big market team I would be more concerned.
Am I the only one not that overwhelmed by Cespedes? By no means do I think the Red Sox lost this trade, but what’s the big deal with Cespedes? He has power and a cannon arm, but aside from that, his numbers aren’t that impressive.
Agreed his name is bigger than the actual player but I still think it was a good trade for Boston seeing Lester is a UFA
Look at Josh Harrison, now look at Cespedes. Josh Harrison may be having a great year but to me he is no more than a Bench player and will not likely ever perform better than this year. Cespedes is having a good year but could be on the cusp of a breakout. The guy has plus tools across the board, why would you not like a player like that on your team?
What’s with the slam on Josh Harrison out of no where? What does he have to do with anything?
It’s just an example. J-Hay is a good player but I wanted to show a point that players are more than just stats. They have good numbers but who would you rather have, Cespedes or Harrison? Cespedes is going to be a beast for years to come
Cespedes is 29… Breakout would have already happened by now I would have to think… The name is certainly more than the figures he puts up… What was interesting is how Cespedes was a negative WAR defensive player his first two years and his year has changed..
Cespedes is 28 not 29, but has only played baseball in the US since he was 26. Thinking he could breakout is not unreasonable. And defense metrics fluctuate year by year, that’s why they are not as reliable as offensive metrics
He’s 29, but he’s only had 2.6 years in the Majors. Plenty of guys break out after that. And even his floor is pretty respectable.
Turns 29 October 18th.
Boston can dominate the home run derby next year.
I think he’ll like the Monster. And considering the problems the Sox have had in their outfield so far, a Céspedes/Betts/JBJ alignment with Nava getting some playing time looks pretty good.
Cespedes talent is hard to judge because his first year he had a 326 BABIP which is slightly lucky but not incredibly so and a 137 WRC+ and hit 23 HR in 130 games with half in the giant park in OAK. Then the next two years his BABIP fell to .275 which is either unlucky or his true BABIP level and his WRC+ fell to 102 and 113 while his ISO stayed pretty much the same.
I think in Fenway he should be good for 30 HR and if his BABIP goes back up he could be good for 275/330/800.
He’s a +3WAR guy. Ellsbury was a +3WAR guy. He’s almost as impressive as his name. The Sox can extend him this offseason for 4 years at $60MM and have a quality LF locked in for the next half decade.
Where is all this WAR coming from? Because his offensive numbers sure don’t look that impressive. Also, I think he should play RF at Fenway. That cannon will be somewhat wasted in the small LF.
He gets lots of time in the #3 hole, put any person there and they’ll provide WAR.
His BA and OBP are unimpressive, but he’s an OPS+ player. He can hit 25 dingers in Oakland, so that’s more like 30+ in Fenway. And then he’s got great speed and one of the best arms in the MLB. The WAR is there. If he improves on plate discipline, he might even get to +4.
How so? Are they built to win next year? If not then they lose Lester and are right back in this same predicament next year with Cespedes who will probably have less trade value than Lester.
They can always resign Lester. The A’s certainly won’t.
True but will they? If they were honestly going to really try and resign him wouldn’t they have given him a REAL offer before he hit the open market. Now there will be teams like the dodgers, cubs, and yankees driving up the price and the front office has already said they don’t want to sign a 30 year old to a contract that is 5 years +
The Cubs would be a good options. I don’t see the Dodgers or Yankees in on him due to payroll concerns, but they’re definitely possibilities.
Unless Oakland wins the World Series!!!
Because we get Cespedes for one year?
Because we get Cespedes for one year?
Yeah, that’s my thought, too. Sure, the As might only get Lester for a few months, but they also get Gomes and it costs them a year and two months of Cespedes. It seems like a pretty even deal to me.
My thoughts exactly. I was pretty excited hearing names like Joc Pederson and other legitimate prospects. I was interested to see people’s reaction to this and I was surprised that everyone thought it was such a big win for the Red Sox.
Cespedes is a big name, but his performance doesn’t quite match the name and he’s only signed through 2015.
If the A’s win a World Series with this rotation, it could be a true Win-Win trade for both clubs. Especially if Lester returns to Boston in the offseason
Not really. He’s a FA after next season and there was no way the A’s were going to sign him. Odds are they were going to trade him in the off season since they probably could afford to offer him, Shark and possibly Kazmir a qualifying offer after 2015. The A’s get two playoff pieces for now in exchange for one year of Cespedes. I like this deal for both teams.
I think that if the A’s end up winning the World Series, they will win the deal. That seems to be the only thing Beane sees right now. He has a chance to win it and is willing to go all in. And let’s be real, Cespedes is good but he isn’t all that. There was no way the A’s were going to resign him after next year, but Sox have the budget to do so. No doubt Beane is gambling, but it is definitely entertaining.
Especially the Mariners in a toss up if they can acquire Cespedes & Lackey for Walker, Pike, Guerrero, Kivelhan, Hart/Montero/Morrison/Smoak (one of those four players), and PTBN.
Nobody wants Hart, Montero, Morrison, and Smoak. They’re all terrible.
Stefan Romero & Julio Morban would be better option than those four mentioned. Phillies in a three team trade might be a good way to make the deal accomplish if Lackey & Byrd, Napoli & Byrd, or Cespedes & Hamels going to Seattle work out well.
The Red Sox could have had prospects. Instead they get one year of cespedes who’s a free agent after 2015 without QO attached. It’s a win but not a big win.
I saw this one all along
– Said no one ever
After the shark trade and how Hammel has struggled I did see beane looking for another arm. But definitely not Lester.
3 years of Cespedes for a few months of Lester and Gomes? I don’t get it.
Actually only 1 1/2 yrs…..Cespedes can file for Article XX(B) free agency after 2015.
aw, ok. never heard of that. will have to look it up.
How? It looks like that applies to players in the minors. Doesn’t Cespedes go to arbitration after 2015?
Does Arb apply to contracts to international players? I thought they are just signed outright to major league contracts.
Baseball Reference says free agent at 2018, but that might be automated. These places tend to be better informed than I.
Everything I’ve seen says he can be a FA after next year.
He becomes a free agent after 2015. It’s one of the reasons he signed with the A’s. No one else was willing to give him free agency after 4 years.
It appears its in his contract for Oakland to non-tender him after 2015, making him a FA without a QO (you can’t offer a QO and non-tender someone simultaneously)
Cespedes is going to stop being cheap real soon, so maybe Beane is freeing up his resources to extend some of his guys and/or lock up one of their pitchers.
and a chance for the one of the lowest payroll teams to go to the WS
What is their payroll? I feel it is much higher this year than usual with Jim Johnson making $10mil for example
They want to win a World Series and dealt from a position of strength (offense) to stack their rotation for the playoffs
Wow, didn’t see this coming. I think it’s a poor move for Oakland. Cespedes for a half season of Lester. I’d pass but that rotation will be sweet!
A’s are playing to win now. They are loaded in the farm system with pitching.
Yea but giving up cespedes? Wow..guess Billy’s got a plan that I’m not quite understanding now
The plan where he couldn’t re-sign Cespedes after 2015 and is going for gold this year when he already has the best team in MLB? Yeah, that plan seems solid.
A’s need a stacked rotation to contend with Detroit and company in the playoffs. It’s been their missing piece all these years since 2001, when they get bumped out in the ALDS
Yea but giving up cespedes? Wow..guess Billy’s got a plan that I’m not quite understanding now
Actually they don’t have very good pitching depth in their system right now. All of their healthy top pitching prospects are in Stockton or Beloit (basically, single-A)
Their strength in the system right now is up the middle (Pinder, Robertson, Jesus Lopez, Yairo Munoz) and corner infield (Ryon Healy, Renato Nunez, Max Muncy, Matt Olson, Matt Chapman)
Wow…just wow.
The only way the A’s win this deal (in any idea) is if they win the WS this year.
The A’s have already won this deal.
Nah man, gotta look beyond this season. Your Sox won it.
For this return I would’ve rather just kept Lester
Why? Based on Lester’s comments, you’re just as likely to re-sign Lester as if you’d kept him. The only difference is whether you have him for the rest of this season which is a lost cause. Might as well have Lester and Cespedes in 2015 than just Lester.
Ehh, Boston gets a 1 year of better player than Gomes, plus a draft pick (yes, you would have gotten a slightly higher one for Lester). You can also turn that into (at worst) another draft pick if you offer Cespedes a QO after 2015 (if he doesn’t re-sign with you). So, at worst, you’re getting 2 draft picks for Lester and Gomes.
there is no draft pick compensation for cespedes.
The A’s have already won this deal.
They don’t need to “win” this deal. They want to win a ring. They are not competing for “best trade” with Boston.
The team as a whole might not care. But the GM should. He should care whether he wins or loses deals.
Sure, but the two teams are trading to fill different needs. If the A’s don’t win the Series is their trade a “failure”? If the Sox don’t re-sign Lester in the offseason, is their side a loss? Right now the trade makes sense for both sides. Beane made the deal he needed to make to stack his rotation. They can’t measure the success of a trade based on how it works out for Boston.
No, you measure a trade by how it impacts you this year and going forward. So unless the A’s win a WS this year, how can you call it anything but a failure? They were already the best team in baseball, so this move was made solely for the playoffs. And if they fall in the playoffs, then the move wasn’t worth it for the GM (i.e. it didn’t improve the team enough to win it all). Plus, he gave up a draft pick and can’t obtain a new one by offering a QO to Lester.
So if they don’t win the WS, he gave up a good player with a year of control, a draft pick, and the potential to get another draft pick (had they offered Cespedes a QO after 2015) for nothing.
The playoffs are a crapshoot but if your front 4 is Lester/Shark/Kazmir/Gray, it really helps your chances. More importantly, the A’s revenue stream is tied to attendance and even making the playoffs and advancing to the LCS will dramatically boost revenue this year and next year, giving Beane more money to work with. It’s definitely not a failure unless the team just doesn’t make the playoffs.
A’s got hosed.
A’s gave up the last year and a third of Cespedes for an express ticket to the 2014 World Series.
Oops. Should have kept Cespedes after all :)
Cespedes has a .760 ops the past two seasons. He has power but is below average at getting on base. The A’s lose out on next season and the comp pick in 2016 when Cespedes signs with another team.
They’re on different spots on the win curve. The Red Sox have a bad outfield and wanted to improve it and the As have scored the most runs in baseball and are also the best team in baseball. It’s not bad if it lets them get further in the playoffs; at the end of the day, the goal is for them to win a WS and this gets them closer.
The A’s couldn’t have offered the comp pick anyway.
Lester, Samardzija, Kazmir, Gray. GG Tigers.
Gomes isn’t headed to Boston. He was in Boston, now apparently in Oakland.
Nevermind lol.
shocked
Jonny Gomes is already on the Red Sox.
Edit: They fixed it.
NOO!
When is Cespedes a free agent?
after next season I believe.
Holy cow…I thought prospects would be going the other way. Cespedes? For a 2-month rental pitcher and Johnny Gomes? Boston won this one.
Oakland wouldn’t have had the prospects. They only had 1 elite one and he was traded for Shark.
Poor Cespedes. Goes to bed last night playing for the best team in the AL. Wakes up and is now on one of the worst teams in the AL.
Red Sox: First to Worst. I knew last year was a fluke.
I’m really hoping the Sox are planning to flip him (+Lackey maybe?) as part of some deal to actually get good prospects from someone. I hate this deal otherwise.
Why would you hate this deal? It’s a win for Boston easily.
Because we get Cespedes for 2015 and a worse draft pick than we would’ve gotten if Lester had left via QO?
Well can’t they offer a QO to Cespedes next year (barring a trade or extension)?
Sure, but that’s a paltry return still. I can’t believe that Ben couldn’t have coerced a prospect out of someone over the next several hours
I feel like an extension with Cespedes and reunion with Lester is the endgame here. Who knows though.
If those both happen, then I’ll like the deal.
Actually I just read Cespedes cannot be offered a QO. Hope the Red Sox knew that.
The deal keeps getting worse! :D
I understand where you are coming from but if the idea is to contend in 2015 (and it better be) then this trade makes perfect sense. Fix one of the biggest holes on the team with an All Star at 10 million dollars. Overall, I understand wanting a Joc Pederson or Josh Bell or Piscotyy but none of those guys are proven and Cespedes is only 28. 2 things could make it even better.
1. Extend Cespedes to a deal that includes the 2015 salary to lower the AAV hit.
2. Resign Lester in the off season with some of the savings from getting an All Star OF at 10 million.
If this trade facilitates us extending Cespedes and we re-sign Lester, then I’ll like it.
Yeah I can’t imagine them doing this trade without at least planning to go all in on either Cespedes or Lester long term. Maybe trading for a proven All Star rather then prospects shows the front office is done pinching pennies and wants to to buy some stars to allow the young guys to develop around!
I’ll believe it when I see it
Just have to have more confidence in the front office man. Worst case they get a 1 year of Cespedes and 2 draft picks in the top 50 for a half a year of Lester + Gomes. Best case they have both players for the next 6 years starting in 2015 and two top 50 draft picks. All you have to do is Believe!!!
I think they come out with better than the comp pick for Lester with a chance to still sign Lester. Not sure what prospects other teams were offering.
I don’t think (never thought) Lester was significantly better than Greinke when the Brewers traded him to the Angels and they got a 50-75 ranked prospect in Segura.
just came out that there will be no draft pick compensation for cespedes.
That’s an interesting thought. I think this deal makes sense for Oakland more than Boston, so that would make sense. Maybe for a near ready MLB starter. Seattle could use him, maybe they build a package including Cespedes for Walker?
I wonder if he could end up on one of the world teams in the NL. Wonder how much in terms of prospects would need to be added with him to get Cole Hamels. Ruben Amaro Jr loves HR hitters.
Jonny Gomes is already in Boston..
better hope Oakland wins this year… especially when Lester re-signs with Boston in the offseason.
Why would the A’s trade one of their top hitters?
Cespedes is replaceable (Gomes/Fuld platoon)….Lester is not. Team gets much, much better.
I’m assuming this can’t be the whole deal… I mean seriously??
Awful deal for the A’s
Cespedes is a FA after 2015 (next year) and A’s won’t resign…meanwhile Boston could’ve received controllable young players to rebuild with going forward and all they get is Cespedes who has a under 800 OPS two years in a row now….they could’ve done better IMO.
Want more please…
Wow…
There we have it. Nothing is going to get done today.
must be some decent prospects going back to Oakland, otherwise it seems too good to be true. Cespedes? Thats insane.
Wow I’m surprised the A’s would give up part of their big league club for him. Interesting trade for sure, I thought they would be trading farm guys. Cespedes being involved is surprising.
Milone will end up getting traded.
Milone was traded to the Twins. Woohoo
Yup, he wanted out of Oakland, should have never been sent down.
I was hoping he would end up in DC or Baltimore (Baltimore could use him).
What does this mean for the future of Mookie Betts?
If he hits, he’ll play. He’ll force himself into the lineup. Cespedes is only currently under contract through 2015 anyway.
Head a’splodes.
Boston won this deal! Lester is probably going back to Boston during the winter
Yea because there’s a ton of precedent for that happening…
I wonder if the A’s will turn around and trade for a bat to replace Cespedes. Albeit a lesser bat
I actually hate this deal for Boston… unless they really think they can turn it around next year and get back to the playoffs Cespedes means nothing to them. Unless they are going to flip Cespedes for something else.
Cespedes is under control for 3 years…
Should be just 1 more year. Signed a 4 year deal with Oakland.
this guy gets it.
I’d expect Millone to come over too. Probably nothing else though.
This is why the Red Sox are smarter than the Yankees. And I’m a Yankees fan since the mid-1960s. The Yankees could’ve traded Cano last year and since they don’t have what it takes this season, they should be dealing Robertson.
no, you’re not.
I’m not what? A Yankees fan? Since 1965, bucko.
Bold move Billy. Bold move.
That is why I like Billy. You know he will do SOMETHING. Being a Twins fan, I appreciate that.
FA after 2015…
Can he opt out of arbitration? I don’t know the details of his contract but I think he can.
wait arb eligible after 2015
He’s a free agent after 2018 lol
Cots has him listed as a free agent after 2015. I think his contract stipulates he can bypass arbitration after the four year deal
Jim Bowden says Sox have 3 1/2 years of Cespedes… this is confusing..
No, he’s not. Do a little research. He is signed for $10.5MM in 2015 and eligible for FA after that season. Don’t quote Baseball Reference my friend.
Free agent after 2015. They can’t offer arb. That’s why he signed with the A’s.
He signed a major league deal, he can opt into FA in 2015.
Yeah, didn’t know that. Oh well. They can either resign him or deal him later.
baseball-reference.com says he is not a free agent until 2018 at the earliest.
Earliest Arb Eligible: 2016, Earliest Free Agent: 2018
Yeah, sorry. BR let me down :(
Baseball is the best.
Good pitching beats good hitting every time. The A’s made the right move if they intend to contend for a World Series.
Yeah but you have to have some good hitting to back up that good pitching…trust me I’m a Reds fan, we know this all too well.
Most runs in the league, 18.2 combined oWAR from their position players (excluding Cespedes)…is that not enough to back up the best rotation (maybe 2nd) AND bullpen in the league?
Oh I agree that this was the right move but disagreed with the general statement.
True, that’s why I think the main premise of all of the pro-Boston arguments is wrong. Oakland can replace Cespedes’ offensive production. You can’t really replace Lester’s top-of-the-rotation ability and his post-season experience. Especially considering Oakland’s 2014 goal.
And also, I think this move gives the A’s more free agency flexibility. $10.5M (plus JJ’s $10M) are off the books…and only a couple guys are UFA….will allow the A’s to certainly replace Cespedes if they wish.
What? The A’s have been going wild with trades this year. Next thing you know cats and dogs will start being friends.
My jack Russell says no.
My shih tzu says yes.
Pretty much.
So this year when the Oakland bats go cold in the playoffs they can lose to the Tigers 2-1, 2-1, 3-2
Cespedes will hit HRs by the bucketfull in Fenway.
Agreed Cespedes will be a force at Fenway. Red Sox win the trade BIG
Not if A’s win world series.
man Cespedes carried this team last 2 years in offense and now when they have a shot for WS they trade him. Baseball is unfair sometimes.
how exactly did he “carry” them this year or last? I would have to say Donaldson and Moss are doing most of the carrying.
I guess this means we’ll be competing in 2015? Or Cherington didn’t do his homework on Cespedes? Why couldn’t we get Milone too?
Are you really complaining about this deal? You hosed the A’s.
How? We only get Cespedes through 2015. He’s a good player, but what are we going to do with him?
Just wow.
Try to lock him up? He is young and will rake in Fenway. Getting a guy like that and sending a pitcher who will be a rental for the A’s is a pretty good deal IMO. The real question is what it will take to lock up Cespedes. He could demand quite a bit of money signing a contract before he hits FA.
rev, i think you are perhaps the best red sox commenter. tell me why you don’t like the deal. i’m interested
Why only 2015? Isn’t that when he become arb eligible, but still under control?
EDIT: Never mind. I misses that last paragraph about the unusual clause in his contract.
A hidden benefit might be that it gives them a leg up in signing fellow Cuban, Rusney Castillo. Which, in turn, might make it easier to extend Cespedes. Just a thought.
That’s a good point.
Lester will be a Yankee next year. Oakland’s just renting him for a few months but they gave up a promising young ball player in Cespedes to get him.
As a Phillies fan I wish we had a real gm like Boston’s. He won’t move Hamels.
No one wants to pay the price!
Amaro asked for 3x what Hamels is worth – it’s not surprising the Dodgers weren’t willing to play.
How can Gomes go to Boston? Wasn’t he already there? Wouldn’t he be going to A’s instead?
Gomes worth less than a batting glove, do basically the trade was Lester per Cedpedes. Good deal for Boston, now we gonna see a Cespedes hitting over 40 HR easily
I like A’s in this trade better. Cespedes is pretty overrated and a free agent after next year. Lester and Gomes will help them a ton down the stretch and make the easy WS favorites. I think the Red Sox got the bad end of the deal if they don’t resign Lester.
He’s a free agent after 2018.
Cespedes? No, next year.
Weird. Is he not subject to arbitration like everyone else?
No foreign players get it written into their contracts because they are rookies to MLB but not rookies to professional baseball
Ahh, gotcha. Guess I never realized that.
Same contract as Japanese players, he is ” DFA” (or something like that) after his contract 2015 to be come a free agent.
How is is the bad end of the deal. Losing 2 players who’s contracts are up on a last place team for atleast a full season of Cespedes?
In other words, both teams can win a trade.
I think they would have been better off with prospects…but we will never know what they were offered, and prospects are a gamble. Still one year of Cespedes is risky on a team that may have no chance…though they can trade him at next year’s deadline.
If anything it is a fair trade. No way the A’s got hosed.
Because Cespedes only really helps them if they plan on contending next year. He’s contract isn’t cheap and will hinder the Sox on the free agent market. Other teams were most likely offering top 100 prospect or multiple players with lots of upside that would come at cheap control for 6 years.
Not gonna lie but I never saw this coming…..ever.
Not gonna lie but I never saw this coming…..ever.
Gotta love the gambler’s instinct in Beane … going ALL out this year. But man, if they run into a little hitting slump in the playoffs, they could be shutout four straight by someone like the Tigers.
I don’t understand why team wanted to get Lester when he said he would sign with the Red Sox in FA.
He said he would be open to signing with them. If they red sox had any interest in offering him fair market value they would have done so already. Count on Lester being in another city next year.
Red Sox won’t sign him. He’ll be a FA with no QO attached now, which means 5-6 years, $22-23m per. Red Sox don’t sign contracts like that anymore, especially for pitchers. He’ll be a Dodger or Cub or some such.
He said he’d consider signing with the Red Sox, but by the red sox offers they probably won’t be considering signing him.
Oakland is sending down guys who are no. 2-3 starters on most teams. Lester rental is for one year. Teams with Oakland’s payroll need to go all in to win when they have the chance. Great trade.
Which guys are those? Oakland has one of the worst farm systems in baseball. I hardly think they’re sending down 2-3 starters!
Probably referring to Milone. Straily ain’t on the team anymore. Not sure if Milone is a 2 or 3 though. Actually, he’s definitely not.
Milone was the one. OK, maybe a 4-5. But if they lose Lester in the offseason they can plug in Millone or Pomeranz and still be fine for next season.
Pomeranz is good and I thought they had another guy who was tearing it up but can’t get in the rotation.
Oakland A’s Acquire Jon Lester, All Headlines.
What what what? Seriously Cespedes for a two month rental, the A’s pitching was already good enough. They should not have sacrificed a middle of the order hitter. Great move for boston, Lester is a rental while Cespedes will impact the lineup every day for several more years.
for next year. he’s a free agent after next year.
Baseball reference suggests he is still controlled after his contract expires because of service time. Could be wrong.
He’s not, I think that’s a mistake on BR, or maybe their system just doesn’t compute the 4 year contract thing.
You can sign a contract and still run into service time issues. Not sure how it affects international players though. For instance Schierholtz signed a free agent contract with the Cubs last year after being non-tendered by SF. After the one year contract, Cubs maintained service time rights on him and he had to go through arbitration.
Yes, normally players are under control for 6 years. However, when Cespedes signed he signed for 4 years, which normally would mean arbitration the two years after, but it states in his contract that if he does not have a contract 5 days after the 2015 season ends, then he becomes a free agent. So, Cespedes is only under contract through the 2015 season, and will have to be given a new contract by the Red Sox or will be a free agent after 2015. Most teams were not willing to include that in the contract but the A’s did which was one of the reason he signed there because he wanted a short term deal of four years.
He’s not, I think that’s a mistake on BR, or maybe their system just doesn’t compute the 4 year contract thing.
I don’t know if the A’s pitching was “already good enough”
Chavez is about to reach his innings peak and could unravel any minute. Gray will likely tire, and who knows about Kazmir tiring as well.
“Oakland is also sending a competitive balance draft pick to the A’s in the trade,”
Is that supposed to say Boston is sending it to the A’s or Oakland is sending it to the Red Sox?
Well Oakland is the only one that has such a pick out of the two.
As I said to Cubstein, sometimes these picks and trades and new CBA rules can be quite confusing.
Well Oakland is the only one that has such a pick out of the two.
Not sure if this is sarcasm but Boston does not get a competitive balance pick to trade away.
EDIT: I see the typo now. A’s sending a pick to themselves. I assume since Boston doesn’t get a pick it’s supposed to be A’s traded away to Boston.
Well I didn’t know that. All of these balance picks and new CBA rules can get quite confusing some time.
Not sure if this is sarcasm but Boston does not get a competitive balance pick to trade away.
EDIT: I see the typo now. A’s sending a pick to themselves. I assume since Boston doesn’t get a pick it’s supposed to be A’s traded away to Boston.
Did somebody promise the A’s a new stadium if they won the series this year??
Cespedes will be 29 years old next year, and is a 2-3 win player. He’s not the young stud you guys are making him out to be…
Agreed, but at the same time, he’s still the best OF option the team has right now for 2015.
Cespedes will be 29 years old next year, and is a 2-3 win player. He’s not the young stud you guys are making him out to be…
What an overspend ty Billie for pricing all the other small market teams out for the rest of the trade season
“Oakland is also sending a competitive balance draft pick to the A’s in the trade”
“Jonny Gomes and Yoenis Cespedes will head to Boston”
You need some coffee Steve.
Holy wow. Did not see this. Wonder if the a’s will try to re-sign Lester. Damn. I like this for Boston
why Cespedes?
Oakland is sending a competitive draft pick to itself?
I know you’re trying to get this stuff up quickly, but you’ve got to be better than that…
Oakland is sending a competitive draft pick to itself?
I know you’re trying to get this stuff up quickly, but you’ve got to be better than that…
So can we expect the dominoes to start falling on pitchers afters this trade? I am glad it happened early in the day so there is plenty of time for more trades :)
I’m not sure what other dominoes there are to fall? Price and Hamels seem unlikely to be moved.
I have a lot of feelings right now. Guess I’ll be rooting hard for the A’s this October
M’s all the way!!!
not sure Boston won a lot on that one. Especially because Cespedes will eat some kind of money that could have been proposed to Lester this offseason. Yanks will jump in on Lester for sure!
Edit: sounds different wit the draft pick…
I kind of hope Oakland makes a trade for David Price now, just to see that rotation together.
using what pieces? Lester?
What for? Their rotation is now Shark, Lester, Gray, Kazmir, Hammel.. That’s insane.
Let’s be clear. Beane was going to trade Cespedes this winter anyways. He’s really not that amazing
Cespedes is one of most overrated players in the league. But if thats the best deal you can get you have to do it.
Gomes will go to Oakland right? it says Boston
You guys need to slow down and proof-read your post. The A’s can’t send a CB draft pick to themselves. They also can’t trade Gomes to Boston, since he’s being traded the other way.
Steve get some coffee quick before your next post.
Billy Beane aint playing around this year.
It’s worth thinking about… If the ownership doesn’t want to pay large contracts, does having a very good OF at good value help ease their worries about offering Lester a larger contract? Especially if this fills a big hole in the organization (LF/RF).
So Lester really had practically no trade value then?
Steve, you may want to change the post read that Oakland is sending the pick to the RED SOX and that Jonny Gomes is going to the A’s, not the Red Sox.
Cespedes and a competitive balance pick? shocking. What is going on in Oakland? Something in the water?
Yes, folks, we get it, there’s a typo.
Gomes going to Boston? Oakland is sending a competitive balance pick to the A’s? Get your stuff together MLBTradeRumors.
Beane has a great legacy of keeping Oakland competitive for a long time, but at some point, some time, you have to go for it. All those years in Oakland now and zero World Series titles. He’s giving them a great chance this year.
This day and age is horrible. Don’t try to break a story unless you proof read and get it right. So much is wrong with how this is written. Oakland is sending their own pick to themselves as well as dealing a player they do not even have …
Wait for tomorrow’s paper if you don’t want a breaking story right when it happens.
Horrible for Cespedes. Came into the league with the A’s and was thriving, contributing to the best record in baseball night in and night out. Then he wakes up and is in last place in the AL East.
Sad.
True. Player feelings are never considered when this time of year comes though. Part of the business.
I know, but it’s still rough to see that happen to a big name player. It will be especially hard for him if the A’s win it all.
But I guess i shouldn’t feel too bad for him after all that. He’s making 10 million a year, so I’m sure he’ll be just fine.
As a Sox fan I love this move way more than a deal that would have landed prospects. I’m going to miss Lester, but adding this bat for a player you were most likely going to lose is a great move.
You’d rather have a year and a half of a .767 OPS player?
With the talent to be a superstar over middle of the pack prospects? Absolutely
Not a superstar, slightly above average outfielder. Don’t forget he is 28 in Cuban years.
But middle of the pack prospects aren’t what Boston was asking for, and sure isnt what their fans thought they were going to get. They thought they were getting 2 elite prospects. Elite prospects are usually guys with the talent to be a superstar.
Instead what you got was a year and two months of a guy who, whatever talent he might have, since his rookie year, has basically been average.
But middle of the pack prospects aren’t what Boston was asking for, and sure isnt what their fans thought they were going to get. They thought they were getting 2 elite prospects. Elite prospects are usually guys with the talent to be a superstar.
Instead what you got was a year and two months of a guy who, whatever talent he might have, since his rookie year, has basically been average.
Cespedes is on suicide watch………first to last.
Can people actually talk about the trade itself rather then the “typo”. Getting old.
You’re talking about it.
great trade for both teams. Boston gets an outfielder they desperately needed, that should excel in Fenway. The As get a front line starter they desperately needed to make some noise in the playoffs. Guys like Colon (from last year) and Kazmir, who pitch like aces, but really aren’t aces, can only take you so far. There is no dominant team this year, the As are pouncing on that opportunity to win it all, its admirable.
Lester isn’t an ace either.
I beg to differ. Who exactly is a number one starter then?
Yes he is, he’s now Oakland’s best SP.
yes he is. Is he Kershaw? no. But make no mistake about it he’s an ace for some time now. And lets not sneeze at his postseason record 6-4 2.11 ERA 1.04 WHIP (3-0 with a sub .5 ERA in the world series)
Did I read that right? Cespedes and Gomes headed to Boston? Really?
You read it wrong.
Nope, I didn’t.
“In what will be a blockbuster deal, Jonny Gomes and Yoenis Cespedes will head to Boston. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports…”
Hammel or milone have to be gone soon.
I thought for sure Milone would be in this deal.
Bucs could use Milone. Hammell could be valuable to the Cards or Braves
We’ll take Hammel back in Colorado. Loved him here. Have some nice hitters to choose from.
Cardinals trade for Cespy?
Allen Craig, Stephen Piscotty, Marco Gonzales for Cespedes?
A’s got robbed in this deal. They are going for broke this year. There’s no doubt that Lester, Gray and Szymajida (sp?) will be an amazingly tough three headed monster to beat in a 5 or 7 game series. The only question is, will they be able to score enough runs?
Robbed is too strong. Cespedes actually isn’t that great, home run titles notwithstanding.
I think the Sox got robbed
Marlin Byrd’s there for the taking…
This is a very odd trade for the Red Sox. I’m not entirely sure I agree with the posters on here that the “Red Sox clearly won this trade.” In fact, I’d argue, that the A’s really did well here. Yoenis, is only signed through next season, which accomplishes absolutely nothing for the Red Sox since their team next year is prospect based. You mean to tell me, their best trade chip, and this is what they produce. Very strange and I have to wonder if they turn around and flip Cespedes and keep the competitive draft pick. I would have rather taken a single high end prospect.
And for those asking:
“Yoenis Cespedes Signing Reactions
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [February 13, 2012 at 4:45pm CDT]
The Athletics made an unexpected move today, agreeing to terms with Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes on a four-year, $36MM contract. The agreement allows him to hit free agency after the 2015 season.”
Flip Cespedes?
Yep. Look for it at next year’s trade deadline unless the Sox are good next year, unexpectedly.
Def. a win for Oakland. The Red Sox and their fans thought they were getting at least two elite prospects for Lester. Instead they got a year and a half of an average outfielder.
My thoughts as well. I am not sure what Cespedes adds to a mediocre team other than another win or two.
They probably lose 3 wins easily by trading Lester, so it’s a net loss for this season. Plus they are sending “cash”?
Yeah, I just do not get it. If he was under contract for the next 6 years maybe it is a good deal.
They probably lose 3 wins easily by trading Lester, so it’s a net loss for this season. Plus they are sending “cash”?
It makes no sense whatsoever. Now that I had a few minutes to digest this, I have absolutely no idea what the Red Sox are doing. They are A++ in drafting. They are D- in trades. This has been their issue for years.
That trade with the Dodgers worked out pretty good.
That was more Dodgers than Red Sox brilliance. It was a team that just exited a horrible period and needed a bold move.
That trade with the Dodgers worked out pretty good.
I think this shows loud and clear that the Dodgers, Pirates, Cardinals, or whomever just didn’t want to give up one or two A+ propsects for a rental. They can flip him next year or offer him a QO and get an additional comp pick along with the competetive balance pick they just received. So that’s two picks in the top 40 the next two years to try to hit pay dirt from their scouts.
Hmmm. Seems like a somewhat backwards way of doing it. I agree, that’s the likely result, it’s just taking the long way around.
Hmmm. Seems like a somewhat backwards way of doing it. I agree, that’s the likely result, it’s just taking the long way around.
I said yesterday it would have taken a blockbuster for me to be happy the Pirates didn’t trade for Lester. I’m pretty happy right now.
Agreed. If they got Cespedes from Oakland, it probably would’ve taken Marte and Pedro + just to begin the discussion with us.
Way overrating Cespedes…. Who is a FA next year.
Wow. That’s seriously overvaluing Cespedes.
Can’t see why the A’s would do this, unless Lester re-signs. Which is pretty much impossible.
Trying to win this year. Putting everything on their number and praying everyone stays healthy for 2 more months (and they can score enough runs to win three series).
Beane doesn’t care, he smells championship!
Plus, he might sign that guy Castillo to replace the loss of Cespedes.
Darn, that Beane!
Oakland needs to make a run at Utley now.
Alright, all the internet editors are having a field day. We all know what the deal actually is. Give MLBTR a break, they’re probably working pretty hard today.
Actually we didn’t know what the deal was. The Gomes error wasn’t confusing. But the competitive balance one made the while thing unclear.
I can definitely say that maybe they are, too.
“Banners fly forever” but this is a clear win for the Red Sox. They turn a question mark in the off-season into a productive bat under team control.
Under team control for one season.
Under team control for one season.
Wow definitely didn’t see this coming!
With Lester now in Oakland, hopefully the Marlins can pull off a trade for Tommy Milone
Milone for Marlon Byrd or one of the other right-handed hitters currently available on the trade market to replace Cespedes’ bat? How about Carlos Beltran (switch-hitter) and a lot of cash (all of the money that he is due this season, plus another $20MM to cover 2/3 of the $30MM that is due him in 2015 and 2016) for Milone?
I forgot that the As got Gomes in that deal. How about Milone and Gomes, who could platoon with Ichiro in RF, for Beltran and the aforementioned cash? Beltran is a huge postseason performer.
I’d do that, provided enough cash comes through. Mostly because of Beltran’s playoff bat.
I will pay Beltran’s contract for the remainder of this season and pay $20MM of the $30MM that he is due in 2015 and 2016. Is that enough cash?
I saw that part. My “provided enough cash comes through” part was mostly because the A’s don’t like to spend much, so who knows how much they have to spend moving forward.
Although, the $10mil left on Beltrans after that deal would offset the $10.5mil that is freed up moving Cespedes.
So do we have a deal?
WIth Cespedes being a free agent after next year. Do the Sox try to extend him or flip him next summer? Interesting
He is under contractual control through 2017.
He has an out in his contract since he played in Cuba. He is a free agent after 2015 per the obscure rule of playing in Cuba or Japan previously.
Yep — Just read that right after I typed that. Read somewhere that he had 2017 control but I guess they left out that important out clause nugget.
Will depend how their young guys (Bogaerts, Betts, Bradley, Cecchini, Vasquez, Ranaudo, Webster, RDLR, Matt Barnes, Henry Owens etc) are going, and whether they’re in contention
Only time will tell if it’s good for the a’s. My gut reaction however is that its a horrible trade for then. Rent a pitcher for not even half a season in exchange for a young player you can have as a cornerstone for years to come
cornerstone for *year* to come. He’s a FA after 2015 season.
Year, assuming they wont resign him. At least it’s a year longer than lester will be there
I’d rather have a better shot at winning the World Series this year than just have Cespedes around for 2015.
I keep thinking the Os should trade Cruz. he has fizzled and could net a decent SP.. On the other hand, I also worry about their offense.
I think the Sox did good on this deal. They needed both an OF and a player with power and Cespedes fits both needs. The Monster should also fit perfectly with this swing. For the A’s, they’re going for it now and why not bring in one of the best playoff performers.
So much for the Red Sox not getting anything for a rental
They got another rental. Which buys them a year to do the same thing. Nice trade but not sure it’s better than getting top prospects. Unless they resign Cespedes.
or they package him with some other pieces. Who know where they’ll be in a year.
or they package him with some other pieces. Who know where they’ll be in a year.
that’s what i thought. If they don’t resign Cespedes or Lester
they basically traded Lester and Gomes for 2 draft picks.
If Cespedes is as good as I think that he will be in Fenway over the next two months, possibly getting the Red Sox back into playoff contention, there is no doubt in my mind that they sign him to a very long-term extension this offseason. This is an OK deal for Oakland, a phenomenal deal for Boston, and a terrible deal for the rest of the AL East.
How is it that RAJ couldn’t figure out a way to send Byrd and Lee or Byrd & Hamels for Cespedes?
RAJ would have had to eat 80% of Hamels or Lee’s salary for a player only signed through 2015 in Cespedes. That would have been an awful deal for the Phils.
The A’s wouldn’t want Hamels contract. Why the would the Philies want a rental like Cespendes?
Look at the Phils prospects… not an OF in sight, especially a power bat from the right side. They’d lock Cespedes up. If RAJ had been trying almost anything to get Stanton for the past few years, why would he not want Cespedes?
I like Cespedes. But the Sox gave up two 2 month rentals for him (and Cespedes is only under contract for 1.33 season). You’re talking about Phillies giving up 3-7 years of control for 1.33 seasons of Cespedes. How does that make them any better 2-3 years down the road?
They’d obviously attempt to extend him.
Ok, so attempt to sign him when he hits FA next offseason. He does no good to you before 2016, so why bother trading pieces who can bring you future value for a guy who you can sign in 1.5 years?