Earlier today the big news was that the Pittsburgh Pirates were considered a dark-horse candidate to land Jon Lester. The lefty was scheduled to start tomorrow for the Boston Red Sox. Now, Ken Rosenthal reports that Lester has been scratched from his start tomorrow.
#RedSox announce that they have scratched Lester from his start tomorrow. Workman taking his turn.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2014
A guy getting scratched from a start a day before that start takes place? One day before the trade deadline, with time to move him after the start? I don’t see any way where this ends up with Lester staying in Boston. It looks like he will be traded. The only question is where?
Rosenthal says it’s not the Brewers.
Source: #Brewers not on Lester.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2014
I’ll keep this updated with more news on this subject.
UPDATE 10:43 PM: Joel Sherman reports that Lester hasn’t been traded yet, but that this scratch could be to avoid an injury tomorrow.
Been told that Lester has NOT yet been traded. This feels proactive to avoid an injury/bizarre situation if he did start #Redsox
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 30, 2014
UPDATE 11:29 PM: Pete Abraham says that no deal is in place for Lester, and that a number of teams are still involved.
#RedSox have no deal in place with Lester. Told a number of teams are still involved.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) July 30, 2014
UPDATE 11:49 PM: Pete Abraham says that the Red Sox don’t have a trade proposal they like right now.
Told that the #RedSox, at the moment, do not have a trade proposal they deem satisfactory.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) July 30, 2014
Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal names the Pirates as one of three teams who are in the mix.
Sources: #STLCards, #Dodgers, #Pirates all in mix for #RedSox’s Lester.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2014
UPDATE 12:14 AM: Gordon Edes says there are six teams on Lester, adding Toronto, Baltimore, and Oakland.
Six teams still in on Lester, according to source with direct knowledge: Dodgers, Cardinals, Pirates, Blue Jays, Orioles, Athletics
— Gordon Edes (@GordonEdes) July 30, 2014
UPDATE 12:30 AM: Rosenthal also says the A’s are in.
Source: #Athletics also in the mix for Lester, as first reported by @GordonEdes.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2014
So it looks like the goal for the A’s is to get every good pitcher on the market.
