The Baltimore Orioles are reportedly close to a deal for Jon Lester, according to Pete Abraham in Boston and Brittany Ghiroli in Baltimore.
#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
#RedSox deal with Orioles is not finished but told that it is close.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) July 30, 2014
Lester deal not done yet
— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) July 30, 2014
The Orioles were mentioned yesterday as a team that was interested in Lester, but we haven’t heard much about them today until now. As both Abraham and Ghiroli mentioned, the deal isn’t done yet. It does look like we’re close to a Lester deal.
UPDATE 3:20 PM: Meanwhile, Joel Sherman says that he’s hearing nothing is close.
I am told #Orioles do not have deal for Lester or anything close. Still working mainly on small things
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 30, 2014
So now the fun starts.
UPDATE 3:22 PM: Jim Bowden also says that the Red Sox are still talking to several teams.
Source: Red Sox still talking to several teams on Lester…not close to deal
— Jim Bowden⚾️
UPDATE 3:24 PM: Add Ken Rosenthal to the list who says it isn’t close.
Hearing from multiple sources that Lester to #Orioles is not close. Doesn’t mean it won’t happen. But not happening yet.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2014
UPDATE 3:28 PM: Jon Heyman also says they’re not close, and adds something that has been a common theme today.
lester to orioles isnt close. o's are thought reluctant to give up top prospects.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 30, 2014
UPDATE 4:28 PM: Nick Cafardo from The Boston Globe says the Red Sox have an asking price for Lester, one Major League player and prospects
Source : Red Sox are asking for one major leaguer and prospects for Lester
— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) July 30, 2014
UPDATE 4:47 PM: Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun says that he’s hearing from some that the deal won’t happen at all.
Still hearing there's nothing hot on Lester and Orioles at all. Told by some it absolutely won't happen. Guess we'll know for sure in a day
— Dan Connolly (@danconnolly2016) July 30, 2014
So to recap, we went from the deal being close, to an immediate onslaught of reports that the Orioles are talking with the Red Sox, but nothing is close, then to the Orioles possibly being out.
