I wouldn't read anything into it. Sounds like he came on the show as a general appearance (probably related to last night's events), was asked a specific question, and gave a rather nondescript answer.bosockboy said:Interesting timing of Lucky admitting talks will resume when they realize Clay may be done.
glennhoffmania said:
Also because they'd be taking on the risk of injury this season. If they sign him to a 5 year extension they really need him to be healthy for 6 more years. Anyone signing an extension before hitting FA should expect to take a discount. Whether 4/70 is a reasonable discount is another issue.
Lackey's performance this season has not been below expectations, unless your expectations were ridiculous.Sampo Gida said:
How much of a discount depends on how far away a player is from free agency. 1 year away, not as much as 2-3 years away for example, but perhaps more than 3 months away. 4/70 is a discount in both years and AAV. Does not seem reasonable to me, or Lester obviously, but as LL said, it was only an opening offer.
I think the Red Sox wanted to see which Lester came to pitch in 2014. He has pitched very well, meanwhile guys who will be with the team next year (Doubront, Buchholz and Lackey) have had performances which have been below expectations. Lester leverage has increased significantly as a result. I said during ST that 5/100 seemed a reasonable discounted deal, but that assumed a deal before opening day. Now I think Lester tacks on a year and makes it 6/115.
Sampo Gida said:
How much of a discount depends on how far away a player is from free agency. 1 year away, not as much as 2-3 years away for example, but perhaps more than 3 months away. 4/70 is a discount in both years and AAV. Does not seem reasonable to me, or Lester obviously, but as LL said, it was only an opening offer.
I think the Red Sox wanted to see which Lester came to pitch in 2014. He has pitched very well, meanwhile guys who will be with the team next year (Doubront, Buchholz and Lackey) have had performances which have been below expectations. Lester leverage has increased significantly as a result. I said during ST that 5/100 seemed a reasonable discounted deal, but that assumed a deal before opening day. Now I think Lester tacks on a year and makes it 6/115.
soxhop411 said:
(MLBTR)
- Red Sox starter Jon Lester tells WEEI’s Rob Bradford that he still wants to stay in Boston. “It’s all I’ve really known,” Lester says. “You don’t see many guys that get drafted by a team and end up staying there their whole career. It’s just something that I’ve always … wanted to do.” Lester cites his relationships with members of the Red Sox’s front office, and points out that his wife and kids would have to start their social lives anew if they were to move to a new city. Basic considerations like these rarely enter conversations about why a player might choose to sign with, or stay with, a team, but they’re clearly important. Lester, who is eligible for free agency after the season, says negotiations with the Red Sox will hinge on “what we think is a discount and still fair.”
BosRedSox5 said:
Then again, if Lester is being genuine then why isn't he signed yet?
same... I never really believed that offer...JimD said:I'm taking Jon's comments as a good sign that there is more to the story than just the $70 million lowball offer narrative that came out.
RedOctober3829 said:If they eventually become sellers I'd entertain the thought of trading Lester, getting assets for him, then trying to sign him in the offseason.
NEW YORK -- Red Sox pitcher Jake Peavy was grinning as he watched teammate Jon Lester slide in front of the TV cameras after outdueling Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka in Boston's 2-1 win over the Bombers on Saturday night.
"Maybe they'll give him $85 million now," Peavy cracked mischievously, loud enough for a small smile to sneak across Lester's face.
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/38304/lester-stifles-yanks-deflects-contract-talk
mattymatty said:I was happy to hear they've re-engaged in contract discussions, but the more I think about it, the more I think, duh. Of course they've re-engaged. The trade deadline is a month away and the team, despite a good series win in New York (though the series opening loss to Vidal Sassoon sticks in my craw), is still unlikely to make the playoffs. That means the best thing the Red Sox can do is trade Lester for value now before they're left holding the bag next off-season. That is, unless he's part of the team's long term future, i.e. unless they can sign him to an extension. So this is likely the last gasp attempt to keep him and if no deal is to be had then I'm guessing they start talking to other teams and begin gauging his market.
MyDaughterLovesTomGordon said:As a fan, yes, I see that winning is highly important, and the long-term health of the team is vital for sustained winning. No problem.
But I also want to see the best players play. You look around the league, and Kershaw is throwing 28 straight scoreless and Cueto gives up a run every other start and King Felix is putting up double-digit strikeouts on the regular. I want one of those guys. Lester is one of those guys.
The Dodgers backed up the truck for Kershaw, and while Lester is not at the same career point, I want the Sox to do the same. Give him all the money. He's a big strong lefty with a love of the big stage and low injury risk. I don't care if the last couple years of the deal are an overpay. The Sox need him as an anchor, and, as a fan, I need to see some kind of commitment to putting elite talent on the field.
Ok, Ellsbury isn't going to be elite talent going forward. I can get that argument. But it doesn't fly with Lester. Give him the money.
Bone Chips said:There's been some speculation in here that the 4/70 offer in the Spring was bogus or misreported. I think it's safe to say we can lay that to rest:
+1.BosRedSox5 said:
I agree. As a Red Sox fan I'm glad that the Sox wouldn't engage in this foolishness that the Yankees do with Jeter and keep around an aging, underperforming former star for the sake of nostalgia. Lester isn't a mega star type pitcher who's going to put up eye popping numbers but he's dependable, consistent and reliable. He's the type of guy who at this point in his career seems capable of maintaining his pitching ability to his mid to late 30's. He doesn't throw especially hard and he's got a repeatable arm motion and release point where he can help avoid injury. I say keep him, and give all these young prospects coming up someone to look up to and learn from.
bankshot1 said:Given the nature of the FA market, (Ellsbury, Cano getting way more than pundits figured), the additional TV money teams have to spend, and the never ending demand for good LH starting pitching, IMO it is unrealistic to assume that Lester, who is a 1 1/2-2, will sign anything significantly under market. IMO, a 1 1/2LH, with a nice resume, pitching in the best division in baseball, and having post-season success, against 1s, has all the leverage. IMO his market starts at 6/120-130.
twibnotes said:I also don't think it's appropriate to compare Lester to Kershaw or King Felix. I love Lester and hope they retain him, but he's not on the Kershaw level.
No it wouldn't. the 4/70 (17.5 AAV) offer was widely viewed as a low-ball ill-considered initial bid. Imo tossing him another $1m in AAV would just reinforce the low-ball offer, and lead to Lester's exit.Wouldn't 17.5 or 18.5 be a good AAV? Wouldn't that prove that Lester is respected by the team but also that he is willing to take a discount if it means winning?
smastroyin said:Look at the rest of the guys I listed. Wainright's contract breaks the curve. It's nice for the Cardinals that he was so willing to sign it and that he has so far pitched to his upside instead of the priced in risk of having missed all of 2011 and being terrible in 2012 after coming back from Tommy John. (he signed the contract before throwing a pitch in 2013)
I think it's pretty unrealistic to look at his contract as a single data point of comparison. Someone else could counter "CC Sabathia is making $24.4 million per year and hasn't been nearly as good as Lester for two years so $27 is probably a fair number."
Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN 23s
IMO: Unless BOS offers Hamels-type deal, Lester talks are over. BOS wants to make an intermediate offer;his side wants to table discussions.
I agree with Buster on the bottom tweet. The time to get a big discount was before the season started. Now, they are going to have to pay at or above market value to keep him.Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN 5s
Handling of Lester talks by top of BOS leadership is baffling. Lester may well have taken 5/100 in Feb., but not this close to free agency.
Rudy Pemberton said:How is it baffling? The team is having a terrible season. They want to know what it takes to sign him by making a better offer (guess John Henry no longer leads with his best offer), and if he declines, they'll more seriously gauge the trade market to see what he can brings back (while leaking that he declined a big offer).
This is where I'm soon approaching.TomRicardo said:
It is baffling that they have been goofing this up so much. fWAR has Lester as the second best pitched in the MLB this year. The Red Sox have money and motivation but somehow are determined not to get this done.
TomRicardo said:
It is baffling that they have been goofing this up so much.
He's not signed when he keeps saying he would've taken less money to sign. This would be a sign that the FO blew their chance at a "hometown discount". How is this not a mistake?foulkehampshire said:
We literally know nothing about whats really going on behind closed doors. I'd wait and see until some factual information comes out before we declare this as a gaffe.
We do not even know what "less" (hometown discount) money is to him.RedOctober3829 said:He's not signed when he keeps saying he would've taken less money to sign. This would be a sign that the FO blew their chance at a "hometown discount". How is this not a mistake?
RedOctober3829 said:He's not signed when he keeps saying he would've taken less money to sign. This would be a sign that the FO blew their chance at a "hometown discount". How is this not a mistake?