MLB Trade Rumors: Jon Lester Traded to Oakland for Yoenis Cespdes

The rumors are no more. On Thursday morning ESPN's Gordon Edes reported that the Boston Red Sox have finally traded Jon Lester. The left-hander will join one of the league's best pitching staffs in Oakland while A's power-hitting outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will go to Boston.

The Athletics will likely move starter Jesse Chavez out of the rotation to make room for Lester, who will be an excellent addition to an already dominant staff that consists of Jeff Samardzija (2.92 ERA), Jason Hammel (3.87 ERA), Sonny Gray (2.65 ERA), and Scott Kazmir (2.37 ERA). Oakland holds baseball's best record, leading the AL West division at 66-41.

On the other hand, Boston will receive the much needed outfield help they were seeking in Yoenis Cespdes. The back-to-back Home Run Derby champion is batting .256 with 17 home runs and 67 RBIs in 101 games this season. The Red Sox entertained the thought of trading Lester to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Matt Kemp, but this is likely a better decision because Cespedes is a year younger than Kemp and is also much healthier. The former A's outfielder is also under a four-year $36 million contract compared to Kemps excessive eight-year $160 million (he's still owed $118 million). Boston also sent outfielder Jonny Gomes to Oakland.

This will now center the trade talks around the Tampa Bay Rays, who may or may not trade ace David Price before today's deadline. With a number of teams interested in Price, the Rays are unsure of whether to take a gamble and keep him for the remainder of this year to bolster their revived playoff hopes, or trade him and get value because they're going to lose him via free agency after this season. For now, the A's have the spotlight as they've considerably increased their chances of winning a World Series title with the addition of Lester.