It's no secret the Red Sox are in need of starting pitching for the 2015 season. Jon Lester seems to be their number one target since that's where he's spent 8 ½ seasons of his nine year career, but if they can't land him it's a possibility they can try to acquire Cole Hamels from the Phillies.
Boston is expected to face competition from at least five other teams who are looking to sign Lester this offseason and the fact that the Red Sox traded him to the Oakland Athletics in July isn't going to help their case. Although a reunion is very well possible since Boston met with Lester's representatives this week at the general managers meetings and have already planned to meet again (as early as the end of this week), it's no guarantee. With the Theo Epstein and the Chicago Cubs lurking in the shadows, anything can happen.
The last offer Boston presented Lester with was a four-year, $70 million extension in April, which the left-hander immediately rejected. This time around, sources believe the Red Sox are prepared to offer Lester a six-figure deal, with the bidding possibly reaching $132 million, according to Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston. With the Cubs' financial flexibility coupled with the interest of four other teams that are clearly willing to spend for his services, it makes sense the bidding can reach that number. Additionally, Max Scherzer is expected to land a hefty payday after he rejected a six-year, $144 million extension from the Tigers in March and then posted an 18-5 record with a 3.15 ERA and 252 strikeouts in 33 starts in 2014.
So if the Red Sox lose the bidding war or if Lester simply decides to choose another team, what are they going to do? Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer believes Boston could make a run at Phillies' left-hander Cole Hamels. The Cubs have been trying to trade for Hamels since July but Phillies' general manager Ruben Amaro has stood his ground and wants three top prospects in exchange for the ace. Do the Red Sox have enough young talent to pull that off if they wanted to?
"The Red Sox are so intriguing because they have a surplus of outfielders - a huge need for the Phillies - and their top two prospects, according to Baseball America, are switch-hitting catcher Blake Swihart and lefthanded pitcher Henry Owens," writes Brookover. "Those two are probably obtainable, but the key for the Phillies might be Mookie Betts, a speedy outfielder who used to be a second baseman."
Yes, they do have the talent, but no, they probably won't be willing to trade such value on top of paying out the remaining four years and $96 million on Hamels' contract. Last night Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that Hamels wants to be traded, which could indicate there's a possibility Amaro lowers his asking price for the lefty. That would change a number of things, especially if Boston is willing to give up a couple of their young prospects.
But right now Boston has their sights on Lester who they'll try to persuade later on this week.
