As everyone has heard by now, Boston have sent Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes to the Oakland Athletics and gotten Yoenis Cespedes in return. Oakland also got roughy $1 million, while Boston got a Competitive Balance Draft Pick. This seems to be a fair enough trade on both sides. Let's take a closer look.
Oakland Athletics:
This trade proves one thing. The Athletics are all-in on the World Series this year. After giving up their best prospect (Addison Russell) to get Jeff Samardzija, they gave up their most powerful hitter for Jon Lester. The A's have one of the best offenses in baseball, which is why they can absorb the loss of Cespedes. There was a rumor going around that they were going to shop him in the offseason anyways. Just in case they had huge concerns about losing some offensive firepower, they grabbed Jonny Gomes from the Red Sox, too. Gomes is something of a playoff lucky charm. He has that fantastic attitude and is pretty solid. They also went out and grabbed Sam Fuld to platoon with Gomes. The A's definitely come out better for this season. In fact they are now the definitive World Series favorites. They have the best rotation in baseball now. Here is how it lines-up:
1. Jon Lester LHP
2. Sonny Gray RHP
3. Jeff Samardzija RHP
4. Scott Kazmir LHP
5. Jason Hammel RHP
That is a shutdown rotation. The only weak spot is Hammel, who has been awful since he joined Oakland. Oakland could plug in Jesse Chavez into that spot or go out and trade for a stronger 5th starter. They are in win-now mode and with the team the have built and the players they gave up, anything less is a disappointment.
Grade: B
This trade proves one thing. The Athletics are all-in on the World Series this year. After giving up their best prospect (Addison Russell) to get Jeff Samardzija, they gave up their most powerful hitter for Jon Lester. The A's have one of the best offenses in baseball, which is why they can absorb the loss of Cespedes. There was a rumor going around that they were going to shop him in the offseason anyways. Just in case they had huge concerns about losing some offensive firepower, they grabbed Jonny Gomes from the Red Sox, too. Gomes is something of a playoff lucky charm. He has that fantastic attitude and is pretty solid. They also went out and grabbed Sam Fuld to platoon with Gomes. The A's definitely come out better for this season. In fact they are now the definitive World Series favorites. They have the best rotation in baseball now. Here is how it lines-up:
1. Jon Lester LHP
2. Sonny Gray RHP
3. Jeff Samardzija RHP
4. Scott Kazmir LHP
5. Jason Hammel RHP
That is a shutdown rotation. The only weak spot is Hammel, who has been awful since he joined Oakland. Oakland could plug in Jesse Chavez into that spot or go out and trade for a stronger 5th starter. They are in win-now mode and with the team the have built and the players they gave up, anything less is a disappointment.
Grade: B
Boston Red Sox:
The Red Sox realized that this season was lost and that they potentially lost Jon Lester for good. They figured he would walk in the offseason. So they made something happen. They weren't gonna get a comp pick. They were gonna get a top player. And they did. They got Oakland's best bat. Cespedes fills a huge hole in the OF. They need a big bat there and they got one. This trade is a focus onto 2015. They have Cespedes for 2015, and maybe longer if he likes it in Boston. Cespedes has ridiculous power. That is evidenced by his 2 HR Derby titles. Moving to an extremely hitter-friendly park in Fenway will surely make his power numbers go up. I think Cespedes could wind up being Manny 2.0. I don't think he will have the same quirks and bad-boy behavior, but I think he could have similar production. Definitely a good trade for Boston. They gave Lester to a small-market team too. Oakland has no shot at signing Lester. Boston does. They did shoot themselves in the foot in Spring Training with the first offer, and then again when trading him because he can't get a qualifying offer, which will make his price skyrocket. But has a chance to make Lester and Cespedes teammates in 2015.
Grade: A-
The Red Sox realized that this season was lost and that they potentially lost Jon Lester for good. They figured he would walk in the offseason. So they made something happen. They weren't gonna get a comp pick. They were gonna get a top player. And they did. They got Oakland's best bat. Cespedes fills a huge hole in the OF. They need a big bat there and they got one. This trade is a focus onto 2015. They have Cespedes for 2015, and maybe longer if he likes it in Boston. Cespedes has ridiculous power. That is evidenced by his 2 HR Derby titles. Moving to an extremely hitter-friendly park in Fenway will surely make his power numbers go up. I think Cespedes could wind up being Manny 2.0. I don't think he will have the same quirks and bad-boy behavior, but I think he could have similar production. Definitely a good trade for Boston. They gave Lester to a small-market team too. Oakland has no shot at signing Lester. Boston does. They did shoot themselves in the foot in Spring Training with the first offer, and then again when trading him because he can't get a qualifying offer, which will make his price skyrocket. But has a chance to make Lester and Cespedes teammates in 2015.
Grade: A-