The Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox have discussed ace left-handed pitcher Jon Lester, but the two sides aren't close to a deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The news comes not long after an earlier report from Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com saying the two sides were "close" to an agreement.
Orioles, Red Sox talking Jon Lester trade, deal close?
The Orioles and Red Sox could be nearing a monster intra-division deal that sends ace pitcher Jon Lester to Baltimore.
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Ghiroli has also seemingly also backed off her initial information, although this may simply be a matter of semantics:
Told it's very unlikely Lester deal would involve Kevin Gausman. Os are having serious discussions but again, nothing done yet.
— Brittany Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) July 30, 2014 Lester, 30, is in the midst of an All-Star campaign with the Red Sox, the only team he’s ever played for. However, with free agency looming and Boston sitting at the bottom of the standings, the trade could represent a huge opportunity for the Red Sox to bring young talent into the organization.
For the Orioles, who currently sit 2.5 games ahead of Toronto in the AL East, the addition of Lester would be a huge one. The lefty would immediately become Baltimore’s best starting pitcher and could be a game-changer in the postseason, where he’s proven to be a winner before.
We still have another 24 hours or so until the trade deadline, but if this deal gets done, it could be the biggest of the month. And if Baltimore does manage to add Lester, the rest of the division likely won’t be too thrilled with facing an even more dangerous Orioles club.
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