Cespedes traded to Red Sox

[FallAmericanDawg]

for Lester, Gomes, and cash. Boston also gets the second pick in the competitive balance Comp B round.

Didn't see that one coming.

 

[121Josey]

Did see the Lester trade happening though. Chalk it up to the Jim Johnson mistake. A's going all-in to win it this year on pitching.

 

[FallAmericanDawg]

Definitely saw Lester getting moved, but not for Cespedes. That rotation for Oakland is absolutely stacked now. Lester, Gray, Kazmir, Samardzija, with Chavez/Hammel providing MLB average pitching as the back-of-the-rotation guys.

 

[msstate7]

2.5 games up on angels. If the angels catch them and a's lose the wildcard game, how will billy be viewed then after selling the farm?

 

[FallAmericanDawg]

2.5 games up on angels. If the angels catch them and a's lose the wildcard game, how will billy be viewed then after selling the farm?

In that scenario, I think he'd be viewed as a guy who went all in to bring Oakland a WS, but the bet didn't pay off.

High risk, high reward. Hell, he's even said "you only have so many chances to completely go for it."

 

[dawgatUSM]

I can't believe that some people still don't quite get the genius of Billy Bean. That guy does so much with the hand he's dealt year in and year out. I'm not saying moneyball is the only way but to deny he's effective is silly

 

[FallAmericanDawg]

I can't believe that some people still don't quite get the genius of Billy Bean. That guy does so much with the hand he's dealt year in and year out. I'm not saying moneyball is the only way but to deny he's effective is silly

I don't think anyone here is questioning how great of a GM Billy Beane is. I love the guy, and I'm rooting for him to win one. I think he does it this year.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Yeah that's out of nowhere. I'm just glad Lester didn't go to the Dodgers.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Cespedes was a free agent after next season. No way he was staying in Oakland.

 

[Dog of Tillo]

Lester said yesterday he's be very open about re-signing with Red Sox after the season is over. Just don't know if it was worth it still...

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

John Lester is basically a Rent-a-Arm for the A's. Lester was in the last year of his contract, and would've been a free agent anyways. If the Red Sox had traded him for a box of infield rakes, they'd have gotten more than if they'd have kept him.

The Red Sox dumped a lot of salary, got some good pickups in the trades they'll develop for next year, and they freed enough money to re-sign Lester to a long-term deal.

 

[DAWG61]

Cespedes was a free agent after next season. No way he was staying in Oakland.

I'd rather have 1.5 years of Cespy than .5 with Lester. A's just 17ed up

 

[hatfieldms]

They won't resign Lester

I don't think he wants to go back there

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

I think Beane sees this as the shot to win it all. High risk high reward.

 

[DAWG61]

I think Beane sees this as the shot to win it all. High risk high reward.

I definitely give him credit for having the cojones to trade a player like Cespedes. 29 other GMs don't. I just think he's seriously underestimating what Cespedes meant to that locker room. Gomes and Vogt as a platoon don't make that lineup go like having Cespy in the 4 hole. But Lester has been damn good this year so if they score a top 5 lefty SP in all of MLB and only gave up a top 25 OF than it is a no-brainer except that they only get Lester for this year. Whatever happens it has already made the season a lot more intriguing.