Lester for Cespedes.

[The Giant]

Wow.

Blockbuster.

[Bostongambler]

Gomes thrown in as well.

[stealthyburrito]

rich get richer

[The Giant]

Yeah, Jonny Gomes headed to Oakland, as well.

[nvrlose37]

Sucks for Cespedes but great trade by the As

[LT Profits]

WOW. Oakland was considered a darkhorse candidate, they must have made Cespedes available late.

[Bostongambler]

Yeah Cespedes went from first to last.

[The Giant]

The Red Sox will look like geniuses if they get Jon Lester to re-sign after the season.

Is that the plan, Bostongambler?

[Dollars2Donuts]

That will be the plan for their head office I would imagine. My guess is that Lester will feel a little insulted by their reticence to negotiate a LT deal for him right away. I think he talked about 'coming home' to ensuire that he would be dealt.

If Oakland is giving up Cespedes they will try and keep Lester LT IMO. By dealing Cespedes' contract that was the only way they could possibly make Lester's money issues work. If they got Lester any other way it would have been a rental.

I still do not like this deal for Oakland. Cespedes has much more 'star appeal' and they have the pitching to get it done in any series, especially with their lineup. Taking Cespedes out definitely does create a hole in the middle of the order.

[Fidel_CashFlow]

I dont like this deal as much for Oakland as you others

[mcdonae101]

and yet it still won't matter, oakland will get bounced early like usual

[frogsrangers]

I dont like this deal for Oakland

They are stocked on pitching and I guess they are betting the farm on their rotation being the path to a title

This hurts their lineup

[BeanTownClown88]

I hope Lester comes back next year as Oakland wont sign him..I feel bad for Cespedes..welcome to loserville

[The Giant]

Dollars/Fidel: most Oakland fans, from what I'm seeing, agree with you guys.

This pitching staff is pretty ridiculous though:
Gray, Lester, Samardzija, Kazmir.

[t-wizzle]

Oakland going for it all. I don't see them re-signing Lester but you never know. Cespedes is a bit overrated but he will rake in Boston.

[44 Mag]

I hope Lester comes back next year as Oakland wont sign him..I feel bad for Cespedes..welcome to loserville

Now we have no pitching and one hitter, great.

[konck]

Cespedes is a little over rated because of the HR derby but he should do well at Fenway.
And if the B Sox get lester back...and we know Oakland doesnt pay it is a great move one
they need to get back on track
Cespedes is 250 25-30 hrs those number will go up in Boston

[Ratpack]

lester aint going back they lowballed him before who doesnt say boston will low ball him again especially since there are other teams out there that would over pay for a player like him. Boston got a MAJOR piece back that is younger and an everyday player that could carry that franchise when ortiz leaves

[BeanTownClown88]

Now we can lose games 10-8 ..I just feel Lester is pissed at us, hard to believe there's a secret agreement to snag Cespedes and get lester back. If so, I give ownership a lot of credit.

[frogsrangers]

Are the A's still World Series favorites

[Ratpack]

that offense is gonna look suspect for a's now they really need another bat cause all there gonna do is walk donaldson all the time since hes really the only power besides an occasional moss

[RollinDo]

Now we have no pitching and one hitter, great.

At least you have a better chance of losing 10-4 instead of 6-1!!!
Isn't that more exciting for fans??

[The Giant]

Are the A's still World Series favorites

They were favored yesterday, and now you're asking if they still are after getting Lester?

No. Sportsbooks are now making the Chicago Cubs the World Series odds-on favorite.

[44 Mag]

Cespedes is a little over rated because of the HR derby but he should do well at Fenway.
And if the B Sox get lester back...and we know Oakland doesnt pay it is a great move one
they need to get back on track
Cespedes is 250 25-30 hrs those number will go up in Boston

Boston doesn't pay either. They just want that shithole bandbox sold out all the time at ridiculous prices. Oakland scored on this one and I agree with the other poster I am sure Lester is pissed they wouldn't pay him.

[The Giant]

Lester most likely isn't going to re-sign with Oakland next season anyway.

They've got Parker and Griffin coming back at a reduced rate.

This is just Billy Beane moving all-in for 2014.

[44 Mag]

that offense is gonna look suspect for a's now they really need another bat cause all there gonna do is walk donaldson all the time since hes really the only power besides an occasional moss

Maybe the Red Sox will trade Ortiz to them as well.

[Atreyu]

Not smart by the A's. This will end up being their mistake of the 2014 season.

[d2bets]

Cespedes is highly overrated. Not even sure he's worth what he's being paid. What is he, .300 OBP the last 2 seasons. I don't get the hype. Gomes isn't having a good season, but he might be a better hitter. I know Cespedes is a great fielder, but he's still seriously overrated. Lester just a rental so they shouldn't give up that much, but still a steal.

[jjgold]

All pitching

get rid of any great hitter for good pitchers and you win

[BeanTownClown88]

Cespedes and Papi kind of like Manny and Papi lol but Papi is getting old..how long can he keep crushing balls like hes doing.

[Ratpack]

but still d2bets when you look at the a's lineup he was one of the only guys in that lineup that pitchers feared now besides donaldson they dont really have anyone in that lineup their pitchers are gonna have to start pitching shutouts cause there offense wont beable to put up a lot of runs

[44 Mag]

At least you have a better chance of losing 10-4 instead of 6-1!!!
Isn't that more exciting for fans??

Good, more over bets for me!!!

[44 Mag]

All pitching

get rid of any great hitter for good pitchers and you win

That is a great starting rotation they have now, wow, going to be tough to beat them. and don't forget, the deadline isn't over yet and we all know Billy Beane is still at work.

[Mike Huntertz]

Lester is gonna love this extreme pitchers park. They already have the 2nd best team ERA in AL, coupled with the most runs scored in MLB. Lester is a good pick up for a shot at the series.

[EaglesPhan36]

Wow. I wonder if the As make this if Hammel wasn't sucking dikk. All in for Oakland. Not sure I like it if I'm an As fan honestly. Big bat in his prime for a rental..... Guess it's an All in for this year.