Lester: Stop Believing What You Read on Twitter.

[Corsi]

Tim Britton ‏@TimBritton  2m2 minutes ago
Cherington “sure” he’ll meet with Levinsons before final Lester decision.
 
Tim Britton ‏@TimBritton  1m1 minute ago
Cherington: “I haven’t been told we’re out.”

 

[Corsi]

Jason Mastrodonato ‏@JMastrodonato  6s6 seconds ago
Cherington said he's expecting a Lester decision shortly, will talk to his agents again soon, but I gotta say, it sounded pretty somber.

 

[BarrettsHiddenBall]

That would also imply Chicago, I would think. I just don't see SF spending that much on a pitcher.

I dunno; apart from Bumgarner their staff is very thin right now, and between Lincecum and Hudson they have a lot of SP money coming off the books after 2015. Maybe seeing Cain injured and Zito ineffective puts them off another big SP contract; but maybe winning two WS despite the Zito albatross makes them more willing to take the shot. And after three WS's, they certainly have the money.

 

[Corsi]

Rob Bradford ‏@bradfo  3s4 seconds ago
Cherington said no meeting with Lester's agents are currently planned, although he added 'I'm sure we'll talk to them again'

 

[Hank Scorpio]

Gordon Edes ‏@GordonEdes  1m1 minute ago
Asked how Sox fans would react if team is outbid for Lester, Cherington said: “Our fans expect us to deliver on the field and win games.''

 

[yecul]

The Sox were never going to offer the most. A hometown discount can overcome a bit, but reports are of some longer and larger deals than we know they will be going. It's asking a lot for him to leave increasing money and year(s) on the table. All signs point to Lester having at least one offer of a year and a higher per year rate on the table. He likes Boston and all, but what do we expect? He's unlikely to return.

 

[Section15Box113]

He gone.

My sense too, unless the full quote (and to be clear, I am completely making this up) was: "We're not ready to go there yet.  We're still in the mix and like our chances.  Of course, there are no guarantees, but the bottom line is this: our fans expect us to deliver on the field and win games."
 
Or something like that.  While some in the media might grab onto the last part out of context, Edes strikes me as one of the good ones.  If the full quote were anything like my hypothetical, I think that would have come through in his tweets.
 
Edes other tweets focus... elsewhere.
 

GordonEdes Gordon Edes
Cherington said Sox still on Lester, anticipates talking to Levinsons again tonight, exploring lots of other pitching scenarios.

GordonEdes Gordon Edes
Cherington: We know to give us the best chance [to win], we have to add to pitching staff. We’re going to do that, one way or another.

 
 
Edit: Making it clear to all that I made up that hypothetical quote.  There's nothing to see here.

 

[Corsi]

Jason Wolfe ‏@jasonlwolfe  2m2 minutes agoSharon, MA
@JonHeymanCBS on @MLBNetwork says #RedSox still very much alive in Lester sweepstakes along with #Cubs #Giants no evidence of #yankees

 

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

FWIW Farrell coming up on MLBNetwork, after the break

 

[soxhop411]

FWIW Farrell coming up on MLBNetwork, after the break

What was said?

 

[YouLookAdopted]

Jason Wolfe ‏@jasonlwolfe  2m2 minutes agoSharon, MA
@JonHeymanCBS on @MLBNetwork says #RedSox still very much alive in Lester sweepstakes along with #Cubs #Giants no evidence of #yankees[font]

MLB Network: "Keep watching, New England!"

 

[Ferm Sheller]

What was said?

 
Nothing at all.  Just fluff.

 

[ifmanis5]

Cafardo on MLBNet, he thinks the Sox have gone beyond their comfort zone in the Lester negotiations but will walk away if they think that's the right thing to do.

 

[staz]

Cafardo MLBN: Ben expects to meet with Levinson Bros. "at least one more time tonight.

 

[mBiferi]

https://twitter.com/MikeGiardi/status/542141477124841472

 

[SoxLegacy]

Thanks for that, mBiferi; that snip was interesting and good to read. From what Ben said (and didn't say) there, it appears to me that Lester and his agents were expecting a big payday early on. I am a bit confused on certain posts above--the one tweet from Bradford specifically says that BC had no plans to meet with the Levinsons again tonight, and then Cafardo reports that they will be meeting. Not sure any of the reporters really know what's going on and they are simply throwing stuff against the wall.

 

[MetSox1]

Cafardo on MLBNet, he thinks the Sox have gone beyond their comfort zone in the Lester negotiations but will walk away if they think that's the right thing to do.

That's what you leak when you are done trying.

 

[Corsi]

Sean McAdam ‏@Sean_McAdam  19s20 seconds ago
SF GM Brian Sabean tells Giants media: "Right now, it's all about Lester.''

 

[Lars The Wanderer]

Pavlovic is a Giants beat writer:
 
https://twitter.com/AlexPavlovic/status/542145438426484736?lang=en
 
"Sabean said Giants completely focused on Lester, no offers out to other players. "We're still on the board." Believes 5 teams are bidding."

 

[jarv]

Cubs are trading pitching prospects for Miguel Montero. I don't think that news bodes well.

 

[ehaz]

Cubs are trading pitching prospects for Miguel Montero. I don't think that news bodes well.

 
I doubt they will be any prospects of substance, Montero and his $40 mill is most likely a salary dump for a few lottery tickets or low upside close-to-the-show guys.  He's been worth slightly more than a win over the past two seasons combined.

 

[dewystoetap]

Cubs are trading pitching prospects for Miguel Montero. I don't think that news bodes well.

If they were signing David Ross I would be more concerned.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Shields for 5/$90m and Cespedes + Marrero for Shark. I'd be good with that.

jeff samarzija is on the verge of being traded. the white sox are the likely landing spot. http://t.co/roBpJjMEVv

 

[DJnVa]

jeff samarzija is on the verge of being traded. the white sox are the likely landing spot. http://t.co/roBpJjMEVv

 
Well, Heyman also says Sox are in on Masterson. That's not quote the same as Shark though...

 

[HangingW/ScottCooper]

 
Well, Heyman also says Sox are in on Masterson. That's not quote the same as Shark though...

I'm ok with Masterson if he's the third best starter the Red Sox acquire this offseason.

 

[Corsi]

A source with close ties to the Boston Red Sox predicted the Los Angeles Dodgers will win the bidding by giving Lester a seventh year. 
 

http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/decision-time-coming-cubs-and-jon-lester

 

[barbed wire Bob]

http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/decision-time-coming-cubs-and-jon-lester

Some sage advise from Jed Hoyer in the same article.

“You don’t know what’s information and what’s misinformation,” Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said. “And I’d be lying to say we don’t read it, because I think you do want to sift through it and see what’s going on.

“But to rely on it – or sort of let your emotions go up and down based on what’s happening down there – it just doesn’t make a lot of sense. And I think we’ve all seen people be massively wrong on stuff like that.

“We try to condition ourselves as much as we can – especially this week of all weeks – just to ignore that.”

 

[BarrettsHiddenBall]

 
I doubt they will be any prospects of substance, Montero and his $40 mill is most likely a salary dump for a few lottery tickets or low upside close-to-the-show guys.  He's been worth slightly more than a win over the past two seasons combined.

Yeah, per MLBTR, "If the deal happens, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter) hears it’ll “likely” be for two Single-A pitchers" (emphasis added). That's not going to impact their rotation in the near term.
 
Edit: added a redundant link

 

[Investor 11]

While I don't think it carries any weight, I had a conversation with a guy who was in town for the meetings tonight in San Diego. He didn't work in the player rep side but said he worked closely with James Shiled's agents. He said the latest he heard is that Leater was going to get 7 years and that Shield's agents were waiting for that show to drop to sign a 6/130 area contract

 

[EvilEmpire]

I think a lot of the posturing going on is just bullshit. I just don't believe that the Sox won't match the best offer if given the opportunity. I have a hard time understanding how the Cubs, Giants and Dodgers could value Lester more than the Red Sox. I don't think they do. The Sox have a good history with Lester. He's proven in the AL East. He doesn't cost a pick or talented prospects. They have gaping holes in their rotation. They have lots of young, cheap talent that should allow them to go over budget for key players in positions of greatest need. Jon Lester is a key player in a position of great need. Market rates are changing. The Sox know all this.

A line in the sand from the Sox now just means they are waiting to see what the number and years are from other teams. The only way I don't expect the Sox to match is if Lester doesn't give them the chance.

I think he will.

 

[StuckOnYouk]

I think a lot of the posturing going on is just bullshit. I just don't believe that the Sox won't match the best offer if given the opportunity. I have a hard time understanding how the Cubs, Giants and Dodgers could value Lester more than the Red Sox. I don't think they do. The Sox have a good history with Lester. He's proven in the AL East. He doesn't cost a pick or talented prospects. They have gaping holes in their rotation. They have lots of young, cheap talent that should allow them to go over budget for key players in positions of greatest need. Jon Lester is a key player in a position of great need. Market rates are changing. The Sox know all this.

A line in the sand from the Sox now just means they are waiting to see what the number and years are from other teams. The only way I don't expect the Sox to match is if Lester doesn't give them the chance.

I think he will.

 
The Cubs are more desperate than the Sox, the Giants have just lost a guy to the Sox for 100 mil so they have more money and the Dodgers and the NYY have more money than god. 
If it was the Sox and say the Seattle Mariners, I agree.
 
I do agree that Lester's camp will give the Sox a chance to match if they haven't already - but we've seen this movie before.

 

[Apisith]

Not to mention that next year, loads of pitchers will come onto the market. Are there teams that are truly in GFIN mode that can't wait a year?

Of course, the fact that lots of pitchers will come onto the market also means that the trade deadline will offer a lot of options for buyers, too.

We're already projected to be one of the best teams, maybe making do with someone like BMac and Masterson for half a season won't be so bad.

 

[StuckOnYouk]

No one in the world will give Shields 6/130. No one will give Shields 5/100. 

 

[ehaz]

We can go to bed. 
 
https://twitter.com/GordonEdes/status/542194735587139584

 

[soxhop411]

“@JonHeymanCBS: hear lester has 6-year and 7-year offers. wont necessarily take the biggest $ offer tho.”

 

[MikeM]

No one in the world will give Shields 6/130. No one will give Shields 5/100. 

 
If both Max and Lester end up going for 7, which is my growing guess on what closes the Lester saga at this point, i personally wouldn't bet against seeing Shields get 4 with a vested or expensive Cliff Lee'ish buyout on the 5th.
 
Yeah he's older, but i still can't see anything resembling a "bargain"  being had there with his durability track record. Somebody will bite and give him the years. 

 

[soxhop411]

Won't necessarily take the biggest $ might be good for the sox I'm guessing?

 

[BarrettsHiddenBall]

Unless it's the choice between 6/$150 and 7/$170. 7 years is just a bad idea on anyone.

What about a choice between 7/160 and 7/170?  Or 7/155, going up to 7/165 based on IP in the final year? The added risk of the extra year isn't that awful if it doesn't come at the premium rate, and would reduce the AAV for tax purposes..

 

[LesterFan]

Jon Heyman @JonHeymanCBS

lester said to have 6- and 7-year offers. most expect deal to wind up in $150-175M range. #giants #cubs #redsox #dodgers

 

[soxhop411]

“@bradfo: Source: Lester decision could drag into Wednesday. Ownership involvement slowing things down for multiple teams”

This is getting out of hand.

 

[Rasputin]

“@bradfo: Source: Lester decision could drag into Wednesday. Ownership involvement slowing things down for multiple teams”

This is getting out of hand.

 
The only way this really makes any sense is if there's a tentative agreement in place with one team and other teams are asking ownership to expand the budget to meet that agreement.
 
Would Lester give that chance to the Cubs, Dodgers, or Giants?
 
Maybe. He seems like he's taking his time with this decision.
 
I wonder if Lester is John Henry's binky. I can't imagine it, but even smart people get emotional attachments that cause them to make decisions that don't really make sense.

 

[SumnerH]

Maybe. He seems like he's taking his time with this decision.

Ehh. It's a $100 million+ decision that also determines where he lives for 7 years. I know for those of us hanging on every tweet that it seems like it's taking a lot of time, but if it were me and I had the opportunity I'd at least take a week or two--and more likely a month or two--to consider it and get it right.

The idea that it's taking a long time is really a product of the constant press/Internet. When spring training opens it's not really going to matter all that much whether he decided December 2nd or December 22nd.

 

[Rasputin]

Ehh. It's a $100 million+ decision that also determines where he lives for 7 years. I know for those of us hanging on every tweet that it seems like it's taking a lot of time, but if it were me and I had the opportunity I'd at least take a week or two--and more likely a month or two--to consider it and get it right.

The idea that it's taking a long time is really a product of the constant press/Internet. When spring training opens it's not really going to matter all that much whether he decided December 2nd or December 22nd.

 
I wasn't complaining, just commentating.

 

[jon abbey]

Ehh. It's a $100 million+ decision that also determines where he lives for 7 years. I know for those of us hanging on every tweet that it seems like it's taking a lot of time, but if it were me and I had the opportunity I'd at least take a week or two--and more likely a month or two--to consider it and get it right.

 
Plus it sure seems like the offers keep going up the longer he waits. 

 

[jon abbey]

Rosenthal:

"But Lester has similar offers from the Cubs, Giants, Dodgers and Red Sox, according to major-league sources. The question, in the end, will boil down to which team he prefers.
 
Lester’s offers all are in the six-year, $150 million range, sources said. One team — it is known which one — indicated it would go to the seven-year, $175 million range. But Lester would not necessarily choose that team even at that level, one source said."
 
http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/lester-sweepstakes-giants-cubs-red-sox-dodgers-winter-meetings-scherzer-shields-hot-stove-120914

 

[Rasputin]

Rosenthal:

"But Lester has similar offers from the Cubs, Giants, Dodgers and Red Sox, according to major-league sources. The question, in the end, will boil down to which team he prefers.

 
Lester’s offers all are in the six-year, $150 million range, sources said. One team — it is known which one — indicated it would go to the seven-year, $175 million range. But Lester would not necessarily choose that team even at that level, one source said."
 
http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/lester-sweepstakes-giants-cubs-red-sox-dodgers-winter-meetings-scherzer-shields-hot-stove-120914

It's known which one, but he won't tell us?

If he ends up coming back to the Sox anyway, I'm just gonna laugh.

 

[jacklamabe65]

The entire thing is shameful FROM ALL ENDS. I almost pine for the days of one player, one owner, a look in the eyes, and a handshake. I guess the last player who was man enough to do that in any sport was Tedy Bruschi. And we, voyeurs all, check back constantly like lemmings.  This is all so......twenty-first century.
 
"Money doesn't talk - it swears." - Bob Dylan

 

[OCD SS]

The entire thing is shameful FROM ALL ENDS. I almost pine for the days of one player, one owner, a look in the eyes, and a handshake. I guess the last player who was man enough to do that in any sport was Tedy Bruschi. And we, voyeurs all, check back constantly like lemmings.  This is all so......twenty-first century.
 

This is romanticized bullshit that has no place in a game worth billions of dollars. Sentiment like this was propped up by by gross power imbalances dictated from the top, like the reserve clause. 2 men, a look in the eye and a handshake over a fair deal never existed in the first place and is only a negotiating and marketing ploy by one side to play on misplaced nostalgia in the hopes of saving money.

If the Red Sox decide the price is to high (and I agree with them that it probably is) then both sides executed a business decision and there's no moral failing beyond both sides behaving ethically.

 

[Corsi]

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN  19m19 minutes ago
Jon Lester's final decision might bleed over into Wednesday, as he sorts through offers that now include 6/150m from multiple teams.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN   [URL="https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/542287159869202433

https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/542287159869202433"]19m19

link to tweet minutes ago[/url]
Jon Lester's final decision might bleed over into Wednesday, as he sorts through offers that now include 6/150m from multiple teams.

This is the absolute max the Sox should go. The Levensons are sure earning their cut with this negotiation. I think the Sox will at least know at some point today if they are out or not if they don't already. If Lester gets 175 and people find out the Sox offered 6/150 will the backlash be that bad?