2014 Year in Review: July Edition

Jon Lester traded to Oakland

Aug 1, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jon Lester (31) and outfielder Jonny Gomes (15) pose for pictures during a press conference before the game against the Kansas City Royals at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Weeks leading up the trading deadline there were rumors swirling around baseball that Boston southpaw Jon Lester would be made available at the trading deadline. With the Red Sox all but out of playoff contention already, and the two sides unable to come to terms on a contract extension Ben Cherington thought it would be in the teams best interest to try and get something in return for Lester if and when he does leave Boston. So for weeks the media reports had Lester going to every AL contending team, and the package that he demanded was astronomical. As the deadline neared some thought that Lester might actually stay in Boston, however on the morning of the trading deadline the reports surfaced that Lester was moving West to Oakland along with Jonny Gomes and in return the Red Sox would be getting reigning Home Run Derby champion Yoenis Cespedes. The move was met with some criticism because many were hoping to get back younger prospects that the Red Sox could develop and be apart of the teams rebuilding, instead they got a young superstar with a year and a half left on his contract. The Red Sox would ultimately trade Cespedes to the Detroit Tigers for Rick Porcello, after failing to resign Jon Lester during the offseason.