The Jon Lester buyers tour continues. The current teams mentioned are the Giants and Braves. One squad lurking is the Yankees, and I wouldn’t count them out.
You don’t have to go back to the days of the Bambino to find examples of the Yanks swooping in and signing a Sox hero. In the 70’s they got Sparky Lyle for Danny Cater (horrible trade) and signed Luis Tiant. In the 90’s it was Wade Boggs and Roger Clemens (after two Cy Young years in Toronto). These men all enjoyed success in varying degrees in the Big Apple. And of course, we can’t forget Jacoby Ellsbury.
Lester would be a huge pickup for the Bombers. During the Yanks’ disappointing 2014 campaign, their 3.75 ERA was 18th in the league, only 5 places ahead of the 23rd-rated Red Sox. It was an unsettled staff, with 13 different hurlers in starting roles. Free-agent Hiroki Kuroda led the squad with an 11-9 mark and 3.71 ERA. Brandon McCarthy came on late in the year to 7-5 and 2.89. Mashiro Tanaka started 13-5, but then fell victim to injuries. CC Sabathia may be finished. In September, the Yanks were relying on guys like Sox castoff Chris Capuano, who started 12 times.
We are only a year removed from Ellsbury trading in his Sox for pinstripes. Lester going on TV with a Yankee hat would be devastating for Boston fans. Jacoby had a good (though not great) year, but his departure had a lot to do with the Sox’ last-place finish. A top lefty might be just what the New Yorkers need to go for the top again.
I’m not saying the Bosox should open the bank for Lester only to keep him out of NY. But they should remember how sad it was to see Lyle win a Cy Young and Boggs have four all-star seasons after leaving Boston. If the money is right, Lester might be next.
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