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Helluva trade between Sox and A's today (Lester and Gomes for Cespedes). A's should have pretty formidable starting rotation for play-offs (Samardzija, Gray, Lester, Kazmir). Basically, it's 2 months of Lester for 14 months of Cespedes. Gomes is good OF depth for the A's and probably will get ABs v. lefties. I guess it also frees up Cespedes' money for 2015 for the A's to spend elsewhere. While I think it is a lot for the A's to give up, and I was surprised by the deal, I have to commend Billy Beane for having the balls to pull-off a deal like this and to just "go for it" in 2014. Meanwhile, the Phillies probably will hold onto all or most of their aging players because Amaro can't pull the trigger and admit past mistakes. Hats off to the Red Sox, too - a pretty good haul for two months of Lester when they were going nowhere this year anyway. I'd be surprised if they get Lester back, but, if they do, the deal will look even better. In either case, Cespedes will help in 2015.

Mike

Don't understand this trade at all, for the A's. I suppose they have no shot at signing Cespedes next year so they are getting something while they can, but I don't see this trade helping them, necessarily, this year. It weakens their hitting and they already had an overload of pitching, with Milone (now traded) in the minors, along with others. Cespedes is a star and might hit 50 HRs in Boston. Great trade for the Sox and they might get Lester back next year anyways.. that would be stellar.

BK METS wrote:Don't understand this trade at all, for the A's. I suppose they have no shot at signed Cespedes next year so they are getting something while they can, but I don't see this trade helping them, necessarily, this year. It weakens their hitting and they already had an overload of pitching, with Milone (now traded) in the minors, along with others. Cespedes is a star and might hit 50 HRs in Boston. Great trade for the Sox and they might get Lester back next year anyways.. that would be stellar.

I agree it is a great trade for the Red Sox. As good as Lester has been, it is a very nice haul for what is no more than a two-month rental. For the A's, I see it as Billy Bean putting all his chips into the middle of the table. They lose a big bat, but now have an extremely-good starting rotation. They will enter the play-offs with Lester, Samardzija, Gray and Kazmir (in some order) as their starters, which matches up well against virtually any team. I suppose they think they have enough hitting to win with great starting pitching. I'm sure part of the A's reasoning is that they were going to lose Cespedes after next year anyway (he'll be a free agent and probably cost more than the A's can or would pay). Now, they have his 2015 salary ($11M, I think) to spend elsewhere.

Still, my first reaction was surprise that the A's gave up so much for Lester. I guess the test will be if they win (or at least make) the World Series this year. If they do and Lester pitches well, you probably can call the trade a success; if not, well, the deal does not look good for Oakland after 2014. Gutsy.

Mike

BK METS wrote:Don't understand this trade at all, for the A's. I suppose they have no shot at signing Cespedes next year so they are getting something while they can, but I don't see this trade helping them, necessarily, this year. It weakens their hitting and they already had an overload of pitching, with Milone (now traded) in the minors, along with others. Cespedes is a star and might hit 50 HRs in Boston. Great trade for the Sox and they might get Lester back next year anyways.. that would be stellar.

Cespedes is only under control for one more year so the A's lose him probably after next year anyway. Same for Price. Don't worry, the A's will figure it out. They'll get someone this offseason to replace Cespedes.