What is Jon Lester worth?

[LogicMan]

I think this speaks well of Ben Cherington and John if they can come to an agreement. It would be great if he achieved 100 wins inside Fenway, 200 wins overall. Looks like he is putting the ball in Sox camp at this stage, perhaps for a reason

 

[steveringo]

I think this speaks well of Ben Cherington and John if they can come to an agreement. It would be great if he achieved 100 wins inside Fenway, 200 wins overall. Looks like he is putting the ball in Sox camp at this stage, perhaps for a reason

It just makes sense since he already has a couple rings and enough money to live where ever he wants... The only thing left to do is become a legend in Boston.... By seemingly taking a home town discount and staying with the team that drafted him, he is endearing himself to the fans base... He'll be remembered as one of the best Red Sox pitchers ever...

Roger Clemens
Cy Young
Joe Wood
Pedro Martinez
Lefty Grove
Jon Lester
Babe Ruth
Mel Parnel

Nice company.

 

[$500 Million]

Jon Lester

From CBS Sports:

Might the Red Sox and ace Jon Lester be parting ways after the season?

That very well might be the case, unless he's willing to accept a substantial discount in order to stay home.

Via Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports:

The Red Sox's most recent offer to Lester was far below market value -- four years between $70 million and $80 million, according to sources within the team's clubhouse.

Lester, who is eligible for free agency at the end of the season, rejected the offer and will not resume negotiations with the club until the offseason, the sources said.

OK, so four years and $70 million as a low-ball offer seems a bit ridiculous to you and me. Let's put this in perspective, though.

Homer Bailey of the Reds just got a six-year, $105 million contract extension. Lester is roughly three years older, sure, but here are their career numbers:

Lester: 101-58, 3.74 ERA, 118 ERA+, 1.30 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, two-time All-Star
Bailey: 49-46, 4.29 ERA, 95 ERA+, 1.33 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, zero ASG

Obviously, Bailey has been much improved in the past two seasons, but the fact remains that the track record shows Lester should be more highly compensated. Add in the fact that Boston is a much larger market than Cincinnati and Lester was just the ace of the World Series champions last season and that deal above is a head-scratcher.

It's not just Bailey. That was simply an example. Masahiro Tanaka signed a seven-year, $155 million with the Yankees this past offseason. Players far below Lester's value like Ubaldo Jimenez and Ricky Nolasco were signing four-year, $50 million deals while Clayton Kershaw signed a seven-year, $215 million deal.

Lester isn't Kershaw, but he's not Nolasco or Jimenez either. He's better than Bailey. And it looks like he's going to join Max Scherzer, James Shields and Justin Masterson on the top tier of free agent starters this coming offseason.

Report: Red Sox low-balled Jon Lester, extension talks halted - CBSSports.com

 

[navamind]

Lester's one of my favorite Sox and I'd love to see him stay, but I'm very iffy on giving a 30 year old pitcher a 6+ year contract.

 

[Toucanbird]

Lester's one of my favorite Sox and I'd love to see him stay, but I'm very iffy on giving a 30 year old pitcher a 6+ year contract.

Especially at this moment when pitchers are going down left and right. I'm nervous every time my team gives out a huge contract, although my team is the Brewers so they don't exactly give out blockbuster contracts (well, they did give a pretty big one to Braun).

Do the Red Sox have any good young pitchers in their farm system that might be able to help them get by if they do decide to trade Lester?

 

[navamind]

Especially at this moment when pitchers are going down left and right. I'm nervous every time my team gives out a huge contract, although my team is the Brewers so they don't exactly give out blockbuster contracts (well, they did give a pretty big one to Braun).

Do the Red Sox have any good young pitchers in their farm system that might be able to help them get by if they do decide to trade Lester?

Henry Owens | SoxProspects.com

they also have Webster/Ranaudo/Workman/Barnes (though Barnes is currently in XST) in AAA.

 

[steveringo]

These are rumors... I can't imagine an offer that low for Lester.

He'll get 20-22 for five years. And that is a hometown discount...

 

[redseat]

Realistic "Value" for Jon Lester

Well with contract negotiations apparently on-going with the Red Sox and Jon Lester what do people think is a realistic value for him and what should be get?

I don't think he should get anything over $100 million but with this day and age this is certainly a "low-ball" offer.

 

[HUBSTER]

Well with contract negotiations apparently on-going with the Red Sox and Jon Lester what do people think is a realistic value for him and what should be get?

I don't think he should get anything over $100 million but with this day and age this is certainly a "low-ball" offer.

I think he should test the market and then give the Red Sox an opportunity to counter if he really wants to stay in Boston.

 

[redseat]

I think he should test the market and then give the Red Sox an opportunity to counter if he really wants to stay in Boston.

I am thinking he will test the market and I am sure someone will give him a can't pass up offer and I don't think the Red Sox will match it

 

[HUBSTER]

I am thinking he will test the market and I am sure someone will give him a can't pass up offer and I don't think the Red Sox will match it

The Red Sox screwed the pooch with their initial lowball offer of 4yrs/$70m.

 

[redseat]

The Red Sox screwed the pooch with their initial lowball offer of 4yrs/$70m.

Not really. Honestly I don't think the Red Sox want to pay him the money Lester wants and they are banking on getting him at a hometown discount and if not they will let him walk.

 

[steveringo]

I think the homwtown discount went out the window when the did not sign an extension last winter.

On the FA market, he could esily get $132/6.

The Sox will have to come close to that. They wont want to sign a six year deal, so they'll have to up the AAV for 5 years. I suspect he'll end up with a 5 year deal around $115m (with multi year options - and multiple perfomance bonuses).

And he will be worth every cent. He and Boston knows that he is more valuable to the Red Sox than to any other team.

Here's to hoping they agree to something tomorrow!

 

[$500 Million]

Yankees will sign him for 5 years, $125M

 

[redseat]

I think the homwtown discount went out the window when the did not sign an extension last winter.

On the FA market, he could esily get $132/6.

The Sox will have to come close to that. They wont want to sign a six year deal, so they'll have to up the AAV for 5 years. I suspect he'll end up with a 5 year deal around $115m (with multi year options - and multiple perfomance bonuses).

And he will be worth every cent. He and Boston knows that he is more valuable to the Red Sox than to any other team.

Here's to hoping they agree to something tomorrow!

I'm more siding with $500 here and saying he will probably go to the Yankees as do you honestly see the Red Sox signing him to a multi-year deal for that kind of money?

 

[steveringo]

I'm more siding with $500 here and saying he will probably go to the Yankees as do you honestly see the Red Sox signing him to a multi-year deal for that kind of money?

I do. The Sox are smart (despite the popular opinion of the opposite). They cannot go full-rebuild.

A rotation needs a veteran. Peavy wil be gone soon and Lackey will be gone shortly after. That leaves Buchholz - who we can all agree doesn't have the type of leadership skills any team would want....

As I said, the Sox blew it last off-season. Any hometown discount will be minimal. A five year deal from Yankees will not get it done. They would need to guarantee $25m/ for six seasons for Jon Lester to think about it. If they do, the Sox will up their AAV (to $25? maybe), guarantee him five with the said mutual options for coouple more seasons.

The Sox know they screwed themselves. Their really is no way around paying Lester.

The only way they screw this up is if Lucky Larry stays involved (and, I have no doubt that it was he that made the low-ball offer - and leaked it)....


FYI - FA SP:

Brett Anderson (27) – $12MM club option with a $1.5MM buyout
Josh Beckett (35)
Chad Billingsley (30) – $14MM club option with a $3MM buyout
Joe Blanton (34)
A.J. Burnett (38) – mutual option
Chris Capuano (36)
Bruce Chen (38) – $5.5MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Wei-Yin Chen (29) – $4.75MM club option with a $372K buyout
Kevin Correia (34)
Johnny Cueto (29) – $10MM club option with an $800K buyout
Jorge De La Rosa (34)
Ryan Dempster (38)
Gavin Floyd (32)
Yovani Gallardo (29) – $13MM club option with a $600K buyout
Jason Hammel (32)
J.A. Happ (32) – $6.7MM club option
Aaron Harang (37)
Dan Haren (34) – $10MM player option if 180 innings reached in 2014
Roberto Hernandez (34)
Hisashi Iwakuma (34) – $7MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Josh Johnson (31) – $4MM club option
Kyle Kendrick (30)
Hiroki Kuroda (40)
Jon Lester (31)
Colby Lewis (35)
Francisco Liriano (31)
Paul Maholm (33)
Justin Masterson (30)
Brandon McCarthy (31)
Brandon Morrow (30) – $10MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Felipe Paulino (31) – $4MM club option with a $250K buyout
Jake Peavy (34)
Wandy Rodriguez (36)
Ervin Santana (32)
Joe Saunders (34)
Max Scherzer (30)
James Shields (33)
Carlos Villanueva (31)
Ryan Vogelsong (37)
Edinson Volquez (30)
Jerome Williams (33)

 

[redseat]

He didn't help his case last night

 

[steveringo]

I do.
The only way they screw this up is if Lucky Larry stays involved (and, I have no doubt that it was he that made the low-ball offer - and leaked it)....

SO, they intend to screw it up.... Apparently Lucchino is involved... and apparently he would rather trade for Cole Hammels - who has $90m left for 4 years....

Why Would the Red Sox Want Cole Hamels Over Jon Lester? Simple - The Price is Right - Eric Wilbur's Sports Blog - Boston.com

Will he ever learn?? Larry Lucchino is a fuck-tard.

 

[$500 Million]

Jason Hammel (32)
Jon Lester (31)
Francisco Liriano (31)
Justin Masterson (30)
Ervin Santana (32)
Max Scherzer (30)
James Shields (33)



Gonna be a hell of an off-season

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Jason Hammel (32)
Jon Lester (31)
Francisco Liriano (31)
Justin Masterson (30)
Ervin Santana (32)
Max Scherzer (30)
James Shields (33)



Gonna be a hell of an off-season

Bolded reject QO's this offseason, imo.