In at least one small way, the 2014 trade deadline has already worked out in the Toronto Blue Jays’ favour.
Jon Lester, a trade target of the American League East-leading Baltimore Orioles, was shipped to the Oakland Athletics in a blockbuster deal Thursday. While the Orioles could still add to their team before the deadline — or even in August — there’s a good chance Lester will be the best pitcher moved this summer. The Blue Jays will be relieved that the team they’re chasing didn’t obtain him.
Below: Former Toronto Blue Jays slugger Carlos Delgado shares his thoughts on the big trade with Sportsnet
Amidst the annual trade deadline rumours and speculation, the Blue Jays are likely to remain quiet Thursday with relievers on their radar but seemingly no momentum toward blockbusters. If Baltimore takes a similarly cautious approach at the deadline, the division race will remain within the Blue Jays’ grasp (they now trail Baltimore by 2.5 games).
Meanwhile, the Athletics add to an impressive starting rotation that looks considerably stronger than it did a couple months ago. Having already traded for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, Oakland added Lester – an ace-calibre pitcher enjoying what might be a career year (2.52 ERA, 149 strikeouts, 143 innings).
He’s a rental – few small-market team would bid seriously on a pitcher who could command $150 million in free agency – but Oakland is clearly aiming to win big and win now. With an MLB-best 66-41 record they could have coasted into the playoffs. Instead, they’re creating some distance between themselves and the Los Angeles Angels in a bid to win the division and avoid the potentially perilous one game Wild Card play-in.
Along with Lester, the Athletics acquired Jonny Gomes, a California native who played for Oakland in 2012 and could now be platooned with another former Athletics outfielder. Sam Fuld was obtained from the Twins for Tommy Milone in a deal that looks like an absolute coup for Minnesota. Mere months after claiming Fuld on waivers, they get a controllable pitcher who has a career ERA of 3.84.
Credit Twins GM Terry Ryan for getting such a substantial return out of a player who’s productive, yet far from a star. Milone would have been a nice pickup for the Blue Jays, but Oakland may have been intent on getting Fuld back.
Below: Former Toronto Blue Jay slugger Shawn Green tells Sportsnet he’s impressed with Oakland’s moves
Even so, there’s another plus for the Blue Jays: Boston didn’t exactly get an overwhelming return for Lester. Two high-ranking executives of rival teams told Sportsnet that the return for the left-hander wasn’t particularly impressive. While Cespedes is a dynamic player who will surely pepper more than his share of balls off of Fenway Park’s Green Monster, he’s eligible for free agency after 2015 and hasn’t replicated his rookie success.
Still, as one exec pointed out, it’s unfair to criticize the Red Sox for not getting a top prospect, since other teams are typically unwilling to surrender elite minor leaguers for a rental. Presumably Boston took the best offer available, and adding Cespedes beats 11 more starts from Lester.
But while Lester is far removed from the Blue Jays and Orioles for now, that could change again by next season. The Red Sox might have parted ways with their ace for now, but in dealing him to one of baseball’s smallest markets, they’ve increased the chances that they can become the leading suitor for him in free agency this off-season. In other words, the Blue Jays should enjoy a Lester-free division while they can.
