Had to figure there would be a massive reaction when perhaps the biggest trade of the non-waiver trade deadline period was announced. In case you are unaware, the Boston Red Sox sent pitcher Jon Lester and outfielder Jonny Gomes to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.
Here’s the complete deal…
The trade: lester plus gomes plus $ for cespedes and competitive balance pick
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2014
Here’s how the Twitterspehere reacted…
Lester to OAK would be huge impediment to #Angels winning AL West but if Cespedes goes to BOS, maybe they can score on a hit to LF.
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) July 31, 2014
That's a damn baseball trade.
— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) July 31, 2014
#Athletics top 4 -- Gray, Lester, Samardzija, Kazmir -- all pitching better right now than anyone in #Angels rotation.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) July 31, 2014
How about that for a savvy trade? Red Sox get their power-hitting OF. He's an FA after next year, but Ben said they were playing for 2015.
— Jason Mastrodonato (@JMastrodonato) July 31, 2014
Yoenis Cespedes is signed for a reasonable $10.5M in 2015, then he'll be eligible for free agency. #athletics #redsox
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 31, 2014
Beane knows this year is his best shot of getting to the WS and bringing Oak a Championship #GoForItNow #StartingPitchingWinsChampionships
— Jim Bowden⚾️🏈 (@JimBowdenGM) July 31, 2014
A’s rotation of Lester, Gray, Samardizja,Kazmir now good enough to run the table in October #Athletics
— Jim Bowden⚾️🏈 (@JimBowdenGM) July 31, 2014
Well, that settles it... Billy was tired of being great in the regular season but never getting out of ALDS in postseason. Wow.
— Maury Brown (@BizballMaury) July 31, 2014
#mysteryteam wins again
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2014
Heyman had tweeted that a mystery team (but not as big a mystery to me) was involved in the Lester chatter.
You’re probably wondering how Cespedes was included. Here might be some insight…
Cespedes huge loss for #athletics, didn't help his status when he said he didn't want to play center field when he was needed there.
— John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) July 31, 2014
Cespedes went to a teammate about not wanting to play CF, not Melvin. Leaving manager in uncomfortable position. #athletics
— John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) July 31, 2014
And about the Angels and the chances of seeing Lester head to Oakland…
Asked #Angels GM Jerry Dipoto last night if he was concerned Lester would go to a competitor: "You can only control what you can control."
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) July 31, 2014
The Boston outfield also got better defensively…
Only two major leaguers with 12 outfield assists this season: Jackie Bradley Jr. and Yoenis Cespedes.
— Jason Mastrodonato (@JMastrodonato) July 31, 2014
And I would be remiss if I didn’t include this…