Larry Lucchino, John Henry, Still Major Assholes (in case you've forgotten)

[joeybee12]

BOSTON -- Jon Lester's agent denied a published report that claimed the pitcher's representatives informed the Boston Red Sox what it would take to sign the ace left-hander, prompting the club's decision to trade him.

"The discussions we had with the Red Sox were confidential and will remain that way," Seth Levinson, Lester's agent, wrote in an email Tuesday. "There is no truth to the report, and I am not going to guess why it was written or the basis for that report."

The Boston Globe reported Tuesday that the Red Sox had been informed of what kind of contract the pitcher has been seeking, "and that led to the team putting its ace on the trade market." The story, citing a major league source, went on to say that Lester was seeking "a competitive offer consistent with the market" and speculated that would be in the range of $22 million to $24 million annually.

Lester, who rejected a four-year, $70 million offer in the spring, has adhered to his pledge of not negotiating with the Red Sox until after the season. Team executives approached his agents around the All-Star break seeking to reopen talks but were told that Lester -- who, with a 10-7 record and 2.52 ERA, is in the midst of arguably the best season of his career -- remained firm in his desire to wait.

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/11280544/agent-boston-red-sox-pitcher-jon-lester-denies-report-contract-demands-led-trade-talks

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. Lester scratched from tomorrow's start - strong speculation he will be traded...

Just in shock - they can't hit, aside from Lester and a few others can't pitch - and they trade a class act in his best season?

Wow...

[joeybee12]

2. They're cheap bastards is what they are...

There's the mentality among the asshat owners that they don't want to compete every year, just every few years, and people will still come to the games and buy the merchandise and they'll make money.