It’s confirmed: Jon Lester will become a free agent in three months.
Red Sox principal owner John Henry told the Boston Herald in an email Wednesday night that his club will table contract negotiations with the left-hander until after the season:
“I’m not going to discuss Jon’s situation out of respect for both Jon and (general manager) Ben (Cherington) other than to say that both sides have put further discussion off until after the season,” Henry wrote. “It’s clear that both Jon and our organization would like to see Jon back next year if possible.”
In other words, Lester is as good as gone if history is any indication as to how the Red Sox will approach the situation.
This ownership group has fielded top five payrolls in 12 of the 13 seasons they have possessed control of the team. But for whatever reason, they’ve seldom paid market value to retain any of their own free agents.
Dustin Pedroia is the only player who the Red Sox have re-signed for more than $68 million over the last decade. The club inked Pedroia to an eight-year, $110 million contract last July. Or, in other words, less than half of what Robinson Cano received from the Mariners on the open market.
In 2004, Jason Varitek had to bar his agent Scott Boras from negotiations in order to remain in Boston.
Every Red Sox player who has wanted to seek top dollar, ranging from Pedro Martinez to Jonathan Papelbon to Jacoby Ellsbury, left the organization once he filed for free agency.
Lester said he would take a hometown discount at the Boston Baseball Writer’s Dinner in January, but his willingness to do that may have subsided right around the time the team lowballed him with a four-year, $70 million contract offer in Spring Training.
It’s also unclear as to what Lester’s definition of a “hometown discount” is. Cole Hamels and Zack Greinke signed deals for $144 and $147 million, respectively, in 2012. Reigning AL Cy Young winner Max Scherzer reportedly turned down a six-year, $144 million extension offer from the Tigers last off-season.
Lester is on pace to set career highs in ERA, ERA+ and WHIP. He’s only allowed one earned run over his last 31 innings pitched, and five earned runs in his last 52.2 frames.
It’s fair to surmise that he could receive a contract north of $170 or $180 million as a free agent, especially because the Yankees may be without C.C. Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka next season.
Discount or not, it seems as if the Red Sox will have to pay to keep Lester. That doesn’t bode well for his future in Boston.
Image via @RedSox
