Report: Red Sox believe Lester seeking $22-24M per season over 5 or 6 years
Tap here to access our MLB Trade Tracker which includes all trades and rumors leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.
The Boston Red Sox have spent most of the season reportedly going back-and-forth with starter Jon Lester on the details of a proposed new contract, and reportedly those very figures are what has landed the left-hander on the trade block.
The Red Sox have reportedly not yet received a specific offer from Lester's agents according to the Boston Globe, but believe Lester's camp is seeking approximately $22-$24 million over a five or six-year span.
If the 30-year-old is indeed seeking that market value of $20-plus million, the Red Sox earlier reported offer of four-years, $70 million can generously be labelled a low-ball one.
This disconnect between what Lester believes he is worth and what the Red Sox are willing to pay appears to be the impetus behind the whirlwind of sudden rumors surrounding the three-time all-star. It could also mean some posturing from both sides, as Lester has stated that he hasn't ruled out returning to Boston in free agency regardless of where he finishes his season.