Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell has announced that Jon Lester will not make his scheduled start in tonight's series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays. Farrell made the announcement following the Red Sox's 4-2 loss to the Blue Jays on Tuesday night and also announced that Brandon Workman will be recalled from Triple-A to start in Lester's place.
"I think in light of all the uncertainty surrounding Jon Lester, it's probably in everyone's best interest that he not make that start, so Brandon will be recalled," Farrell said. "There will be a corresponding move roster-wise at some point tomorrow."
No trade announcement has been made as of yet but speculation has been swirling for days that the left-hander could be dealt before Thursday's 4 PM ET deadline. Several teams have been linked to Lester with the Pirates moving to the front of the rumor mill in the last 24 hours. The Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, and Oakland Athletics have also made contact regarding a possible trade for Lester.
Lester, 30, is 10-7 with a 2.52 ERA in 21 starts with the Red Sox this season. Boston is currently in last place in the AL East, 48-59 and 12 games back of first place Orioles. Lester has spent his entire nine year major league career in Boston and had been in contract talks with the club but an agreement was never close to being reached. Speculation coming out of Boston is that the Red Sox may have decided to roll the dice and trade Lester for two top prospects, preferably outfielders, with hopes of reaching a deal with Lester as a costless agent this winter.
Interest in Lester has taken off recently since the likelihood that the Tampa Bay Rays will trade David Price has diminished over the last couple of weeks. The Rays have gone on a 9-1 run since the All-Star Break and now sit just 4 1/2 games out of a wild card spot. With the Rays back in the postseason chase, teams have begun to turn elsewhere in hopes of landing an ace before the deadline.