Jon Lester extension official

by Randy Booth on Mar 15, 2009 1:48 PM EDT in News

After a little wait and a lot of "no comments," the Red Sox made the Jon Lester extension official:

The Red Sox announced this morning that the team has agreed to terms on a five-year contract extension with lefthanded pitcher Jon Lester with a club option for 2014. The team did not disclose the terms of the extension, but a Yahoo! Sports report last Sunday valued the deal at $30 million over five years, with a $13 million team option for 2014.

We had a poll on Over The Monster when the news first broke and I must say that I've never seen a more decisive poll at OTM. Everyone thought this was a good deal (except for NG maybe?). If it is a 5yr/$30M deal, then the Red Sox really made out in this deal. Lester was one of the best lefties in the majors last season and by the time this contract is over he could have some major awards under his belt.

Congrats to Lester and the Sox for getting this deal done.

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Hey, I either did not vote on that one OR

voted with the majority!

by NG on Mar 15, 2009 7:31 PM EDT reply actions

Contract details

2009 – $1 M
2010 – $3.75 M
2011 – $5.75 M
2012 – $7.625 M
2013 – $11.625 M
2014 – $13 M or $250,000 buyout

This sounds like a bargain if Lester continues to pitch as well as he did last season, to say nothing of improving.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Mar 16, 2009 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

We are stealing him for the next 4 years basically.

And this season is should be grand theft ^ 10000000.

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bdalebs on Mar 16, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

We are only “stealing him” if he continues to dominate and avoids injury. My problem with the deal, and the reason I was one of the few who said we paid him too early, is that we haven’t saved ourselves too much money but have risked a bunch. I would have preferred to let him prove himself for another year and then lock him up. Its not like we would not have the cash to pay Lester in a few years.

by BTLove on Mar 16, 2009 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I have no problem with the deal

Even in the end we’re paying him Vicente Padilla money + inflation. Whoop-de-doo.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Mar 17, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

But Padilla was a free agent

Lester was not. Given the Lester is much better than Vicente Padilla, my point is that we have guranteed him a bunch of money for no reason. Everyone is comparing his deal to free agent contracts; that is absolutely idiotic. We could have paid him league minimum this year and then gone for an extension.

by BTLove on Mar 18, 2009 1:44 AM EDT up reply actions

A full half million less?

Think of it as a good faith payment to keep him satisfied with being the #3 on the staff.

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bdalebs on Mar 18, 2009 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

But we aren't paying him more than 2 wins worth for the next 4 seasons.

And this season he’s getting chicken scratch relative to other contracts. And there’s prolly opt outs along the way.

WBULTV - BDale TV Prod

by bdalebs on Mar 17, 2009 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m pretty sure there are no opt outs along the way and he is only getting “chicken scratch” compared to FA contracts. Other than that has just been guaranteed a lifetime of financial security; something I am happy for. But that does not mean it was smart for the Sox.

by BTLove on Mar 18, 2009 1:46 AM EDT up reply actions

No

We already had him for the next 4+ years. He would probably not make this kind of money in the next four years with league minimum salaries and arbitration. What the deal does is guarantees us one (or two with the option) years of free agency. I’d say Lester came out ahead on this one, although it’s not a bad signing.

by Schulz on Mar 17, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

It also

Engenders good-will between the team & the player. A happy employee is a productive employee. Lester will be more likely to re-sign with the Red Sox towards the end of this contract if that’s something that the Sox are interested in doing.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Mar 18, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions