This is coming from Billy Wagner(notes), who was a teammate of Johan Santana(notes) and has seen...

This is coming from Billy Wagner(notes), who was a teammate of Johan Santana(notes) and has seen plenty of CC Sabathia(notes).

Jon Lester(notes) of the Boston Red Sox, Wagner said, "is probably the best lefty in baseball right now as far as stuff. Santana, nothing against him, but I never saw him throwing in the upper 90s and spotting it, throwing breaking balls and changeups and spotting it.

"There is nobody in the two leagues that I’ve seen that can match [Lester’s] stuff. About the only other guy, and he’s a right-hander, is Josh Johnson(notes) with the Marlins."

Beckett and Lester a formidable duo - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

over 2 years ago Randy Booth 4 comments 0 recs |

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Lester is probably the best evidence of the good the Sox' new (now old) direction has brought them.

Just 2 years ago he was at the heart of trade talks for Johan Santana, but the Sox stuck with their youth and look what it’s got them. Lester is not only a top-10 pitcher in probably all of the MLB, he’s also all of 25 years old and seems to only be getting better.

I can say unequivocally that I would want him on the mound over Beckett in any game, and him on the mound over maybe everyone but Grienke, Lincecum and possibly Carpenter. Strike that, Carpenter isn’t as impressive as Lincecum and pitches in the NL.

by Ben Buchanan on Sep 15, 2009 12:39 AM EDT reply actions

Oh, and I'd definitely take him over

Santana

by Ben Buchanan on Sep 15, 2009 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Imagine how sick you'd feel today

if they’d traded Lester.

Now imagine if they’d traded Buchholz, too.

by Mister Snitch on Sep 15, 2009 10:36 AM EDT reply actions

Buchholz has pitched well, but lets not get crazy

…Here we go again. Can you guys just let the kid work out his game in the majors before you crown him the next Tom Seaver or Pedro Martinez. Buchholz’s #1 problem is what people keep whispering in his ear, which seemed to freak him out.

Everything depends on who the pitcher is being offered. Yes, Jon Lester worked out, but the Red Sox could of gotten a 2 time Cy Young winner not some chump who cannot get the ball over the plate. Sometimes you guys make it sound like Halladay and Santana would be huge busts for the Red Sox, which is absurd.

And as for Buchholz being traded, its about the other person in the trade. If Buchholz was traded for King Felix would your guys really cry about losing Buchholz? Come on be serious, not just a homer.

King Felix is better than Grienke and I would much rather have him on the mound over Lincecum, Carpenter, or Grienke.

Here are some other names I would trade Buchholz for – Tommy Hanson, Justin Verlander, Cole Hamels, Josh Johnson, Matt Cain, Dan Haren, Adam Wainwright, Yovani Gallardo…

by SoxAcumen on Sep 15, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions