BOSTON -- Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino expressed his disappointment Saturday about the teams failed pursuit of free-agent starting pitcher Jon Lester. We didnt succeed, so I dont give us a very good grade, Lucchino said Saturday at the teams annual Christmas at Fenway event. We were trying sincerely to get him signed. We wanted him to come back here. We were absolutely hopeful that Jon, once he got a sense of what the market would be, would be more inclined to sign with us. As it turned out, that was erroneous. In the process of signing with the Chicago Cubs for six years and $155 million earlier this week, Lester turned down Bostons six-year, $135 million offer to return to the Red Sox, the team he spent his first nine years in the majors with. The Red Sox traded Lester to the Oakland Athletics at the trade deadline last season. Lucchino expressed his gratitude toward Lester for what he was able to accomplish in Boston. I have some regrets here and there as to how it all went down, but right now Im trying to focus on the future and express a sense of gratitude to Jon Lester for all he did for us, for the horse that he was for us for so many years, the successful pitcher and person that he was, Lucchino said. I wish him luck, and Im glad its in the other league and not in our league. Thats cold comfort but some comfort. If the Red Sox dont add an ace at the top of their rotation, would you consider this offseason a success? Yes ... they added three starters with high upside. Whos to say one of them wont develop into an ace? I like their chances. No ... the Red Sox need a true No. 1 starter at the top of the rotation. Without one, I dont like their chances in 2015. Since Lester signed with the Cubs, Bostons front office has received a great deal of criticism for the way they handled negotiations with Lester, dating back to before the 2014 season began. In January, Lester stated his desire to stay with the Red Sox, insisting that he would take a hometown discount in order to do so. The Red Soxs first offer to the left-hander was for four years and $70 million in March. General manager Ben Cherington said Wednesday that those terms were meant to be a conversation starter. As Ben said, it was just a starting point, Lucchino said of the initial offer. Throw out a number to get a process of sequential negotiations beginning. It didnt result in that, so obviously that was unfortunate. Just look at the end result. We failed to get done what was our goal, so we are subject to criticism, and rightly so, for that. Theres so many steps along the way that could have gone differently. Lester and his camp turned down requests to negotiate once the season started. Lucchino said that any criticism the team has received is fair because, in the end, Lester opted to sign with Chicago over Boston. A league source told ESPNBostons Gordon Edes that the Red Soxs final offer to Lester was for six years and $135 million with no vesting option. While the offer was larger than the Red Sox anticipated, Lucchino said the team would have been comfortable to give Lester that kind of money. If he would have accepted, we would have been very pleased, Lucchino said. In the aftermath of Lesters signing with the Cubs, the Red Sox have been active in building their rotation, acquiring Rick Porcello and Wade Miley via trade and signing free-agent right-hander Justin Masterson. Its been a sort of unpredictable offseason in a lot of ways, Lucchino said. So much of it was centered on our effort to sign Jon Lester. When we did not succeed in that, we had to revert to Plan B, with respect to pitching. Whether the Red Sox elect to pursue the type of front-line starter Lester would have represented remains to be seen. However, Lucchino did indicate that there were still moves to be made regarding next years team. It is only December, Lucchino said. A lot of important moves are made after the spotlight goes away from the winter meetings and the buildup to the winter meetings. Were still in the hunt for players that will make this team stronger in 2015.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 14:16:33 +0000
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