Heyman: A Lot Of Possibilities For Red Sox Rotation After Lester
BOSTON (CBS) -- The baseball world is on hold right now, waiting for free agent pitcher Jon Lester to decide which team he wants to toe the rubber for over the next six or seven years.
Lester is expected to announce which team he will accept millions of dollars from at some point in the next 24 hours, and it doesn't look like it will be the Boston Red Sox. CBS Sports' Jon Heyman joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Gresh & Zolak from the MLB Winter Meetings in San Diego on Tuesday morning, and while the Red Sox are at least in the running for their former lefty ace, their latest offer probably won't be enough compared to those from the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs.
"I'm not sure they're on par with everybody else, but they're close to on par. They're in the ball game. They have made a legitimate effort here, but I'm not sure it's enough," said Heyman. "People seem to be leaning towards the Giants at the moment, but lobby scuttlebutt often means zero.
"Everything, right now, is being held up by Lester, and I don't blame him one bit. It's a big decision and he should be able to take his time."
Heyman says that San Francisco's push for Lester has been very convincing, and he doesn't think the Cubs will be the team who could go to a seventh year for the lefty.
If Lester chooses to go elsewhere, Heyman said there are plenty of "Plan B" options for the Red Sox.
"I've heard that Cole Hamels could be Plan B. They have prospects and can try to do that. They're on his no-trade so it's no guarantee," said Heyman. "He hasn't been great against the AL, so there's no guarantee he would accept that. But there's a good chance because the Phillies aren't contenders at this point."
Hamels isn't the only option though.
"[Ervin] Santana has been pretty good in the AL. [Francisco] Liriano use to be in the AL and had a good end to the season last year," noted Heyman. "Then there are trade possibilities; Cincinnati and San Diego have guys who could be traded and we'll see what Washington does with their guys. There are a lot of possibilities for that rotation."
UPDATE: Liriano has reportedly re-signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Boston has an excess of outfielders, and Heyman says a handful of them could be moved to help improve Boston's rotation.
"The Red Sox have nine legitimate Major League outfielders and they're going to have to make trades," said Heyman. "They have pieces that are sought-after; certainly Yoenis Cespedes, a 100 RBI guy, will draw interest and I expect he will be traded. Allen Craig is up for trade and I'm sure Shane Victorino will be talked about. Even Mike Napoli could be talked about. They have an excess of position players and a need for starting pitching."
Heyman also gives some bullpen options for the Red Sox, and his take on Max Scherzer, who he believes could end up with the New York Yankees:
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