The big domino of the baseball Winter Meetings has fallen. Jon Lester, overnight, agreed to a six year- $155 million deal with the Chicago Cubs. Lester’s decision was the one everyone was waiting for. Now that he’s gone, lots of things are happening. The Philadelphia Phillies fire sale has begun. They traded lefty pitcher Antonio Bastardo to Pittsburgh. They also traded 15 year veteran, the longest tenured MLB player with one team, and their heart and soul shortstop, Jimmy Rollins to the Phillies for two pitching prospects. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers just traded second baseman Dee Gordon to the Miami Marlins for top pitching prospect Andrew Heaney. The Houston Astros earlier signed relief pitchers Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshek, to three and two year deals respectively. Nice moves to shore up their bullpen.
Yesterday the Oakland Athletics made a pair of moves, trading outfielder Brandon Moss to the Cleveland Indians, and ace pitcher Jeff Samardzija to the deal hungry Chicago White Sox. The White Sox also signed the top closer on the market David Robertson. The Pittsburgh Pirates re-signed pitcher Francisco Liriano.
The hot stove is really heating up at the Winter Meetings, with multiple rumors buzzing around the busy Manchester Grand Hyatt lobby. Stay tuned for more moves to be made.