I am disappointed...
I thought that had we stuck it out and held onto him for the remainder of the year that the two sides could have come to an agreement in the offseason along the lines of 5/125.
Now that he is going to be donning another uniform, the loyalty has been severed and there will be no "home-town discount". All of those in Dreamland thinking that we will trade him and then resign him need to come back to Earth - he is gone for good.
And what did we get? A soon to be 29 YO outfielder batting 0.250 on the year? If he was to be traded, I would have preferred elite young prospects.
Count me as disappointed and underwhelmed.
What I don't get about the Lucchino Front Office Regime (and this has been the case for awhile now) is that they nickel and dime proven Boston talent and overpay for unproven Boston talent.
By that I mean - they let go of Beltre, bring in Crawford. Let go of O.Cab, bring in Renteria.
In this case, we have the most effective, durable, and consistent left handed pitcher the Sox have had in two decades who loves it here, has publicly said that he doesn't want to leave, and has only known Boston - and we say we won't pay players over 30. Then the next rumor is that we are trying to acquire Hamels? I don't get it. I'd rather pay Lester and keep our prospects.