Best trade for the whole season was probably Lester and Gomes going to the A's. Both teams got what they wanted. The A's got an ace and an outfielder with the same power as Cespedes, and the Red Sox got a building piece for the future. The A's won't be able to afford to resign Lester at the end of the season (and the Red Sox knew that), so that sets the Sox to sign him again at the end of the season. So in the Red Sox view, you just got one hell of an outfielder for someone you might get back, and a throw in. That trade set the Sox up to get plenty of players: Allen Craig, Joe Kelly, Kelly Johnson, and other prospects. The Red Sox will also have a ton of cap space this upcoming offseason, so they can dangle these players out saying that they have a chance at another WS run if you join us. The A's got another pitcher (one that they really didn't need) to make that rotation just scary. Their post-season rotation will be Scott Kazmir, Sonny Gray, Jeff Samardzija, and Lester. This is the year for the A's, if they don't win the title, I don't know what they are doing wrong.

The trade between A's and Red Sox was the best one by far. Boston knows they're going to resign Lester for next season.

Lester and Gomes for Cespedes. Sure it looks lopsided because everyone thinks Lester will come back to the Red Sox but it might not happen. Gomes is a great clubhouse personality for the team and could keep that team refreshed and ready to compete day in and day out. Lester and Gomes can do quite a lot for the A's in two months. Cespedes had a great rookie year but he's slowing down. There's no guarantee that he'd be signed by the A's either because he could demand a lot of money. In the end, the Red Sox and A's could end up not retaining anybody from the trade but the A's get an extra push for a playoff run and the Red Sox can experiment and see what Cespedes has left in the tank because they have question marks in the outfield and could play anyone.

Lester and Gomes for Cespedes no doubt

I think the Price trade will make more of an impact because Lester is just a rent a player. Its pretty unlikely he resigns with the A's after this season so in the long run, Price is probably the better trade. I even believe the Tigers will win the world series this year because of the addition of Price.

Mathers- wrote I think the Price trade will make more of an impact because Lester is just a rent a player. Its pretty unlikely he resigns with the A's after this season so in the long run, Price is probably the better trade. I even believe the Tigers will win the world series this year because of the addition of Price.

The Tigers don't have the offense to win it. If it were A's vs. Tigers I would take A's in a heartbeat. The Price deal was only good for 2 teams, the Mariners and Tigers. The Rays got nothing significant in return on their part. So in my opinion that's why it wasn't good, a good trade is balanced throughout every aspect, and this one surely wasn't.

Mathers- wrote I think the Price trade will make more of an impact because Lester is just a rent a player. Its pretty unlikely he resigns with the A's after this season so in the long run, Price is probably the better trade. I even believe the Tigers will win the world series this year because of the addition of Price.

Price and Lester could both be rentals. The Tigers have some serious money tied up with others stars on the team. I think it's more likely that Price would stay in Detroit with a discount as opposed to Lester who will want to go back to Boston if he's taking a discount.

that's a hard topic to look at when you have a trade that deals Lester and Gomes to the A's for Cespedes to the Sox compared to Price to the Tigers and the Rays receiving 3 players including Drew Smyly and the Mariners receiving one.
From a fans perspective, me being a Rays fan, the Rays got the worst out of any trade this year, but honestly the A's might have hit the jackpot adding Lester to their arsenal of a rotation.