After several months of speculations, the Boston Red Sox eventually traded Jon Lester, but longtime teammate David Ortiz believes that the veteran pitcher will return to Boston at some point.
The Red Sox tried to secure a long-term deal with Lester, but no agreement was reached. Boston then sent Lester to the Oakland Athletics along with utility outfielder Jonny Gomes in exchange for Yoenis Cespedes.
Ortiz, who has been pushing for the Red Sox to keep Lester, admitted that he was not happy with the trade, but expressed optimism that he will be able to play alongside the 30-year-old pitcher again at Fenway Park.
"I wasn't happy," Ortiz said via Larry Brown Sports. "That's one of my pretty good friends and teammates for a long time. And the season he was having, always wish him the best. But I have a feeling I will play with him again before my career ends."
Lester, who is 11-7 this season with a 2.59 ERA and 152 strikeouts, will become a free agent after the current season, and there is already a growing speculation that he will strongly consider signing with the Red Sox.
Aside from Ortiz, ESPN's Joe McDonald revealed that some former Red Sox teammates believe that the left hander, who has spent the first nine seasons of his career in Boston, will re-sign in the offseason.
"A few Red Sox players this morning said they're convinced Jon Lester will re-sign with Boston in the offseason," McDonald posted on Twitter.
Ortiz said, though, that he is thrilled with the other moves that the Red Sox made like getting Joe Kelly and Allen Craig in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.
"It's looking like we're trying to rebuild and get things better for next year," Ortiz said. "Hopefully that's the case. We'll see if what we will help us to finish the season good and get better for next year. We got some good players. We have a couple of bats, we have a young, talented pitcher in Joe Kelly."
Ortiz also had nothing but praises for Cespedes, saying that the 28-year-old is one of the best hitters in the major league today. The Cuban slugger is hitting .256 this season with 17 homeruns and 67 RBIs.
"Great man, great. This kid has unbelievable power. I think in his case he's still in the learning process. But he has explosive power," Ortiz said of Cespedes.
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