Top ten free agents the Red Sox could pursue this offseason

Aug 12, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher

(31) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Jon Lester, SP

No surprise here. Fans have been clamoring for the Red Sox to trade Lester and then re-sign him in the offseason since well before the left-hander was even traded, but I’ll still add my two cents to the mix.

Lester is one of the best arms in Red Sox history and was in the midst of having a career year before being traded to the Oakland Athletics where he has shown more of the same. Between the Red Sox and A’s this season, Lester’s ERA stands at a career-best 2.51 and his 4.57 K/BB is by far the best of his career as well.

He fills an obvious role in the organization, as he’d be filling the very ace role vacated after the Red Sox traded him, and he is also familiar and enamored with the city of Boston and its fans. There’s no guarantee that Lester will return to the Red Sox, but a deal with him is more likely than a deal with any other top pitcher on the market and the Red Sox certainly need a top pitcher in order to contend.