According to a major league source, the Red Sox have discussed a deal that would include sending Jon Lester to Kansas City, with the Royals' top prospect, outfielder Wil Myers, potentially going to Boston. Also discussed was the possibility of sending outfield help to the Royals, with pitching going back to the Sox. Any such deal wasn't classified as being close, with the Royals also looking into acquiring Tampa Bay starter James Shields in a separate package of players.
Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star was first to report the talks.
The 22-year-old Myers is one of the most coveted minor leaguers in baseball, having come off a 2012 season in which he hit a combined .317 with a .987 and 37 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound outfielder -- who has played the majority of his time in center field -- was drafted out of Wesylan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) in the third round of the 2009 draft.
Kansas City is looking for an anchor to its starting rotation, having already traded for Ervin Santana and re-signed Jeremy Guthrie this offseason. Lester, who will make $11.625 million in '13, with the team holding a $13 million club option for '14, is coming off a 9-14 season in which he totaled a 4.82 ERA. The 28-year-old had won at least 15 games in each of his previous four seasons.
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