Nothing like a few home runs to help win some games.

The Red Sox traded Jon Lester and Johnny Gomes to the Athletics for the winner of the Home Run Derby, Yoenis Cespedes. This is an interesting trade that, if all goes according to plan, will set the Red Sox to be a power house team in 2015.

My guess is that Ben Cherington just handed Jon Lester a two month trip out to northern California where he can play some ball with a team that is currently destined to win the ALWest division. Then, come November, Cherington will hand Lester the contract he wants and Lester will be back in Boston.

Add to that the fact that the Red Sox picked up a big bat and rock-solid left fielder for the next three years. Along with Bradley in center field and Victorino in right, the Red Sox outfield just became the most awsome outfield in all of MLB. No one in their right mind is going to try for extra bases and the concept of a "sacrifice fly" just went down the toilet.

Oh, and if Lester ends up signing somewhere else, there are several other "marquee" pitchers hitting free agency in 2015 that the Red Sox can go after.

First on my list is Max Scherzer. He's a guy who loves to play baseball and seems to be a hell of a good pitcher.

And his eyes are two different colors which is pretty cool all by itself.

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Here are some links you might want to click on:

• Key phrase in this story: "...the Chicago Cubs, baseball's current version of Major League purgatory..."



• You just gotta love dogs...



• Key entry from our favorite police log: "4:46 p.m. A Rhodes Draw resident came home to find the neighbor’s pigs in his front yard. He stated that the pig-related damage was extensive."