In 2014, on July 31, at 66-41 and in the midst of their best season since the early 2000s, the Oakland Athletics traded away star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes for Jon Lester.
The move, which was preceded by moving their top prospects Addison Russel to the Cubs for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, was a clear statement: if we’re winning the title, it’s going to be this year. It was the most no-tomorrow move I can remember a team making. Adding ace pitching talent, with the pickups of David Price and others by playoff teams across the league, spurred them into action.