The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox pulled off the first trade between the two rivals since 1997 Thursday, but if Yankee general manager Brian Cashman had it his way the deal would had included ace Jon Lester.

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According to Cashman, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington wouldn't even humor the Yankees when they asked about ace Jon Lester. Cashman said he attempted to acquire both Lester and Tampa Bay Rays ace David Price, but he couldn't sway the teams to part with such high-profile players within the division.

Cashman said he settled for Stephen Drew and the two sides came to a rare agreement and swapped players.

"I floated a text [Red Sox GM] Ben Cherington's way," Cashman said. "We worked very quickly off of that.”

Lester ended up being traded, along with Jonny Gomes, to the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. The Yankees and Red Sox start a three game series this weekend in Boston’s Fenway Park.

[ESPN]

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