A's trade Yoenis Cespedes to Red Sox for pitcher Jon Lester, OF Jonny Gomes

Posted: 07/31/2014 07:15:57 AM PDT

Updated: 07/31/2014 07:27:00 AM PDT

Oakland Athletics' Yoenis Cespedes swings and sprains his thumb during the fifth inning of a Major League Baseball game against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. Cespedes left the game. The A's won, 9-7. (D. Ross Cameron/Bay Area News Group) ( D. ROSS CAMERON )

The A's stunned the baseball world again hours before the trade deadline, sending All-Star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to the Boston Red Sox for left-hander Jon Lester and outfielder Jonny Gomes early Thursday morning.

It is general manager Billy Beane's second major deal in less than a month to bolster the American League West Division leaders' rotation. On July 4, the A's acquired right-handers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel from the Cubs.

By adding Lester, widely considered along with Tampa Bay's David Price the top starter available for a deadline deal, the A's could deploy a playoff rotation of Samardzija, Sonny Gray, Lester and All-Star Scott Kazmir.

Oakland Athletics' Yoenis Cespedes (52) connects for his second home run of the game, a two-run shot, during the fourth inning of a Major League Baseball game against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, July 23, 2014, at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron/Bay Area News Group) ( D. ROSS CAMERON )

The A's were considered somewhat of a darkhorse in the Lester sweepstakes in part because the left-hander will be a free agent after the end of the season. Gomes was a fan favorite with the A's in 2012.

Cespedes, an All-Star this season when he defended his All-Star home run derby crown, is a free agent after the 2015 season. The A's reportedly also will receive cash in the deal.

Check back for more on this developing story.

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( AP Photo/Summit Entertainment, Andrew Cooper)