text: >	Baseball > Big deals! Price, Lester, Lackey and more stars traded to contenders in deadline day flurry	Baseball
  Posted: 08/1/2014 2:44 AM
  FILE - In this July 23, 2014 file photo, Oakland Athletics' Yoenis Cespedes hits a three-run home run against the Houston Astros during the second inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif. A person with knowledge of the trade says the Athletics have won the Jon Lester sweepstakes, acquiring the left-hander along with outfielder Jonny Gomes from the Red Sox for slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes before Thursday's, July 31, 2014, trade deadline. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because neither club announced the deal. (AP Photo/File) David Price, Jon Lester and John Lackey were among the big names changing teams in a flurry of deals on baseball's trade deadline day Thursday.
  With all but a few teams still in genuine contention for the playoffs in what is a remarkably even season, many made upgrades to their roster.
  World Series champion Boston, mired in last place in its division, was the most busy. The Red Sox sent Lester and outfielder Jonny Gomes to Oakland in exchange for slugger Yoenis Cespedes, traded Lackey to St. Louis, dealt shortstop Stephen Drew to the New York Yankees and moved pitcher Andrew Miller to Baltimore.
  Miami, often sellers as deadline day approaches, became buyers when they acquired pitcher Jarred Cosart from Houston in a six-player trade.
  Teams can still make trades through Aug. 31 to have players eligible for the post-season, but it becomes tricky. Now a player must first clear waivers, meaning every club in the majors has a chance to claim him before he can be traded.
  A year after winning their third crown in a decade, Boston bailed out. The Red Sox picked Oakland as the landing spot for the coveted Lester, then swapped Lackey for St. Louis pitcher Joe Kelly and outfielder Allen Craig.
  Looking for its first World Series title since 1989, Oakland kept dealing. After getting pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel from the Chicago Cubs in July, the team with the best record in the majors added Lester and outfielders Gomes and Sam Fuld.
  A lot of teams wanted Price, who now joins an intimidating rotation for the Tigers alongside Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. Austin Jackson went from Detroit to Seattle while pitcher Drew Smyly and minor league infielder Willy Adames joined Tampa Bay in the three-team swap.
  CABRERA CRIES FOR CLEVELAND
  Asdrubal Cabrera was moved to tears as he talked about being traded from Cleveland to Washington for infielder Zach Walters. The trade came a day after the Indians sent pitcher Justin Masterson to St. Louis.
  "This was the team that gave me the opportunity to play," Cabrera said. "It's hard. It was like I grew up here."
  Chase Headley, Jake Peavy, Huston Street, Joakim Soria and others were dealt well before the trade deadline. And if history is any guide, there will be at least a couple more trades before September. Philadelphia pitcher Cole Hamels drew plenty of interest leading up to Thursday, and could be in play.