Jon Lester said Friday night that he would not be surprised if the Red Sox elect to trade him before Thursday's deadline, but said he still would be open to re-signing with Boston as a free agent.

"Yeah, why not?'' Lester said when the trade-then-sign scenario was proposed to him after Friday's loss to the Rays. "I mean, this is what I know, this is what I love. Like I've said many times, this is where I want to be. If they trade me, I completely understand.

"Like I said, no hard feelings. I know what they have to do for their organization. If that involves me, so be it. If it doesn't, I'll keep running out there every five days, pitching, and like I said, hopefully November we'll get something done.''