PETER ABRAHAM | BEAT WRITER?S NOTEBOOK

What were the Red Sox thinking with Lester?

The Jon Lester Saga will go down as one of the strangest chapters in Red Sox history ? and that?s saying a lot.

Obtaining a player of Cole Hamels?s stature might require the Red Sox trading several of their top prospects.

AP/File

Red Sox notebook

If Red Sox land Cole Hamels, it may be costly

Obtaining a player of the Phillies pitcher?s stature might require the Red Sox trading several of their top prospects.

Nick Cafardo | On baseball

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/12/10/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/lester150-7126.jpg How the Red Sox lost Jon Lester

With a six-year, $155 million deal from the Cubs, Lester, in the end, did go to the highest bidder. Most players do.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/12/10/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/blount150-7144.jpg Patriots? LeGarrette Blount resolves marijuana charge

The charge, which occurred when Blount was with the Steelers, will be withdrawn from his record if he completes community service.

Thomas Farragher

The inconvenient truth about ride-sharing

Last week, city councilors dreamily attested to the efficiency of Uber and Lyft all while acknowledging that they?re against the law.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/12/10/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/6bc1518e9c8242cd98724201af4e3d86-db3e3f43cd074e93b77810959e2a66dd-0.jpg ?Birdman,? ?Modern Family? lead SAG nominations

The backstage fantasia ?Birdman? and the dysfunctional-brood comedy ?Modern Family? each received four nominations.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/12/09/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/kreiter_kelley1_met.jpg N.H. mother says fears guided her choice to flee, return

Concern for one child?s welfare drove Genevieve Kelley into hiding in 2004, she says. Concern for another child?s health drew her out.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/12/09/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/06282009_28soprep-7285331.jpg Hate letters to black staff shake Milton Academy

Investigators believe the anonymous messages came from someone inside the prestigious private school.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/12/10/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/postdoc150-7756.jpg Report suggests higher pay, better mentoring for postdocs

An exhaustive national report on the state of scientific postdoctoral researchers urges a range of reforms.

A copy of one of the e-mail exchanges between Ben Edelman and Ran Duan.

Harvard instructor in fight with Chinese restaurant over $4

The disputed overcharge for takeout food from a Chinese restaurant led a Harvard associate professor to complain to local officials.

Donations urged amid Harvard professor?s Chinese-food fight

Seeking to fight off ?negative stereotypes,? a group is encouraging Harvard students to give $4 to fight hunger.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/12/10/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/92232da9302d4c36bdac1c31f8029c39-92232da9302d4c36bdac1c31f8029c39-0.jpg Former CIA head denies lying to Congress on interrogations

??I didn?t lie and I didn?t mislead Congress,? Michael Hayden said in a TV interview.

A car struggled through the water on Vale Street in Everett.

Joanne Rathe/Globe Staff

Storm closes roads, causes flooding in Eastern Mass.

The weather service issued a flood warning Wednesday morning for several streams and rivers that were near flood stage.

Mayor Walsh names permanent BRA chief

Brian Golden has served as acting director of the urban planning and development agency since the mayor took office.

Opinion

Nancy Gertner, Michael B. Keating, and Martin F. Murphy

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/12/09/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/1210_gertner.jpg Spare Boston the pain of a Tsarnaev trial

The last chapter doesn?t have to be one of bitterness, division, and re-traumatization.

The Big Picture

Los Angeles city firefighters battle a massive fire at a seven-story downtown apartment complex under construction in Los Angeles, California December 8, 2014.

Gene Blevins/Reuters

Massive fire in downtown Los Angeles

The huge fire shut down parts of two major freeways in Los Angeles early Monday morning.