Posted on 08/24/2012 6:53:08 PM PDT by Bullish
BOSTON -- The Red Sox are talking with the Dodgers about a deal that would send Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto to Los Angeles, according to a source.
Their season spiraling downward at a rapid pace of late, the Red Sox could be on the verge of a blockbuster trade that would give them significant financial flexibility going forward.
ESPNBoston.com first reported the trade discussions between the two teams.
Earlier on Friday, MLB.com confirmed that the Dodgers were awarded a waiver claim on star first baseman Gonzalez. Later in the day, CSNNE.com reported that the Dodgers were also awarded a claim on the underachieving Beckett, and MLB.com confirmed that as accurate.
When a team is awarded a player on waivers, they have 48 hours to work out a trade. That would give the Red Sox and Dodgers until early Sunday afternoon to work out a deal.
Crawford and Punto both cleared waivers and can be dealt to any team.
Gonzalez, who was scratched from Friday night's lineup against the Royals, had no interest in talking about the trade speculation before the game.
"Waiver-claim questions? Not talking about that," Gonzalez said.
ESPNBoston.com reported that pitcher Rubby De La Rosa would be headed back to the Red Sox as the "the centerpiece of the deal." De La Rosa is coming off Tommy John surgery. The Red Sox would get Major League first baseman James Loney -- who was scratched from Friday's game against the Marlins -- as well as prospects Ivan De Jesus (infielder) and Jerry Sands (outfielder), according to ESPNBoston.com. The website reported there were still hurdles to be worked out.
Gonzalez has partial no-trade protection. However, as a resident of Southern California for much of his life, it's easy to imagine Gonzalez would waive his no-trade protection to move to the Dodgers.
Beckett is a 10-5 man (10 years in the Majors, five with his current team), meaning he can veto a trade to any team. The right-hander has underachieved this season, going 5-11 with a 5.23 ERA in 21 starts. He is scheduled to pitch Saturday night against the Royals.
Fair or not, Beckett has been a target of Red Sox fans, who blame him for the reports that surfaced last September about a declining culture in the clubhouse in which starting pitchers were drinking beer during games they weren't pitching in.
He has been booed numerous times by Red Sox fans this season, and even got jeered off the mound by traveling Boston fans at Camden Yards earlier this month.
If no trade was worked out, Gonzalez and/or Beckett could remain with the Red Sox. However, Boston could also let either -- or both players -- go to the Dodgers without compensation, as long as the players didn't veto the transaction with their no-trade rights.
It is highly unlikely the Red Sox would let Gonzalez go as a straight waiver move.
With Beckett, that is far less certain. He is owed $15.75 million annually over the next two seasons, and the Red Sox might be compelled to rid themselves of that salary.
Crawford had Tommy John surgery earlier this week and has five years left on the seven-year, $142 million deal he signed to come to the Red Sox. The left fielder struggled mightily in 2011 for Boston, but rebounded nicely in the 31 games he played this year following left wrist surgery and prior to the Tommy John procedure.
Punto, a utility player who has been used sparingly by the Red Sox, has one season left on his contract. He is known most for his positive influence in the clubhouse.
Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said a couple of hours before Friday's game that general manager Ben Cherington hadn't broached any blockbuster trades with him regarding Gonzalez.
"I don't know," Valentine said. "I talked to Ben this afternoon. There was no mention at all. There wasn't a mention of -- 'disregard it or who do you want?' There wasn't any conversation, so I believe it's nothing more than the standard operational 'guy gets claimed, it's a block, it's not a trade and life goes on.'"
The Dodgers have clearly been aggressive under new ownership, which includes former basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
The Red Sox have been a disappointment this season, taking a 59-66 record into Friday night's game against the Royals. They trail the Yankees by 13 1/2 games in the American League East and are 8 1/2 back in the Wild Card standings.
The Dodgers could use a player like Gonzalez to propel them down the stretch. They are three games back in the National League West and 1 1/2 games off the pace in the Wild Card standings.
Gonzalez got off to a slow start this season, but has rounded into form the past couple of months. He is hitting .300 with 15 homers and 86 RBIs.
"In Boston, there is always a novel -- in here they never talk about baseball; it's always the same," Gonzalez told ESPNdeportesLosAngeles.com on Thursday. "That's one of the reasons why I almost never talk to the press here. Very few times they ask me about baseball. But most of the time, it's about gossip, rumors, plots, well ... a soap opera."
In the same interview, Gonzalez downplayed the reports that the Red Sox had placed him on waivers.
"I can't worry about things I can't control," Gonzalez said. "Nobody has told me that I'm on waivers, and if that's true, does not mean they will trade me. I can't control any of that."
The Red Sox acquired Gonzalez in a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres in December 2010, dealing top prospects Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo (since moved to the Cubs) and Reymond Fuentes.
There were great expectations surrounding the Red Sox when the team also acquired Crawford that winter.
But the franchise has failed to live up to expectations since those moves. The Red Sox had the biggest September collapse in baseball history last season, blowing a nine-game lead and missing the postseason. And this year, Boston has struggled just stay on the outskirts of contention for a Wild Card berth.
Adrian Beltre just hit for the cycle for the Rangers.
And Matt Harrison had a no-hitter through 7 and 2/3rds before giving up a hit. I don’t know if there ever had been a no-hitter and a cycle in the same game.
Wow!
I think salaries are ridiculousy high and teams should follow the template of the Oakland A’s and try to cobble together a cheaper team which can be very exciting for fans when it all works out.
Actually it was 6 and 2/3rds before he gave up the hit. ...darn, so close to history.
I’m hearing reported it’s a done deal!!!!!!
Having said that Barry Zito had a pretty good game last night.
Go Giants!
You pay 2.1 Billion for a Team you better try and buy a Campionship
There have been 256 no-hitters thrown in major league history and 287 cycles. They never occurred the same in the same game.
And just the other night, Beltre hit 3 home runs.
Really? Looks like the Red Sox are just dumping their garbage on you.
Giants pitching has the Dodgers in a panic, especially after the 3 game sweep.
And the schedule greatly favors the Giants the rest of the way.
Taking on 260Million in salary with 40+ games left is a desperation move, and those AL players will take a while to adjust to the NL
Either way, Giants win the West, especially when their pitching gets hot again in Sept, not that it’s not bad now.
If Lincecum returns to form, it’s all but over as the Giants have 3 starters with an ERA of 2.85 or lower.
Even Barry Zito pitched a gem last night.
John Henry appears to be cleaning house of the crybabies who wanted to blame Bobby Valentine for the team’s tailspin. It is also coincidental that the players being traded failed to go to Johnny Pesky’s funeral and had a chip on their shoulders when asked why they didn’t go to the funeral. Many Red Sux fans have stated they do not intend to follow the team until all those who failed to go to the funeral are gone. It appears to me that John Henry is getting rid of the overpaid crybaby ringleaders of the two revolts against the team.
Baseball's a funny game.... It's streaky too.
We'll see
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I had a Yankee fan respond that the Bombers are trying to cut payroll. I told him if the national debt could bat .350 with 50 HRs, the Yankees would find a way to pay for it.
Hallelujah!!
Red Sox unload Beckett (cancer), Crawford (one of the worst signings in club history), Punto (virtually useless). Hate to see A-Gon go, but if he’s the price you have to pay to unload $200m worth of suck, you have to do it.
Boston papers also reporting that the Red Sox will only have to eat 5% of the salary in the deal.
Thanks, LA! Christmas in August for Red Sox fans!
I understand your frustration with Beckett and Crawford (and Lackey and Daisuke??? and others). Beckett may well be done but I doubt Crawford is and Gonzalez certainly is not. You can take the $ and sign a Josh Hamilton this coming winter but Loney at 1B? Rubby De La Rosa?
It is your favorite team but I don't think I make that deal if I were in your shoes. Young Steinbrenner seems committed to having payroll under $189 million by 2014. I really doubt that the Yanks will be signing any big contracts soon. Given that commitment of young Steinbrenner (who, unlike his dad, has the soul of an auditor), we cannot afford what we have.
Such is life under Comrade Selig the redistributionist incompetent running baseball.
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