Ag to Sox

[huscroft6]

Sources: Adrian Gonzalez to Red SoxEmail Print Comments133 ESPN.com news services

The Boston Red Sox have agreed to a deal in principle to acquire slugging first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney on Saturday morning.



Gonzalez

The Red Sox have received permission from Major League Baseball to negotiate with Gonzalez on a new contract, the sources said, and Gonzalez's physical examination, one of last hurdles to the deal, could happen Saturday, as Gonzalez was in Boston after being flown in by the Red Sox.

The Padres would not receive any established major league players in the trade, but it's likely the Red Sox would include their top pitching prospect, Casey Kelly, sources have said. Red Sox prospects Anthony Rizzo and Ryan Kalish have also been brought up as possible pieces, sources said.

Sources told Olney it's very possible the Gonzalez deal would mean the end of Adrian Beltre's time with the Red Sox, because while Kevin Youkilis could move to left field, Boston's preference would probably be to shift Youkilis to third base.

Gonzalez is the Padres' most popular player with great crossover appeal to the team's Mexican-American market, a native son who carried San Diego to within a game of a playoff spot in 2010.

He is signed through 2011 at $6.3 million. The Padres exercised his 2011 option on Nov. 1. His contract called for a $5.5 million salary, but performance bonuses pushed the figure above $6 million.

Acquiring Gonzalez, while signing one of two free-agent outfielders, Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth, would give the Red Sox their most potent offensive lineup since the Manny Ramirez trade to the Dodgers in 2008 and make clear why they were willing to lose free agents Victor Martinez and potentially Adrian Beltre.

[secondbase]

thats rather big imho

[ZoomVT]

Boom!

[mrwho]

rip padres

[Da Fanatic]

Good move by the Padres. They knew they weren't going to be able to re-sign him so trade him now and get some players back. Kudos to the Padre GM.

[rjb1816]

really the only move to make here...interesting to see what kind of insane numbers he's gonna put up in fenway

[walk066]

I really hope its worth it because the Sox gave up three top prospects. I really likes Rizzo last year and think he will be a great MLB 1st baseman.

Hoyer knows the Sox farm system, so I knew they would have to be studs.

[ZoomVT]

ESPN now reporting a 4th prospect. Didn't say who

I just hope is not iglesias.

[walk066]

Originally Posted by ZoomVT

ESPN now reporting a 4th prospect. Didn't say who

I just hope is not iglesias.

I heard it was a 4-1 deal a little bit ago. Hoyer had a choice of whoever, so we'll see.

[Serafino]

This is a huge pickup for the Sox. Gonzalez is made for Fenway. He will pound balls against and over the Green Monster. Hits lefties well too. He's in his prime and is a good leader/teamate. Love this trade. Prospects have potential but Gonzo is the real deal.

[ZoomVT]

we just need crawford.

i not big on werth.

[Serafino]

Well I agree with you in preferring Crawford over Werth but I dont think we NEED either one of them. They will come at a real high price. What I think we need more is a couple of solid relievers. I feel that relief pitching is one of the most important aspects of a team, along with defense, yet they are often overlooked.

[smitch124]

Well I'm happy not to face Gonzalez 18 times a year, but gotta be some sweet prospects coming down the pipe for the Pads in the future, mixed feelings.

[Bobtheicon]

[Bronson7]

Thanks Sandy Alderson for not attempting to get AG from the Padres.