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« Odds And Ends: Dodgers, Davis, Prospects | Main | Royals To Sign Wil Myers For $2MM »
Red Sox Acquire Alex Gonzalez
2:55pm: According to their team Twitter, the Reds are sending cash to Boston to help cover the remainder of Gonzalez's $5.4MM salary. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that the Reds are sending $1.1MM along. When you figure in the $500k buyout, there's a minimum of about $2MM remaining on Gonzalez's deal.
1:20pm: Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports that the Red Sox are sending minor league shortstop Kris Negron to Cincinnati in the deal. The Red Sox selected the 23-year-old in the seventh round of the 2006 draft and he's now hitting .264/.338/.347 with 20 steals in high-A ball.
1:13pm: Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe says the deal is complete, though the Red Sox have yet to make an official announcement.
1:03pm: Peter Gammons of ESPN.com reports that the Red Sox are finalizing a deal to acquire Gonzalez.
12:17pm: The Red Sox acquired shortstop Alex Gonzalez from the Reds, according to Gary Dzen of the Boston Globe. It's not known what, if anything, the Reds will receive in exchange for Gonzalez, who just cleared waivers. He makes $5.4MM this year and there's a $6MM option on his contract for next year that the Red Sox can buy out for $500k. Dzen expects the Red Sox to release Chris Woodward.
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Not much an offensive upgrade. But definitely an defensive upgrade over Green. Talk to Tazawa about Green. lol
Posted by: cdk | August 14, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Hooray for another SS that can't hit.
Posted by: fitz | August 14, 2009 at 12:24 PM
I like it he played well his last stint, obviously a huge defensive upgrade and as far as O goes he can't be much worse.
Posted by: lestermyhound | August 14, 2009 at 12:27 PM
I am wondering who the Reds will put at SS now. I have heard that the Reds in 2010 was going to move Brandon Phillips at SS to make room for Todd Frazier at 2B. Kinda wondering if that may happen now.
Posted by: tbone88 | August 14, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Big defensive upgrade and huge offensive downgrade. Maybe a late innings defensive replacement?
Posted by: bjsguess | August 14, 2009 at 12:28 PM
what's that? ... we got A.Gonz! wow, how awesome! we've been trying to get him since before the deadline! ... huh? ... oh, I see. Alex Gonzalez, not Adrian ... *sigh*
well, at least there should be fewer defensive miscues. but having Nick Green become our bench guy in late-and-close situations? ouch!
Posted by: Andy P | August 14, 2009 at 12:30 PM
"Big defensive upgrade and huge offensive downgrade. Maybe a late innings defensive replacement?
Posted by: bjsguess | August 14, 2009 at 12:28 PM "
Offensive downgrade from who? Lowrie? Green?
Posted by: Zack | August 14, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Nick Green has better bat and UZR.
What is Theo thinking?
Posted by: Giants34 | August 14, 2009 at 12:32 PM
I think Alex will be the everyday ss over Green until Lowrie returns. It doesn't make sense to re-acquire Alex Gonzalez as back up by releasing Chris Woodward.
Posted by: cdk | August 14, 2009 at 12:33 PM
At least there is no limit for DL spots. Sox will need one with Gonzalez.
As much as liked him in 2006, he is just to injury prone. Thank goodness it's just a couple months.
Posted by: johns | August 14, 2009 at 12:33 PM
Nick Green was playing over his head the first month or so. He's been absolutely god awful lately. This is a good move.
Posted by: gfulla | August 14, 2009 at 12:33 PM
As a Reds fan, this makes me happy. I was so sick of Dusty batting AGon second every chance he could.
Have fun in Boston Alex!
Hopefully this means either Brandon Phillips moves over to short for the rest so they can test him out at his new position.
Posted by: wishfuldrifter | August 14, 2009 at 12:34 PM
"Offensive downgrade from who? Lowrie? Green?"
Yes, he is an offensive downgrade from Jed Lowrie. Unless you're basing your opinion of Lowrie on a small 2009 sample size, most of which he was hurt for. No, you wouldn't be silly enough to do that...
Posted by: zsberenyi | August 14, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Poor Chris Woodward...
Posted by: Arock1234 | August 14, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Tazawa game was the last straw. Green misplayed two consecutivee ground balls. Green had his chance.
Posted by: cdk | August 14, 2009 at 12:39 PM
*smacks head*
Nick Green is a career backup/AAAA player.
Gonzalez, at least, is a late inning replacement.
I also think this signifies that Lowrie's injury is going to end his year (because when he gets back, where does he go...?)
Posted by: UGotRPK3113 | August 14, 2009 at 12:41 PM
As unimpressive as Alex may be, the Red Sox needed him. Green has been just awful. Anyone who has watched the RS can see that this guy is not an everyday shortstop. Gonzalez plays beautiful defense. Big Upgrade. Fortunately, Francona will bat him 9th instead of 2nd. His offensive numbers this year are shockingly terrible. Still worth playing over Green.
Posted by: Mr_Punch | August 14, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Agon is silky smooth at SS, I'll miss watching him.
Posted by: jbibbali | August 14, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Lowrie is on the DL again so you cant say Gonzalez is a downgrade from him- he's not forcing Lowrie to the bench.
Posted by: Zack | August 14, 2009 at 12:44 PM
uh wow! guess this isnt that bad of a move deff is an upgrade at what we got but in the offseason or still right now id like them to try to get a decent Shortstop because they really need it of all the postions they need to address that the most.
Posted by: Blacknightt71 | August 14, 2009 at 12:45 PM
How is Gonzalez a defensive upgrade over Green? Green beats him in nearly everything on fangraphs in defense, and beats him in value. So, there is no way he is an upgrade over Green.
Posted by: BravesRed | August 14, 2009 at 12:46 PM
"Green beats him in nearly everything on fangraphs in defense, and beats him in value."
Is this the same fangraphs that ranks Varitek near the top of catchers rankings, Tex and Youk near the bottom for 1st basemen? Why do some of you people act like that place is like the Holy Grail for stats???
Posted by: johns | August 14, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Defensive stats aren't perfect...yet.
Posted by: jbibbali | August 14, 2009 at 12:49 PM
I'd imagine Woodward will be heading back to Seattle, with Jack Wilson and Beltre out.
Posted by: H0RAT!0SANZSERIF | August 14, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Is this the alex gonzalez the sox had before, or the other one?
Posted by: aklaft | August 14, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Folks, Gonzalez has a UZR/150 of 4.0 this year. Nick Green has an 8.0 UZR/150 at SS. Green's RF/9 at SS is 4.9, compared to Gonzalez's 4.0.
Despite his more obvious miscues, Green's younger and has better range and a cannon arm. He is actually, despite appearances, doing better defensively than Alex Gonzalez.
And remember, Gonzalez is a year and a half older and has a CAREER slash line of .246/.293/.393. This year, his slash line is .210/.258/.296. I seriously hope the Red Sox didn't give up anything even remotely valuable for a guy whose OBP is 100 points below average.
Posted by: metafrantic | August 14, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Yes the same Alex Gonzalez from before. I think the other one is referred to as Alex S. Gonzalez and I don't believe he plays anymore (I could be wrong, just definitely not in the majors).
Posted by: Boomer | August 14, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Wow. Good move for the Reds but this opens a big hole in their IF. Some folks mentioned B. Phillips may be moving over to SS, but I wondered about Drew Sutton as a possible replacement. He's already up with the club and after all, they did trade Keppinger to get him. If I were the Reds I would give Sutton a long look to see what he can do.
Posted by: DavidA | August 14, 2009 at 01:07 PM
I called this one last week. Phillips will play SS for the rest of the year.
Posted by: Marty Homan | August 14, 2009 at 01:08 PM
"I think the other one is referred to as Alex S. Gonzalez and I don't believe he plays anymore (I could be wrong, just definitely not in the majors)."
Far as I seen, he hasn't played in the majors in a few years, but the minor league site doesn't have him on their site and he's not on any of the other baseball sites, so I say he is out of baseball.
Posted by: BravesRed | August 14, 2009 at 01:11 PM
"I called this one last week. Phillips will play SS for the rest of the year."
The proverbial mess has stuck to the wall this time, got to gloat about that! Kudos!
Posted by: jbibbali | August 14, 2009 at 01:14 PM
Alex Gonzalez played the first portion of the season on one leg. To put up those defensive numbers as hampered as he was is quite impressive.
Alex Gonzalez is a defensive upgrade over all but a handful of MLB SS, despite what UZR says about 68 games this season.
Posted by: Tom | August 14, 2009 at 01:20 PM
Wow, even got a player back. If the reds are off the hook for cash as well, then this deal worked out nicely.
Posted by: jbibbali | August 14, 2009 at 01:33 PM
In 2007 Alex Gonzalez was performing on 2 legs, and he was not near as good defensively as he was claimed to be.
He's just not that good. The Reds Sox can have make all the defensive plays in the world, and hit for a .200 average and .290 OBP. He's horrible. Good luck.
Posted by: Rob Dicken | August 14, 2009 at 01:43 PM
Red Sox also get $1.1 million cash from the Reds.
Posted by: TJ Sox Fan | August 14, 2009 at 01:43 PM
According to Tony Massarotti on The Sports Hub, Gonzalez has a clause in his contract where he can reject the option if it is exercised.
Posted by: TJ Sox Fan | August 14, 2009 at 01:45 PM
Gonzo and the rest of the ridiculous 06 red sox defense probably saved a few wins that they didn't deserve. (David Pauley anyone?)
Shame lowrie hasn't worked out.
Posted by: yuppiescum | August 14, 2009 at 01:56 PM
I wouldn't write off Lowrie yet, but he's very close to being labeled injury prone.
Posted by: TJ Sox Fan | August 14, 2009 at 02:00 PM
Actually no, in 2008 he also suffered from leg injuries; not to mention dealing with the sickness of his infant son throughout the course of the season.
I'm not making excuses for him, but he's been very good with the glove for a long time.
Posted by: Tom | August 14, 2009 at 02:16 PM
Hence the July knee surgery in 2008.
But hey, UZR/150 says he was bad, so that must be it.
Posted by: Tom | August 14, 2009 at 02:20 PM
cincy fan, i come in peace.
gonzo is not the player that you guys remember---he has lost a couple of steps in the field. hopefully being in a pennant race will get the blood stirring and help him elevate his game.
go sox
Posted by: red legs | August 14, 2009 at 02:38 PM
Moving Phillips to short would be stupid because second is his natural position. Keep him at second and survive until after the seaon and try to sign a shortstop.
I believe Hairston is a free agent after this year... I see nothing wrong with resigning him.
Posted by: kwk08 | August 14, 2009 at 03:10 PM
Even with the cash its a decent trade for both teams. Sox get insurance for the rest of the season in case Lowery can't stay healthy ... and the Reds get a decent mid level prospect that has the potential to be an adequate utility players. Those kinds of guys are worth their weight in gold.
Posted by: Gunner65 | August 14, 2009 at 03:22 PM
Uh, no. Phillips natural position is SS. He came up as a SS and was only moved to 2B because the Indians already had Peralta. There's absolutely nothing wrong with at least trying him there for the rest of the year. If he works out, then keep him there, and it's one less thing to worry about in the offseason. If not, sign someone. But the Reds should at least try it. Todd Frazier will probably be ready to play 2B at some point next year. An infield of Rolen-Phillips-Frazier-Votto is nice.
And laugh out loud. Hairston is a super utility player at best. He's not a good SS, either. If the Reds sign him to be their everyday SS, then Jocketty is a huge idiot.
Posted by: Gonzaga10 | August 14, 2009 at 03:23 PM
"Shame lowrie hasn't worked out."
You can't judge Lowrie on anything from the 2009 season. He has not been healthy in 1 game this entire season.
Boston is probably better off now just shutting him down for the rest of the season and getting EXACTLY what is wrong with his wrist fixed once and for all. This problem has been going on since last August and needs correcting.
Posted by: johns | August 14, 2009 at 03:54 PM
"Is this the same fangraphs that ranks Varitek near the top of catchers rankings, Tex and Youk near the bottom for 1st basemen? Why do some of you people act like that place is like the Holy Grail for stats???"
Totally agree.
I'm one of the biggest supporters of defensive metrics, but the primary flaw with UZR is that it's extremely volatile in small sample sizes.
You can't take a fluctuation in UZR from one season to the next as a legitimate change in defensive ability, you need to look for overall trends over the course of an extended period of time.
Gonzalez has a great track record of UZR numbers throughout his career, and you can't assume that he's declining defensively based on such a small number of games.
Posted by: scribbletone | August 14, 2009 at 03:59 PM
He's 32 years old, has leg problems, and can't hit - like I said, Boston can have him. he's not good at all, and hasn't been for a long time.
The guy made 17 errors in 2007 with a .963 FPCT, and didn't fracture his knee until 2008 spring training. Te has a LIFETIME fielding percentage of .970 - That's not too good.
He's a mediocre fielder who can't hit. Good luck.
Posted by: Rob Dicken | August 14, 2009 at 05:14 PM
" Te has a LIFETIME fielding percentage of .970 - That's not too good."
When you have great range and can get to balls that most fielders can't get close to, then you're going to make a few more errors as a function of that. You're going to save a lot more runs that way though. This is very simple.
Posted by: scribbletone | August 14, 2009 at 05:26 PM
Gonzalez hasn't been the same player since the leg injury. He's lost a couple of steps defensively, still fields what he gets to, but he doesn't have the range that he had prior.
Posted by: schellis | August 14, 2009 at 06:33 PM
"Is this the same fangraphs that ranks Varitek near the top of catchers rankings, Tex and Youk near the bottom for 1st basemen?"
Um, no?
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=1b&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=6&season=2009&month=0
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=c&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=300&type=6&season=2009&month=0
Posted by: zsberenyi | August 14, 2009 at 07:27 PM
Not a great signing, but perhaps a necessary one.
I'm still feeling that they'd had been better off with some of their other 'former' SS talent like O-Cab.....or, hell, even Nomar!
Oh, Hanley! Where for art thou?
Posted by: Bloody Sock | August 14, 2009 at 11:06 PM
(Fake) Bloody Sock - The second best player in baseball and turned into Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell.
Posted by: AA | August 15, 2009 at 02:48 AM
"(Fake) Bloody Sock - The second best player in baseball and turned into Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell."
Yeah, I find it odd that Red Sox fans seem almost dissatisfied with the Hanley trade. I mean, he did become as good as one could possibly imagine, but they landed their everyday third baseman for years and an ace that's headed their rotation to a WS title and he's still holding that position.
That was a great move by Boston, even if Hanley became a monster.
Posted by: scribbletone | August 15, 2009 at 07:47 AM
I think you've misread my comment. I'm not dissatisfied with the Hanley trade as much as I lament what the Sox have done with the SS position since Nomar.
Since that late July in 2004, we've had:
O-Cab
Renteria (cost something like $20mil)
Gonzo
Lugo (cost us the better part of $36mil)
Lowrie
Green
Gonzo (part deux)
...and those were just the main players. I read someplace that we've played 18 total people at SS.
Posted by: Bloody Sock | August 15, 2009 at 02:40 PM
Oh look the Red Sox sign yet another former Marlin...
Posted by: ManOfTeal | August 17, 2009 at 01:41 PM