The Padres are perhaps the biggest surprise contender in baseball this season, sporting the best run differential and second best overall record in the National League coming out of the break. That doesn't mean they're any closer to locking up franchise cornerstone Adrian Gonzalez though, as Dan Hayes of The North County Times tweets that the two sides have yet to discuss a contract extension.
Earlier this week we heard that Gonzalez was seeking an eight-year contract, which suggests that he and his agent might be using Mark Teixeira's eight-year, $180MM contract as a guideline for his next deal. Unsurprisingly, many teams are still interested in trading for Gonzalez, but San Diego has him under contract through next season for slightly more than $7.5MM. They don't have any motivation to move him at this point.
In fact, the Padres are looking to add offense right now, not subtract it. Gonzalez is the only legitimate power threat on the team, and while he may be looking for a Teixeira kind of contract, the team would be looking for a Teixeira kind of return if they were to trade him, referring of course to the haul Texas received when they sent the current Yankee first baseman to Atlanta.
love Adrian, but no way im giving a 8 year contract to a guy that will be 29 years old at the start of the contract. Pads need to trade him in the off season
He’s been injury free so far in his career and his skill set will age well. He’s a good bet to remain above average by the end of it.
No one is a good bet to be above average at 37. And that money will be paying him to be more than above average.
how many players are above average after they hit 35? He is a great player, but id be afraid once he hits 31-32 how hard his decline starts, Gonzalez isn’t exactly in the best shape, the best thing about him is the consistency in his swing and his extremely quick hands. NO ONE IS WORTH 8 YEARS unless they are dominating the league before they are 25 and due for that extension then
If Adrian can park himself at first for eight years and draw walks and hit home runs, I’m fine accepting the risk if that means having him through his real meat years. No one’s worth eight years but if that’s what it takes, I think there are worse players to gamble on.
The Padres can’t afford to pay him for forty million dollars more production than he gives them, and there’s a very good chance that will happen.
Does nobody remember the 8 year deal that Mark Teixeira got, and he was worth it, or the 10 year deal that A-Rod got at age 30, and he was worth it. And the thing is is that Adrian Gonzalez’s numbers are as good as Teixeira’s while playing half of his games at the least hitter friendly park in the majors. I wouldn’t hesitate to give him 8 years because by the time he reaches the age of 37 he will still be putting up good numbers. First base is one of the least strenuous positions on a player so they tend to last longer. And just because he isn’t in great shape right now (even though he is still in good shape) doesn’t mean he wont attempt to be in great shape as the years go on.
I’m not sure how Everth Cabrera is hitting, but I’d like to see the Friars go after Ryan Theriot
Can’t wait to see him wearing a Red Sox uniform next year.
And Sox fans wonder why we get the reputation we do…
I didn’t say “I wonder how people will stereotype me based off my wishing to see Gonzalez in a Red Sox uniform next year.” In fact, what I said was “Can’t wait to see him wearing a Red Sox uniform next year.” If the Padres are stupid enough to shop him out because they’re afraid of his contract, sobeit.
Could care less what other people think of me or “us” the fans.
Did it say the padres were shopping him out? And at that was it specific they were shopping him to the Sox? You are just digging yourself a hole with a self deserving attitude that a good majority of yankees/sox fans exude on the boards. No need to take it personal if you dont ask it upon yourself
You didn’t say that you wish you could see him in a Sox uniform or hope to see him in a Sox uniform either. It’s fine if you don’t care what other people think about Sox fans, but acting like it is our God given right to get superstars just because we are the Red Sox, makes fans of other teams dislike all of “us”, and so does acting/talking like the deal is already done. Not really a big deal, just a pet-peeve.
It’s pretty easy to “not be afraid” of signing someone to a $20m+/year contract when your payroll is closing in on the Yanks. Welcome to baseball outside of New York and Boston … you know where there are things called budgets and teams have to work within them.
Define closing in. The Red Sox payroll is still $50 million less than the Yankees.
Define closing in. The Red Sox payroll is still $50 million less than the Yankees.
well then can’t wait to see Buchholtz or Lester in a Pads uniform
I’m sure the Sox would happily trade Buchholtz.
Toss i Lester and you might have the start of a deal for A-Gon.
You are so far off its not even funny. No hitter is worth a future ace and a potential future ace, especially when one is 25 and the other is 26 and both are under contract until 2014 at a cheap rate, and the hitter your trading for is 28 and about to hit free agency with no guarantee of signing him to an extension. The Red Sox would be better off waiting until he hits free agency and just give up the draft pics. You may want the world in a deal for your best hitter but that trade would be incredibly stupid and the Sox would never do it, neither would any other team if they had Buchholz and Lester.
You are so far off its not even funny. No hitter is worth a future ace and a potential future ace, especially when one is 25 and the other is 26 and both are under contract until 2014 at a cheap rate, and the hitter your trading for is 28 and about to hit free agency with no guarantee of signing him to an extension. The Red Sox would be better off waiting until he hits free agency and just give up the draft pics. You may want the world in a deal for your best hitter but that trade would be incredibly stupid and the Sox would never do it, neither would any other team if they had Buchholz and Lester.
More like Casey Kelley. The Red Sox wont give up Lester or Buchholz, they have shown that repeatedly when they have had the chance to acquire some of the best pitchers in the game like Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, and Johan Santana.
Casey Kelley better be the third or 4rth best player offered in the deal
If Casey Kelley should be the third or fourth best player in the deal then the trade will never happen. Kelley is in the top 50 prospects and he’s only 20 years old and is expected to be nothing less than a front end starter. The Red Sox want Adrian but they wouldnt ever offer a trade where Kelley was a minor piece in it. No one will trade for Adrian if it takes their best prospect being the third or fourth best player offered in the deal, that would be extremely stupid of any team. Just because you want to see that happen doesnt mean that will happen, even if he was under contract for the next five years it still wouldnt ever happen. You make it sound like the Red Sox would have to trade Lester, Buchholz, Youkilis, and Kelley, or something of the sort which anyone would turn down if that was the asking price. People like you should and will hopefully never be a GM.
Kelly isn’t a top 50 prospect anymore, his Walk rates have rose considerably, he is giving up 11.1 hits per 9 and has a 1.616 Whip and era in the 5s id pass on that
Baseball America put out their mid-season top 25 on the 9th of this month and had Kelly at #24, and MLB Fanhouse had him at #21 on the 1st of the month, I agree his numbers aren’t very good this year, and I do wonder if he is all he was made out to be, but his numbers have to be put into perspective: He’s 20 years old and pitching in AA in his first full year as a pitcher and is one of the youngest players in his league, to compare a little I found a couple other guys who were that young in AA. Neftali Feliz was 20 in AA and had a BB/9 of 4.6 (3.5 for Kelly) and a WHIP of 1.257, in fact he never had a WHIP below 1.000 in any year at any level in the minors (Kelly’s have been .848, .857 so far) the other one I found was Ubaldo Jimenez who was actually 21 in AA and had a WHIP of 1.413 (only 1 year below .900) gave up 8.3 H/9, 1.7 Hr/9 (Kelly 1.0), 4.4 BB/9, 1.71 SO/BB (2.26 for Kelly) now I’m not saying it’s a given that he’s going to be the next Feliz or Jimenez and I’m not even saying he’s a lock to make any impact at the MLB level, no prospect is, but just because a guy has a rough year as one of the youngest players at his level doesn’t mean the guy isn’t any good. By all accounts a 20 year old first year pitcher should be at A or maybe high A.As for your idea that a guy who has been projected as a top of the rotation starter should be the 4th best player in a trade for ANY one player, including Gonzalez, that’s crazy talk.
Good post. I did exagerate to make a point, but I still don’t think Kelly can be the best player in the deal as we will have better offers, it will have to include a elite prospect or a very good looking young player with MLB experience
That I agree with, at this point in his career, with the numbers he is putting up, I don’t think a deal centered solely around Kelly gets Gonzalez.
That I agree with, at this point in his career, with the numbers he is putting up, I don’t think a deal centered solely around Kelly gets Gonzalez.
Casey Kelley better be the third or 4rth best player offered in the deal
More like Casey Kelley. The Red Sox wont give up Lester or Buchholz, they have shown that repeatedly when they have had the chance to acquire some of the best pitchers in the game like Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, and Johan Santana.
But are you still going to like seeing him in Red Sox uniform in 2018 when he is 37? That is the real question.
Daniel hudson-Tyler Flowers-Dyan Vicedio+1-3 more minor leaguers. possibly even Gordon beckham-Flowers-Vicedio+1 more minor leaguer of their choice. One of those deals might be good enough to get the deal done to get hium in a sox uni. The sox have the roster space and Cash to offer him the 8 year deal he is seaking, he and PK can rotate 1-DH for the next few years. If gordon beckham is moved breant lilibridge and his .400 hittin ass can play second full time and call up brent morell to play 3rd full time
Haha. I remember at the beginning of the year their was a post about whether or not the White Sox would be willing to trade Gordon Beckham for Adrian Gonzalez. White Sox fans were livid. All those years of a young stud for 2 years of Gonzalez was ludicrous. How come it’s okay now?
To be honest its really not. Its only sort of ok, if the Brent Lilibridge of right now, hitting .400 is somewhat legit. If Brent Can hit around .270-.300, with his speed and new found power. then Beckham is expendable for the right guy and Gonzo is the right guy. But only if they extend him in a 72 hr window or right after the trade. Yes gordon has had a bad season so far. He is turning it around and playing solid D at yet another new position in 3 years.(was a lifetime SS, moved from ss to 3rd in the minors, played 3rd in the majors, which is kind of a postion change, and now is expected to play 2nd in the majors while over coming the sophmore slump) Beckham can, and more than likely be, the face of the franchise for years to come along with rios and quentin and possibly vicedio. But if you have someone who is faster than many people in the bigs play ok D and hitting the ball at a reasonable clip like Lilibridge seems to be. And if you can get adrian locked up in one of the better hitters park in the game then you get him…if Lilibridge is legit and is what we thought we were getting from the braves and can beat out beckham(HE CURRENTLY IS) and you can get Adrian than you do it. Thats all
And you dont know that it will only be 2 yrs of Gonzo, Reinsdorf has the money and willingness to lock players up to what they want. I could see the sox going after him and if losing out being serious contenders in the Gonzo Free Agent sweepstakes
but seriously play gm for a minute, your second basemen is struggling So if a GM came to you and said “Look it hurts to do but I’ll give you Gordon Beckham, you can play him at 2nd, short, or 3rd. Tyler Flowers, he can catch or play 1st and hit with power, and a few more minor leaguers. If you dont want gordon beckham Ill give you dyan Vicedio instead he has prved he can play 3rd, 1st and hit for some serious power.” I know im biased as a white sox fan, but either one of those deals are hard to pass up.
You’re convincing the wrong person, I would love a package similar to that for Gonzalez. But like I said, when it was suggested earlier, I argued that it would be worth it for the White Sox to give up Beckham and get a player like Gonzalez in return. As a Padre fan, watching this guy day in and day out, he would absolutely RAKE at a park other then Petco. He could literally carry a team into contention.
But as a Padre fan, I know that we are not going to be able to sign him. So I’m hoping he carries us into the playoffs and then we trade him in the offseason for some players that can help our team immediately. Something similar to the Peavy deal which gave us a very talented young lefty, with whom you are familiar, in Clayton Richard.
I’m sure the Padres could potentially get quite a package for Adrian, so I’m not sure any offer from the White Sox becomes that realistic without the inclusion of Beckham. Not because the White Sox dont have other good prospects, just because another team would probably outbid you.
The sox need to stop trading prospects. We’ll never trade Beckham, ever, I don’t care if it was for God, ok maybe for God, but no one else. I’m tired of having a crappy farm.
What about a guy who could run at 600mph with perfect control?
He could just bunt and get an inside-the-diamond homerun every time up.
Beckham had better be the first name you mention or Hoyer hangs up the phone REALLY quickly.
Only way SD even thinks of that, is if Flowers can stick at catcher, Dyan can play a position in the field not first. I like Hudson but that just isn’t enough and Becham I don’t want to touch him
my bad, i re read your post, seriously the Tigers really have Toxic contracts and are in a really competetive division with the Twins and the upside White Sox and after this year they will sell high on Miguel Cabrera and I am sure the Sox can offer a package that Dumbbrowski will take for him
The fact that the Padres and Gonzalez have had no contract talks just makes me sad. Can’t they at least sit down and tell each other no?
It seems to me that A-Gonz and the Padres are in a pickle. A-Gonz clearly isn’t worth $180 million but is worth something and the Padres don’t want to balloon their budget but they want to keep A-Gonz and A-Gonz wants to get paid but doesn’t want to leave the Padres. It’s a difficult situation. In my opinion I think A-Gonz is worthy of a 5 year/$75MM deal tops. Anything more would be overpaying. He doesn’t have the defensive skills of Tex and he seems like a threat for his skill level to fall precipitously without warning. at the same time, it’s not good baseball to assume the worst, especially from a guy as consistent as A-Gonz, so the Padres should probably just bite the bullet and give him a deal that won’t be cheap but won’t be immovable either.
“He doesn’t have the defensive skills of Tex”Are you out of your mind??? Seriously! If he didn’t have great defense that he has, he would be just a very good hitter. His smooth glove and a smooth bat is what makes Adrian – Adrian! I do agree on 5 years/$75mil contract though, it does sound VERY fair. And not because Texeira is so much better or more deserving, but simply because the athletes are too damn overpaid these days.
5yr/$75mm isn’t enough for a guy like Gonzalez these days (as sad as that is). He’s a gold glove 1B, he’s only 28 years old and figuring he stays healthy, has a promising career. It’d be nice if he stayed with the Padres, but I can’t see it happening. Even if they won’t shell out, someone else will.
Comparing A-Gon to Tex is ridiculous… you should be comparing A-Gon to Pujols. How well do you think Albert would do playing at Petco with no protection in the lineup?
Comparing A-Gon to Tex is ridiculous… you should be comparing A-Gon to Pujols. How well do you think Albert would do playing at Petco with no protection in the lineup?