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Adrian Gonzalez

Gonzalez: No Agreement In Place With Red Sox

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Adrian Gonzalez hasn't agreed to anything more than a trade. In a phone interview with the Mexican blog Puro Beisbol (link in Spanish), the normally tight-lipped first baseman denied reports from Sports Illustrated, USA Today and other sources that he and the Red Sox have tentatively agreed to an extension that won't be announced until April in order for the team to avoid luxury tax.

"Nothing about that is true," Gonzalez told Fernando Ballesteros. "It's false. I haven't signed any contract." Indeed, by Gonzalez's account, the two sides have yet to even delve into specific figures, despite word that he asked for, and received, approximately $161MM over eight years. "We discussed the trade, but we didn't reach any agreement, and we didn't negotiate numbers," Gonzalez explained. "The only thing I have for sure is the contract that I had already signed with the Padres, and what I can tell you is that over the course of the season we're going to negotiate to reach an agreement."

Left unasked was what, specifically, led to the impasse that nearly derailed the trade last week, but Gonzalez's quotes leave open the possibility that it centered on expectations of years rather than salary. When asked if eight years, $161MM was his goal, Gonzalez stayed mum, saying, "Look, the market changes every day in baseball. Right now I don't know what to tell you because the team could use it to its advantage, so the day that [the Red Sox] want to sit down and discuss my contract, we'll happily do it, and that day we'll say what we want."

Gonzalez gives no indication of discontent with his new team in the interview, insisting that he is "enthusiastic" about both the upcoming season and reports of how his power will play in Fenway Park. However, his portrayal of the negotiations tempers expectations, at least for the time being, about the dawn of a Gonzalez/Crawford decade in Boston.

Red Sox Notes: Buchholz, Gonzalez, Ellsbury, Okajima

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Here's the latest on the Red Sox, including some continued fallout from the blockbuster Adrian Gonzalez deal…

  • The Red Sox are interested in adding a complementary right-handed bat, GM Theo Epstein tells Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald (Twitter link).
  • The Red Sox have offered Taylor Buchholz a minor league deal and are one of 12 teams to express interest in the right-hander, according to Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal.
  • Felix Doubront, Jed Lowrie, and Jacoby Ellsbury's names were all discussed in the Boston/San Diego trade talks, says John Tomase of the Boston Herald.  Ellsbury was the only one that drew much interest from the Padres, but they decided against him since Ellsbury's forthcoming arbitration raise would make him too expensive and a trade candidate himself in the near future.
  • Also from Tomase, both Chicago teams were "finalists" for Gonzalez and were offering at least one major league player in their trade packages.  Ultimately, San Diego decided that it preferred the prospects in Boston's offer.
  • John Boggs, Gonzalez's agent, talks to WEEI.com's D.J. Bean about the contract extension negotiations that nearly held up the trade on the weekend.  "We’re not working in a spirit to get [the Red Sox] by the jugular or squeeze every nickel, or set a precedent-setting deal," Boggs said.
  • The agent for Hideki Okajima tells ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes (Twitter link) that he will talk with the Red Sox "soon," though there has been "pretty strong" interest in Okajima from some other clubs.
  • It's not often the Red Sox are priced out of a signing, but FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal says Jayson Werth's contract with Washington may have made Carl Crawford too expensive for Boston's liking, especially since the Sox now have to fit a Gonzalez extension ("the parameters" for which are $154MM over seven years) into their budget.  The Red Sox may instead focus on acquiring relievers or finding a cheaper outfield option, like trading for Josh Willingham.
  • Adrian Beltre's asking price is $85MM over five years, Rosenthal reports.  Boston would be interested in re-signing the third baseman if "the market for Beltre collasped," but the plan is to play Kevin Youkilis at third with Gonzalez taking over at first.  Rosenthal says the Red Sox aren't considering moving Youkilis to left field to make room for Beltre.

Red Sox Acquire Adrian Gonzalez

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After being the subject of trade rumors for close to two years, Adrian Gonzalez is finally on his way out of San Diego. The Padres will send their star slugger to the Red Sox in exchange for Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo, Reymond Fuentes, and a player to be named later. The Red Sox and Padres officially announced the deal this morning. While no extension is in place, GM Theo Epstein told reporters he's very confident they'll work something out.  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports is hearing a seven-year, $154MM ceiling.

If Boston waits until after Opening Day to officially ink Gonzalez to a new contract, the deal will not impact the 2011 payroll, saving them money on the luxury tax. Several high-priced members of the Red Sox come off of the books after 2011, including David Ortiz, J.D. Drew, Marco Scutaro, and Mike Cameron. 

The 28-year-old Gonzalez is one of the game's premier power-hitters, with no fewer than 30 home runs in each of the last four years despite playing half his games in spacious Petco Park.  The Red Sox made the best offer, but Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets that both Chicago teams were serious bidders. The trade all but guarantees that Adrian Beltre will not be returning to Boston, reducing his leverage on the open market. The Red Sox are expected to put Gonzalez at first base and slide Kevin Youkilis over to third.

Kelly, 21, is the headliner for San Diego. He was the 30th overall pick in the 2008 draft and owns a 3.69 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 190 career innings split evenly between Single and Double-A. After dabbling at shortstop earlier in his career, Kelly is a full-time pitcher now. Despite the less than stellar statistics, Callis said the Red Sox still "[envisioned] him becoming a frontline starter with three possible plus pitches and above-average command," and he expects Kelly to rank in the 30-50 range of the publication's upcoming Top 100 Prospects list (Twitter link).

Rizzo, also 21, was a sixth round pick in 2007 and has broken out since missing most of the 2008 season to get treatment for Limited Stage Classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He's hit .279/.349/.476 over the last two years, mostly at the Single-A level. Callis writes that he "generates plus power with strength and leverage" and "should hit for a solid average and draw some walks." Rizzo was also voted the best defensive first baseman in the Double-A Eastern League by managers this season.

Fuentes, 20 in February, is a center fielder like his cousin Carlos Beltran, and hit .270/.328/.377 in 2010, his first full season after being the 28th overall pick in the 2009 draft. Although he "may need four or five seasons in the minors," Callis says he has similar tools to Jacoby Ellsbury but projects to be better with both the bat and glove down the road.

ESPNBoston's Gordon Edes and Dan Hayes of the North County Times first reported that the two sides were closing in on a trade, with Jon Heyman of SI.com eventually tweeting that the deal had been finalized. In between, a slew of writers added details to the proceedings. For the full timeline of events, check out our posts leading up to the agreement.

MLBTR's Mike Axisa, Luke Adams, and Zach Links contributed to this post.

Odds & Ends: Red Sox, Werth, Padilla, D’Backs

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A grab bag of overnight links, as we look forward to updates out of Orlando….

Adrian Gonzalez Trade Falls Through

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SUNDAY, 5:17pm: The Red Sox still have not given up on pulling off a deal for Gonzalez and there remains a chance that they could do a trade without agreeing to an extension, tweets Heyman.

2:45pm: Odds are that Gonzalez won't wind up with the Red Sox, a source tells Morosi (via Twitter), though the reporter cautions that this could change quickly.  Meanwhile, a rival executive told Rosenthal (via Twitter) that the possibility of a deal happening won't die unless the Red Sox turn around and sign Adrian Beltre.  The third baseman may have lost a suitor this afternoon as it seems that the A's will turn their attention elsewhere.

2:19pm: The possibility of Gonzalez going to Boston isn't dead yet, a source tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).

2:00pm: Late Thursday, a Padres source indicated that the club wouldn't field more offers for Gonzalez if the deal with Boston didn't work out, Heyman tweets. 

1:56pm: Even though the window is closed for an extension, the two teams can still work out a deal, tweets Rosenthal.

1:43pm: The deal fell through, a source tells Jon Heyman of SI (via Twitter).

1:32pm: Boston might be okay with just laying out parameters with Gonzalez and finalizing a deal during Spring Training if the slugger is healthy, says Joel Sherman of the New York Post (via Twitter).

1:13pm: The BoSox could still make the deal without an extension, provided that the parameters are close, Heyman tweets.  Going into overtime may not be an issue as the league understands the significance of the player and the situation, Heyman adds (via Twitter).

1:07pm: As of a couple of minutes before the 1pm CST (2pm EST) deadline, both sides were at a standstill, tweets Alex Speier of WEEI.

12:41pm: Gonzalez's camp doesn't want to discuss an extension unless it happens now, tweets Dan Hayes of the North County Times.  He adds that this could be a sticking point in the talks.

12:29pm: Unsurprisingly, there is a strong sense in the Gonzalez talks that the BoSox won't make the trade unless there is an understanding that a deal can be reached, Buster Olney of ESPN tweets.  The negotiating deadline is at 1pm CST.

10:11am: CSNNE.com's Sean McAdam and Dan Hayes of the North County Times provide conflicting updates: McAdam tweets that there's a "good feeling" following talks that continued through the night. On the other hand, Hayes tweets that the two sides are at something of an impasse, and there's a chance the trade won't happen. The negotiating deadline is now less than three hours away.

8:26am: Heyman (Twitter link) hears that teams discussing Gonzalez with the Padres told San Diego they only wanted to talk parameters for an extension because of the slugger's shoulder issue. As Alex Speier of WEEI.com explains, however, the surgically repaired shoulder isn't the only reason it might make sense to postpone an official extension – the Red Sox could save millions in luxury taxes by waiting until the season begins to ink a deal.

Meanwhile, an AL executive tells Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe that he thinks Gonzalez is seeking an eight-year contract worth about $160MM. Cafardo suggests that, while the Sox may not go that high, a compromise seems likely. The negotiating window closes in just a few hours, so we should get some resolution soon.

SATURDAY, 10:34pm: The Red Sox suggested a six-year contract at some point during the negotiations according to Heyman (Twitter links), but they don't want to do a contract on par with Mark Teixeira's eight year, $180MM pact.

9:26pm: Heyman tweets that the Red Sox might be willing to make the trade without signing Gonzalez to an extension. They might actually prefer to just talk about contract parameters now, then see how his surgically repaired shoulder holds up in Spring Training. In the off chance that the trade does not happen, the Padres would keep Gonzalez and not field offers.

8:41pm: In a pair of tweets, SI.com's Jon Heyman says that the two sides are optimistic about reaching a deal before tomorrow's deadline. He adds that even though Gonzalez, David Ortiz, and J.D. Drew are all left-handed hitters, the Red Sox would not be discouraged from pursuing Carl Crawford, another lefty bat.

7:22pm: Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reports that the two sides have not yet reached an agreement, but they're still trying. He notes that if they can't work out a contract, the Red Sox could still choose to go forward with the trade if they feel they've made enough progress and are confident they could extend Gonzalez in the future.

5:21pm: With all of the players agreed to and the physical passed, the only thing left before the Adrian Gonzalez trade can be made official is a new contract. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (via Twitter) that the first baseman and his new team won't have very long to negotiate; the deadline is 2pm ET on Sunday.

Earlier today we heard that Gonzalez was seeking a Ryan Howard-like contract, and in the past a deal on par with Mark Teixeira's has been rumored. 

Reaction To The Adrian Gonzalez Trade

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If all goes according to plan, Adrian Gonzalez will soon become the newest member of the Boston Red Sox.  Here's a sampling of opinion from around the baseball world on the deal that has been talked about for quite some time..

  • Gonzalez could put up monster numbers in Fenway, says Alex Speier of WEEI.com.  During the 2009 All-Star game, the slugger told the site that he was long curious about what it would be like to play his home games in a different park.  Petco, of course, is less-than-friendly to hitters.
  • The "Human Trade Rumor" will prove that he has been worth the wait, says Scott Miller of CBSSports.com.
  • While the proposed deal may seem to favor the Red Sox on the surface, Keith Law of ESPN (Insider subscription required) sees it as being pretty even.  While there's a lot to like about the makeup of right-hander Casey Kelly, Law points out that he is also a great defensive pitcher.  His fielding is so strong in fact that Law writes that "it's like having an extra infielder on the diamond."
  • Corey Brock of MLB.com (via Twitter) says that the Padres still need a first baseman in the short-term.
  • Heath Bell says he's okay with the deal if it makes San Diego better in the long-term, according to Marty Caswell of XX1090 radio (via Twitter).
  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes that the deal would shake up this winter's hot stove.  The trade would certainly hurt free agent Adrian Beltre, who would lose leverage as a result.
  • Rival executives have mixed feelings about the Padres' return for Gonzalez, tweets Rosenthal.
  • BoSox pitcher Tim Wakefield likes Gonzalez as a player and a person, tweets Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.
  • The Red Sox used their deep pockets to get the man they wanted, writes Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.

Red Sox, Padres Agree On Adrian Gonzalez Trade

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11:33am: Hayes tweets that the two sides have had the deal in place since Thursday night, which is what prompted the flight to Boston.

11:23am: Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com reports (via Twitter) that Gonzalez has already taken his physical and his surgically repaired shoulder "should be fine." Some minor tests still need to be completed.

11:13am: MLB.com's Peter Gammons tweets that the player to be named later is not a "prime guy." The two teams determine who exactly it will be later.

10:52am: Morosi tweets that Gonzalez is seeking a Ryan Howard-like contract. Howard signed a five-year contract extension worth $125MM earlier this year.

10:13am: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that the Padres will also receive a player to be named, so it's a 4-for-1 swap. The 40-man roster freeze is in effect until next week's Rule 5 Draft, so it's possible the player is a minor leaguer not on the 40-man that's eligible for the Rule 5.

10:04am: Heyman tweets that there is still work to be done as far as a contract extension for Gonzalez, and that it could take a day or two. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports confirms with a source that the trade is "not completely done." (Twitter link)

9:14am: Hayes tweets that the package includes Kelly, Rizzo, and Reymond Fuentes. ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes says (via Twitter) that Theo Epstein flew from San Diego to Boston with Gonzalez, and MLB.com's Corey Brock says that Jed Hoyer implored his scouts to scour the lower level of the minors in 2010 (Twitter link). The second and third player in the deal are key.

9:01am: SI.com's Jon Heyman tweets that negotiations about a contract extension will begin shortly, and that Kelly is in fact in the deal. WEEI.com's Alex Speier adds that multiple Red Sox prospects rumored to be in the deal have yet to hear anything from the team about a trade (Twitter link).

7:39am: Olney tweets that the Red Sox flew Gonzalez into Boston to help move the process along, and he is there now.

6:30am: Adrian Gonzalez is expected in Boston today for a physical, reports Nick Cafardo of the Globe.  Gonzalez had shoulder surgery to clean up his right labrum in October and has a four or five month recovery timeline.  Cafardo says talks have centered around Casey Kelly and Anthony Rizzo, and the deal "would likely involve three or four players from the Sox, including one who is major league-ready."  ESPN's Buster Olney says that all players have been agreed to and the Red Sox are now trying to work out an extension with Gonzalez.  MLB has approved a negotiating window.

SATURDAY, 12:01am: The Red Sox are very close to acquiring Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres, tweets Dan Hayes of the North County Times.  Hayes says the trade would just involve Gonzalez and not Heath Bell, whose name has come up in other rumors.  Hayes adds that the deal will only involve minor leaguers – not players such as Jacoby Ellsbury, Daniel Bard, or Jed Lowrie.  Top Red Sox prospect Casey Kelly would definitely be involved.

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Olney’s Latest: Gonzalez, Red Sox, Reynolds, Reyes

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Rival executives have been expecting Adrian Gonzalez to land with the Red Sox at some point, and right now it's on the verge of happening. ESPN's Buster Olney writes (Insider req'd) that once the Gonzalez deal is complete, Boston will still have enough financial flexibility and the leverage to pursue a high-priced player like Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth.

The Padres, meanwhile, will be left to explain to the fan base that trading the team's best player is a good thing. Here are the rest of Olney's rumors…

  • The Orioles are the "clear front-runner" for Mark Reynolds. Last night we heard that Chris Tillman's name has come up in trade talks.
  • The Mets will listen to offers for Jose Reyes, and unless the two sides agree to a contract extension, they will move the shortstop before the trade deadline next July.

Cubs, Other Teams Also Pursuing Adrian Gonzalez

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The Red Sox aren't the only team in the hunt for Adrian Gonzalez.  "Multiple teams besides [the] Red Sox," including the Cubs, are interested in the Padres slugger, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com.  This isn't the first time we've heard about Chicago's interest in Gonzalez, and the Cubs' search for a big-hitting first baseman may have intensified now that Adam Dunn has signed with the crosstown rival White Sox. 

Two big obstacles stand in the way of a Cubs/Padres deal: the Cubs' ability to provide the blue-chip prospects that San Diego desires in any Gonzalez trade, and whether the Cubs can afford the long-term extension that Gonzalez wants after 2011.  One obviously impacts the other, since it would be foolish for the Cubs to move several prospects for just one season of Gonzalez.  With the Carlos Silva and Kosuke Fukudome contracts coming off the books after this year, Chicago has about $63MM committed to their 2012 payroll.

Besides the Cubs, Rosenthal lists the Angels, Blue Jays, Orioles, Nationals, Rangers and Rays as having a "possible interest" in a Gonzalez trade.  All of the teams could potentially afford a Gonzalez extension except Tampa Bay, and all of the clubs have intriguing minor league prospects to interest the Padres (though it might be hard for L.A. to acquire Gonzalez without giving up star prospect Mike Trout).  Dan Hayes of the North County Times tweets that it's the Cubs and Red Sox, however, who are the "main focus" of San Diego's trade talks.

Red Sox Notes: Bell, Beltre, Martin, Wakefield

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The increase in Adrian Gonzalez trade chatter is the biggest news out of Fenway Park today.  Here's a bit of extra news about those rumors plus some other Boston notes…

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