Yes!!! Gonzalez in Boston for physical

While the Yankees are still screwing around trying to figure out how many millions to pay a 37 year old shortstop, the Red Sox are actually improving their team. Nice move by the Sox.

I wonder where they'll now trade Lars Anderson?

quote:

Originally posted by 06catcherdad:
I wonder where they'll now trade Lars Anderson?

How about to Arizona along with Ellsbury as part of a package for Upton?

Tremendous move for Boston as this guy has been a great offensive force in one of the worst hitter's parks with no protection in the lineup. Look for big numbers in the middle of the Bosox lineup.

Good to see the Red Sox awake from hibernation, and put a crowbar to their wallet. I can only get so excited about them signing Tek for $2M as a backup catcher. FINALLY, something to get excited about. Presumably, Youkalis moves to 3rd. Lord, I miss Mike Lowell before he got hurt, but Youkalis will be an overall upgrade in the prime of his career. Now we see why Victor Martinez was priced the way he was, because VMart was a "nice to have" not a "got to have". Yes, I realized I just criticized the Sox GM for being value conscience, but it gets old sitting and watching others throw wood into the winter baseball "hot stove".

06catcherdad - I had the same inital thought about Lars Anderson when I read this. They can hold him and develop him or use him as leverage for another deal now or in the future.

You can always count on the Padres to do what's best for San Diego! Wow, I'm not a Padres fan, but AG is a home grown San Diego kid that probably would have taken a little less to stay home if the money was right? This is great for Redsox fans, Gonzales is going to tear it up at Fenway!

As much as I regret losing Kelly, it's a great deal if they can get Agon signed to an extension.

I don't believe the Padres were going to take Gonzalez to an 18-20M per year long term contract from 5M a year. They had to make the trade. I think I read somewhere the trade is contingent on the Sox signing him.

It was already well known that Gonzalez was not going to be resigned by San Diego after this contract. They absolutely could not tie up 25 or 30 percent of their payroll in one guy. So the best thing was to get the best package they could. His existing contract is very team friendly and will leave money for another Boston move. Getting him now means one more year of his prime(age 28) in a Boston uniform.

Yes, I would assume Youk goes to 3B and Lars gets dealt. Gonzalez should trump the Yankee's Texiera deal. We'll all miss Lowell. He was a huge part of 2007, but that was then...

I'm looking forward to a 41 year old Jeter patroling Yankee middle infield.

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
I don't believe the Padres were going to take Gonzalez to an 18-20M per year long term contract from 5M a year. They had to make the trade. I think I read somewhere the trade is contingent on the Sox signing him.

I'm sure you're correct, but of all times to make an exception, this would have been it IMO...this is similar to the Joe Mauer situation in Minnesota, they did the right thing and kept the home grown talent.

The Mauer situation was helped by a larger payroll, the timely building of a new ballpark with much new revenue, and a lesser percentage of the overall payroll to the player.

And the Orioles (yes, they still have a team, with uniforms and everything...) drop further into oblivion....

I'll give the Red Sox big props for having the guts to pull the trigger-you have to give a lot to get a lot. The days of stealing players for nothing are long over...

quote:

Originally posted by Three Bagger:
The Mauer situation was helped by a larger payroll, the timely building of a new ballpark with much new revenue, and a lesser percentage of the overall payroll to the player.

I don't know why the Twins would have a larger payroll than the Padres? Petco Park is relatively new, and yet San Diego doesn't entertain the same philosophy? I suspect the two areas are similar in population? I really could care less about the Padres, I'm a Dodgers fan...it just appears that the Padres organization isn't in this to win? I will say one thing, Southern California fans in general are pretty fickled. The Pads had a very good season in 2010, yet they rarely broke the 30K mark in attendance. I've had season tickets to the Chargers for fifteen years now, and I've endured many poor seasons prior to this latest insurgence the past five years...after last seasons debacle against the Jets in the playoffs, SD fans are now fickled again, and three of the first four home games were blacked out (not televised locally) as they did not sell out. I'm rambling...so I apologize, I'm just disappointed that an organization doesn't attempt to keep a home town player like Adrian Gonzalez...yet, I also realize that if they signed him to a multi year contract, the fan base probably wouldn't support the team anyway...maybe there's too much to do in San Diego???

A lot of it goes back to what ownership is WILLING to spend. The opening day 2010 payrolls were 97.5 million for the Twins and 37.8 million for the Padres. Most new parks bring in the most revenue in their first two to three years. Plus the Twins have had winning clubs lately while San Diego had not been a contender lately.

quote:

Originally posted by Three Bagger:
A lot of it goes back to what ownership is WILLING to spend. The opening day 2010 payrolls were 97.5 million for the Twins and 37.8 million for the Padres. Most new parks bring in the most revenue in their first two to three years. Plus the Twins have had winning clubs lately while San Diego had not been a contender lately.

Yeah right. Missed the 2010 season did you

Were a 4A team thinnly diguised as a MLB club. Always crying small market money woes when the reality is the owner Jeff cheap bast*rd Moorad is not willing to invest anything in helping this team to win. Last year we missed the playoffs by a game,after leading the division for 146 days. No money to pick up a player or two on the stretch run but apparently there was enough in the piggy bank to buy a 3A Portland Beavers for 16m. Not to mention luxury tax and revenue sharing monies throw in 2.1m in attendance at $50 a head and there's another 100m . A-gon. Needs to go, he's earned the big pay day.

In 98 the mgmnt opened up the purse strings and S.D won the NL championship. They did so not to win a championship, but to sway the publics opinion on a the upcoming ballot for a new downtown ballpark. They did, and it was built. Once the ballpark was approved Padres mgmnt went back to their dumpster-diving for players. not my term but Kevin Towers. S.D fans aren't fickle... There just not stupid

I didn't miss the 2010 season. That's why I used the word "had" not contended lately. I meant before this season.

Really, the Padres could have afforded his salary but the fact that it would be such a big percentage of the payroll is why they didn't keep him, I guess.
I kind of think the Padres caught lightning in a bottle this year and it would have taken some real luck this year to contend with the same cast of characters. Any time missed by Gonzalez due to injury would have been fatal. So if they won't or can't get other stars to share the load, they might as well let him leave and get several players for him.

He'll need 80m-100m contract. Padres cannot afford that. I believe they were picked to finish last in the division in 2010. They overacheived last year and Moorad reaped the benefits. Heh, your picked to come in last and you almost win the thing. Probably considered a banner year. Padres would have had a fire sale last year, but they screwed up and started winning. It's not about winning it's about making money. With revenue sharing and recieving small market welfare checks in place, they could literally field a team at the MLB league minimum, without spending a dime from attendance and advertising. Look for the the S.D Padres to change their name to the West Coast Pirates in the next few years.

Gonzalez to stay put for now, MLB Network just reported that the Red Sox couldn't come to an agreement with him.

Something about Adrian wanting 8 or more years and Red Sox only wanted to go 6.

Padres may reconsider keeping him after they read this thread.

Also, Jayson Werth to Nationals in 7 year deal.

Adrian has publicly stated on numerous occasions,his obligation in negotiating a contract is to set the tone for future players coming into free agency. That would explain the rejection of the Red Sox proposal. He's a giver

From boston.com (Boston Globe):

UPDATE, 8:05 p.m.: It appears the deal was done without an extension. Look for the Red Sox to come to an agreement, but not announce it until after Opening Day. That would allow them to save millions on the luxury tax.

It is likely that the Red Sox and Gonzalez have an understanding of what the extension would be, otherwise it would be risky to trade three prospects for one year out of the first baseman. This is basically what happened with Josh Beckett last spring. There was a deal in place that was announced after Opening Day.

It also would allow them to make sure Gonzalez recovers from the surgery he had on his right (non-throwing) shoulder. But that is not a major issue.

UPDATE, 8:21 p.m.: Just for the record, the trade is still Gonzalez for Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo, Rey Fuentes and a player to be named later. That would indicate to me that the Sox feel an extension is in place.

From bostonherald.com, 1pm:

The Red Sox got their man today. Adrian Gonzalez was introduced as a member of the Red Sox this morning, as the team rolled out the player who is expected to hold the first base position through the year 2018.

full story

quote:

Originally posted by dswann:
Adrian has publicly stated on numerous occasions,his obligation in negotiating a contract is to set the tone for future players coming into free agency. That would explain the rejection of the Red Sox proposal. He's a giver

And he claims he'll boycott the 2011 All Star Game in Arizona.

As a Red Sox fan, I'll hope he just hits and keeps his mouth shut.

Cheapskates: (from bostonherald.com) The Padres did not have a lot of interest in big leaguers like Jed Lowrie and Felix Doubront. They did discuss Ellsbury, but he’s due a healthy raise in arbitration to as much as $3.5 million, and they feared they’d just be forced to sell him off in a couple of years like they’re selling Gonzalez now, particularly with Scott Boras representing him.

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It appears the Padres were only interested in paying AA minor league salaries. When Kelly, Rizzo and/or Fuentes become successful MLB'ers do they get traded for prospects in about 2017?

Kind of presumptious, assuming you are going to be a certain all star pick. Truthfully, while it would be more interesting to see the Red Sox and Yankee books opened, the books that really NEED to be made public, especially since the public built your ballpark are teams like the Padres.

quote:

Originally posted by Three Bagger:
Kind of presumptious, assuming you are going to be a certain all star pick. Truthfully, while it would be more interesting to see the Red Sox and Yankee books opened, the books that really NEED to be made public, especially since the public built your ballpark are teams like the Padres.

If a pro sports franchise wants public funding for a sports facility they should have to open the books. Somehow I feel if every city said "no" to building facilities, pro sports would still survive. I remember once reading the ROI pitch is BS. There's more revenue generated in building shopping malls

I'm just hoping this opens an opportunity for SDBB's son, who's coming off a pretty good year in High A for San Diego.

I know the Padres have Kyle Blanks on the roster, and though he's been parked in the OF of late he could return to 1B next year. They got a slugging 1B back in this trade and also had another slugging 1B at AA. So, not exactly a clear path for Allan Dykstra, but it wouldn't be the first time others fell flat and left the path open.

BTW, anyone know why San Diego is the only team that the MiLB.com site shows without an AAA level team? Is that really the case, is it a web site glitch, or is their affiliation just in flux this winter?

quote:

BTW, anyone know why San Diego is the only team that the MiLB.com site shows without an AAA level team? Is that really the case, is it a web site glitch, or is their affiliation just in flux this winter?

The Padres' Triple-A team will play at least the 2011 season in Tucson after relocating from Portland, Ore.

The team has yet to be named - general manager Mike Feder said Tucson Padres is a possibility. A lease to use TEP is about 90 percent completed, Feder said. The agreement is for one year with an option for another.

The team is being sold to an ownership group headed by Padres owner Jeff Moorad, who intends to move the team to Escondido, Calif. The city council will vote Nov. 30 on construction of a $45 million to $50 million ballpark.

It used to be Portland. Probably in the process of switching affiliations. Boy are the Red Sox fans in for a treat. He was a one man wreaking crew in SD the past few seasons with no one hitting around him, in a pitchers park.

Edit: Hawk beat me to it. Comments on Gonzales still stand!

quote:

Boy are the Red Sox fans in for a treat. He was a one man wreaking crew in SD the past few seasons with no one hitting around him, in a pitchers park.

BOF,

I hope you're right because someone has to equal or surpass Beltre's awesome 2010 year and numbers. He'll probably bat third. So he will get some looks hitting (presumably) between Pedroia and Youkalis.

Here's my guess on the lineup assuming no more roster changes:

1) Ellsbury
2) Pedroia
3) Gonzalez
4) Youkilis
5) Ortiz
6) Drew
7) Cameron or Kalish
8) Saltalamaccia
9) Scutaro or Lowrie if Scutaro gets traded

Plug in Crawford batting third while removing Cameron/Kalish would be ever better. But it probably won't happen.

Ellsbury could be part of a trade for Upton. But the Sox are probably done dishing out prospects in trades this year.

The other focus is middle relief and getting something for Papelbon before he walks.

What outfielders are available for free agency next year? The Sox will need two plus a DH with Cameron, Drew and Ortiz on the last year of their contracts. Kalish will get one position. I would think the Sox would sign a free agent rather than adding Reddick and having two young outfielders.

He will provide more power than Beltre and he has done it more consistantly the Beltre also. If I had a choice, hands down it would be Gonzalez.

All Boston has to do this year to improve by 5 or 10 games is to just be luckier in the injury department.

As a native San Diegan, Boston is getting a gem! You will love Adrian, because he does everything the right way. A great role model for the kids, and he is a very faith based young man.

I hated to see him go, but I will keep tabs on him as he peppers the Green Monster to death!!!! I would hate to pitch to that line up next year.

Lefty

quote:

Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
I'm just hoping this opens an opportunity for SDBB's son, who's coming off a pretty good year in High A for San Diego.

I know the Padres have Kyle Blanks on the roster, and though he's been parked in the OF of late he could return to 1B next year. They got a slugging 1B back in this trade and also had another slugging 1B at AA. So, not exactly a clear path for Allan Dykstra, but it wouldn't be the first time others fell flat and left the path open.

BTW, anyone know why San Diego is the only team that the MiLB.com site shows without an AAA level team? Is that really the case, is it a web site glitch, or is their affiliation just in flux this winter?

Padres are in the process of purchasing the Portland Beavers (3A) And moving them to Escondido Ca. 30 minutes away from Petco.