Proposed deal signals chance of direction for Red Sox
Holy cow.
A regular old day of playing out the string quickly turned into something astounding when news broke of the proposed nine-player megadeal that would send more than $270 million worth of Red Sox -- Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto -- to Los Angeles for first baseman James Loney and four prospects.
The deal won't be complete until at least Saturday pending the exchange of medicals and the resolution of Crawford's and Beckett's no-trade rights, but the ramifications for the Red Sox are far-reaching. For one, they rid themselves of Beckett, one of the most polarizing players in franchise history. For another, they free themselves from the shackles of two of their worst contracts (Beckett has a $31.5 million remaining over his final two years, while Crawford is owed a staggering $102.5 million).
"That's a lot of talent, a lot of money," said second baseman Dustin Pedroia. "It's a lot of things."
Even though losing a bat as potent as Gonzalez's will hurt, the Sox also save roughly $127 million on his contract, giving them the financial flexibility to build the team however general manager Ben Cherington sees fit.
The deal is not just a salary dump. In addition to Loney, the Sox are expected to receive four prospects: flame-throwing right-hander Rubby De La Rosa, who once threw 100 mph and is just over a year removed from Tommy John Surgery; No. 2 prospect Allen Webster, a righty with a 3.55 ERA in 22 starts at Class AA, and infielder Ivan De Jesus and outfielder Jerry Sands.
From the Red Sox's perspective, this one is a stunner. In trading Gonzalez and Crawford, they're repudiating the 2011 offseason, when they committed almost $300 million to a pair of hitters expected to anchor their lineup.
While some will undoubtedly call for the Sox to sign free agent outfielder Josh Hamilton or pony up a huge extension for Jacoby Ellsbury, don't be surprised if they go in a different direction and focus on building around a core that includes Jon Lester and Dustin Pedroia, with minor leaguers like Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr. only a year or two away.
In an event, after a year of misery, let the healing begin.
