24
2012
Red Sox and Dodgers Closing In On Blockbuster Deal For Beckett, Gonzalez, Crawford
An article by 
Looks like the New York Mets acted just in time grabbing catcher Kelly Shoppach from the Red Sox when they did.
It now appears that the Dodgers are willing to take the leftovers in a nine-player blockbuster trade that have first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, outfielder Carl Crawford, infielder Nick Punto and starting pitcher Josh Becket going from the stormy Boston clubhouse to sunny Los Angeles in what might be one of the biggest waiver trades in MLB history if it goes down as is being reported.
The suddenly rich Dodgers are willing to assume most of the salary which is very considerable and the Red Sox will even get a few prospects out of the deal.
According to MLBTR here is what the four main principles are owed and keep in mind Becket has veto power::
- Gonzalez will earn $21MM per season through 2016 and obtain a raise to $21.5MM for 2017-18. The total exceeds $130MM when accounting for the remainder his 2012 salary.
- Beckett will earn $15.75MM per season through 2014. As noted above, he must approve any trade.
- Crawford will earn $20MM in 2013, $20.25MM in 2014, $20.5MM in 2015, $20.75MM in 2016 and $21MM in 2017. His contract allows him to block trades to two teams.
- Punto earns $1.5MM per season through 2013.
Now here’s something you won’t ever see happening in Flushing….
Nice job by the Red Sox who don’t beat around the bush and in one loud statement say they are rebuilding and being refreshingly honest about it. That’s how you do it, you clean house all the way, not one piece at a time over three to four years. No taking three years to assess, just do it.
Nice job by the Dodgers who in one bold move say we are not broke, and we are playing to win a championship right now – today. Big statement to their fan base here. No mincing words or playing word games like they do in Queens. Ballsy moves, much like the Nationals the last two seasons…
Two teams who know what the plan is, are not afraid to take risks, and whose actions speak louder than words.
One of us will update this once they figure out the final details…
Deals like this are always pretty exciting to see unfold…
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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Good move, I wonder what the Dodgers are sending to Boston?
I heard it might be Zach Lee, De La Rosa, Loney, Jerry Sands and Ivan DeJesus
Cmon Joe D really? If the Mets had traded Reyes, Wright & Dickey in year 1 for prospects people would have spontaneously combusted.
No, that’s not true. Some of us would have just passed out for a few minutes. but then we would have been okay once they gave us some oxygen.
LoL
I hope this influence the mets so they can trade wright and dickey
I do like the idea of clearing house, but how can a team that already has a reasonably high team payroll take on so much more?
Well, new Dodger ownership is far from broke, so no problem proving it here with these deals.
Our owners are counting pennies shopping at the day old bread store.
If only they were forced to sell a year or two ago.
What will be real, real interesting is how much $ is taken by LAD – I have to assume that will be the snag if there is one.
If they take the $, I want to see Boston fan base reaction. Do they accept it and say “we need a change” or do they throw a “big market pout fest”
Because this is as big of a rebuilding trade as you can make.
You realize this means that the Red Sox financial commitments heading into 2013 would be roughly $50mil? That’s how big of a swing this is. They have 175m in commitments in 2012
My favorite reaction so far from a Sox fan friend of mine “I’m half indifferent, half sad, and some wierd extra part sick to my stomach. I hate this team. I love the Red Sox, but I hate this team.”
Wowser! All four passed waivers? A-Gon too? That’s amazing. BTW point well taken on your message Joe D. For 2 years we’ve been half assing it with no real direction if we are rebuilding or competing.
Ken, Boston claimed both Beckett and AGone. I assume this would mean they claimed the others as well
How can a team just trade away gonzalez. I don’t get it. It seems as though movement or change is prefered over thought out manuevering. Taking on Crawford’s contract is rediculous. Trading a franchise player such as Gonzalez is rediculous; however, some will herald the move as genious because The Mets didn’t do it. Both of these franchises could be screwed for years with a move like this. If the Dodgers are able to get Boston to eat a fair portion of Crawford and Beckett’s contracts then they are a genious but why would Boston do that.
Nathan – He’s their bargaining chip. They want to rid themselves of Beckett and Crawford. They gotta give up something valuable to get something back for those 2.
AGone is the most logical with all the bad press etc.
I don’t think they want to lose AGone – I think they are accepting of it though to move on from all the drama
Drama or not I just can’t see it. I would lose my mind if I was a Boston fan. If I was a LA fan I would not be overjoyed at the contracts they are taking on. I don’t know I guess I long for the days of franchise players and wise spending on FA. Boston made their bed and if they are lucky enough to get out from under it then more power to them. I for one prefer the method used by the Mets over the past two years.
So far I haven’t spoken to a red sox fan who doesn’t understand what the trade was about.
Even if they know what it is about, salary dump, I would be extremely dubious about their chances to contend for a few years and by then the guys they have may be passed their peak. Toronto handled their financial crisis in a much more measured way and they are better off for it. Each team has their own idiocyncrisis so what works for one won’t work for another but I am glad the Mets have gone the route that they have. I would have been crushed if they sent Wright out the door just to rid themselves of Bay.
Hi Nathan,
If I was a Dodger fan, I wouldn’t be too interested or worried about the money they are going to spend. Look at their ticket prices for good seats compared to ours. Yes, some go for $80 but there are so many good seat locations that go for $25 or $30. And upper deck seats for less than $10! No Dynamic Pricing, no Gold, Bronze, Silver etc.
Television revenue enables them to keep the cost down – along with the many tax breaks they get from Los Angeles County.
I knw what you are saying joey but I am looking at it from the view of future payroll strain. These deals are long term and high dollar they could possibly be debilitating to future signings.
I’d hate to be Dustin Pedroia right now. You know he’ll be the next one waived.
This is when Sandy start showing he is for real.
This is when Sandy takes notes and realizes he must trade Wright. You do not rebuild halfway. They aren’t keeping him. Activate his option and trade him at the Winter Meetings.
*IF* they did that – Boston looks like a pretty nice destination now no? Start with Middlebrooks and what else ya got?
just sayin IF
If they offered Middlebrooks, I would take him and a bag of balls.
So if this deal does goes down that takes Boston out of contention for the next 3-5yrs?
I can’t see that happening….. Boston has a
A rookie 3rd baseman Middlebrooks
A rookie catcher Ryan Laverway (sp)
A rookie gold glove shortstop in AAA
they are set at 2b with Dustin Pedroia
1b James Looney
if they resign David Ortiz and Jacobi Elesbury. they should have a good cheap team.
They have 4 quality starting pitchers if all are healthy next year
Need: power hitting right fielder
a good closer in Bailey
smart.. very very smart!
If Crawford is traded, they’ll need a LF with power. I wonder what team has a LF supposedly with power that used to play well in Boston that might be willing to eat boatloads of salary just to dump him. Let me know if you come up with anyone. I’ll think about it, too.
Maybe they take a LF that is good IN the clubhouse and did well in Boston where he should have stayed, even if the team he is on now has to pay for some of the contract and we do not get much for him. Did I give that away….Bay.
So I guess Gonzo is being traded because he allowed his cell to be used for the infamous text? Maybe this was his plan all along. To get traded back to the west coast.Who knew Adrian Gonzalez Master Strategist. He must be a monster at chess.
jonmorosi (TV / Radio Personality) Source: #Dodgers have agreed to send Allen Webster, James Loney, Jerry Sands, Ivan De Jesus, and Rubby De La Rosa to #RedSox. @MLBONFOX
http://twitter.com/jonmorosi/statuses/239146049904734210
ohh I was close earlier. So they flipped Lee and Webster.
Nice job by both. Red Sox will be real interesting to watch.
Big market just went small market payroll
Allen Webster, James Loney, Jerry Sands, Ivan De Jesus, and Rubby De La Rosa
To succesfully rebuild, the Mets needs to start from ownership.
Yes new ownership would be refreshing!
Steve Berthiaume @SBerthiaumeESPN
#RedSox may be first team in history to actually get rid of all the players and not the coach/manager.
https://twitter.com/SBerthiaumeESPN/status/239148553329586176
nickcafardo (Beat Writer / Columnist) Source: Sox will have to wait approval of whether Josh Beckett will waive no trade. Indications are he will.
http://twitter.com/nickcafardo/statuses/239149804498857984
Yes, that’s the difference between the Sox and the Mets.
The Sox spent all those years living under THE CURSE.
Us Mets fans just CURSE our ownership.
It’s obvious the Dodgers want to win whereas the Mets just go thru the motions of wanting to win
Meanwhile the clueless Mets could have used a right handed bat like even Cody Ross and they do nothing. Yesterday Alderson yapping away that we are going to compete in 2013 and he’s changing the team on the field. Yeah right. Says he’s got all the prospects he needs to make trades now. Counting 2011 and 2012 he brought in 52 players, all in Kingsport, Brooklyn and 3-4 in Savannah. Wave the rally towels!!! He rebuilt the farm system and teams are banging down the doors for all these new kids that are 4-5 years away.
Cody Ross is a free agent – they can get him next year if you want?
Well he shouldn’t command that big a deal and he has the right handed power we need, god knows he’s used it often against us. He’s the kind of guy you bring in at the trade deadline and then sign him to a 2 year extension. This F/O has no vision or plan. They are flying by the seats of their pants.
I like Ross for the situation the Mets are in
My problem is the Red Sox were not out of it in July.
July 15th they were 1.5 games out
July 20th, 2 games
July 30th, 4 games and above .500
They had a better chance than the Mets in mid to late July. So why trade Ross?
They were saying on ESPN that a bunch of teams had inquired about Ross and the Sox were asking the moon for him, so everyone hung up on them.
So Is this a vote of confidence for Bobby V.? I was thinking Bay would somehow end up back in Beantown. Does this trade help that happen?
So this means Davis Wright will be playing in Boston come 2014. Well Boston or St. Loius. He’ll thrive in either city.
Excuse me, St. Louis.
How many homers does David hit over the green monster? You know if the Mets did a salary dump like this back in 2009 we’d be able to keep Wright and Reyes. Too bad. Wilpons aren’t exactly forward thinking.
I was at Fenwau tonight. It was interesting to hear the news trickle through the crowd and stadium employees, who were calling people they knew for more info.
I like a Red Sox blog called Over The Monster and they have a good reaction piece up right now:
http://mobile.overthemonster.com/2012/8/24/3266675/Adrian-gonzalez-trade-carl-crawford-josh-beckett-red-sox-dodgers
Oh and the Dodgers are eating 260 out of 270 million
Joe, if this goes down as reported it is an awesome move by the Red Sox. They are unloading huge money and dead weight in Beckett and Crawford, a potential salary albatross in Gonzalez, and getting back Loney, who can offset a touch of what Gonzalez brings, while getting two of the Dodgers top pitching prospects. If Johan had continued to pitch well through the All-Star break, this is exactly the kind of move the Mets should have thought of making. Gonzalez and Beckett might help the Dodgers in the race this year, but long term this is tremendous for the Red Sox.
Lol, are you kidding me? Dude the dodgers have new owners who are apparently trying to make a statement. They did by taking on 55 mill per year for agone who is the only player worth trading for out of those players. It is a horrible deal for dodgers, look at money owed, length of their contracts, and their production. They just saved the red sox from years of losing, the statement they made is that they are complete idiots. Of course Boston would move these players, lol. Why is Boston in this position? Because spending to much money poorly like most teams do when trying to hold on to try and win like instead of rebuilding sooner, or trying to make a statement like the dodgers and go for it, and then they get stuck with huge contracts with 30 year old players who don’t play close to their contract and team losers.
Mets have Santana and bay coming off books after next year, if they wanted to get rid of them in a trade to dodgers for argument sake, wright would have to be in the deal, and I would do it in a heart beat. Of course most fans think it is absolutely crazy to trade wright, lol, he is a great piece at third but extremely movable, example, Anaheim needs a third baseman, a package of wright and whoever else for trumbo I would do in a heartbeat.
This year was never about winning, it stinks to see them play like they are, but the starting pitching looks very good, very affordable, and very young! They have trade chips, and 2 big contracts coming off books after next season, if they can rebuild that bullpen like Arizona did last year and the orioles did this year to go with that starting pitching they wil be very strong. They do need to add some players to the line up, but not the wrong ones, it does not have to be 20 mil a year players. It’s about how you spend not how much you spend. That’s why Philly is under 500, boston is trying to dump money, and Tampa and Oakland are fighting for wild card, Oakland and Tampa are forced to do it but that’s how it’s done. Difference with mets is they can speed up the process because they have a much bigger payroll. Next year and year after you will all see the huge improvement and division champ team of 2014.
Exactly Peter. AGone wasn’t a salary dump. AGone was the sacrificial lamb (based on all the other drama probably) to get Beckett and Crawford off the books.
Nobody is taking Beckett and Crawford PLUS giving valued prospects without a guy like AGone in the deal.
This deal still being unofficial to me says there are $ issues. That’s the whole reason for Boston to do it so I am curious to see what happens
Hi Jessep,
Agreed.
It’s really about obtaining Gonzalez and hoping that Crawford can make a comeback next year for some top rated prospects and a good but non-power hitting first baseman.
Josh Becket has not been the consistently good pitcher over the years and since pitching is not the weakness of this club it appears the Red Sox demanded he be included in the deal as a salary dump in order for L.A. to get Adrian Gonzalez who will add tremendous punch to a poor run scoring team and who knows – a rejuvenated Carl Crawford for next year as well. Puento can’t hit but does give them a utility infielder for the moment.
The salary dumping certainly would also relieve the Sox from a lot of money they could re-invest into the team so it would not require them re-building from scratch. I think, however we have an idea where that saved money would go if this were the Mets instead. LOL
The difference with the Met situation, however, is that Boston indeed isn’t even “hanging around” like some put it about last year and that they are also following a collapse even worse than we had in 2007 and 2008.
On paper, it seems to help the Dodgers more, despite the financial burden which I think will be offset by their television revenue and sweetheart tax breaks they have with L.A. County. Gonzalez and Kemp are a dangerous one-two punch and again, if Crawford comes back, their hitting could possibly be deadly. And trading their prospects is exactly what Omar did to obtain Santana and others – though we must also remember few of the prospects Omar traded ever amounted to anything other than Joe Smith. That could be the risk for Boston.
The Dodgers are a mixture of young players and veterans with an average age of 30 so they have time to replenish their minor league system with draft picks.
Looks like the Red Sox did an amazing job of dumping all of the whiny malcontents who organized a mutiny last week in two deals. (Awesome that the Mets got one of the bad seeds.)
Not only did they dump these underperforming trouble makers, they dumped a mountain of cash of their books.
Addition through subtraction. Was this bunch going to overtake the Yankees, Rays, or even Orioles in the next few years? No! They saved money, face, and started the next rebuilding job all at once.
I wonder what other team could use that type of decisiveness??????
Hi Christopher,
Didn’t even make a connection between the petition and the trade but has it been confirmed which of the Red Sox players were involved? Carl Crawford it would be doubtful since he is recovering from Tommy John surgery and his participation would be the ultimate gall based on his performance in Boston.