Red Sox Working On Major Deal With Dodgers

[Enigma869]

So long Josh Beckett...Damn stiff. I'll drive him to the airport!

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/i ... ources-say



Dodgers, Red Sox Mega Deal

Sources: Dodgers and Red Sox nearing deal to send Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto to Los Angeles.

BOSTON -- The Dodgers and Red Sox are closing in on a deal that would send Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto to Los Angeles, though a few hurdles remain before it's official, multiple baseball sources said Friday.

Pitcher Rubby De La Rosa will be headed back to Boston as the centerpiece of the deal, sources say. De La Rosa made his first major league appearance of the season Wednesday, having had Tommy John surgery about 13 months ago. Also included are first baseman James Loney and prospects Ivan De Jesus (infielder) and Jerry Sands (outfielder), according to sources, plus another top prospect that is still unknown.

The Dodgers optioned De La Rosa to Triple-A Albuquerque Friday afternoon.

Giving up Gonzalez would be a shocking change of direction for the Red Sox, who in December 2010 traded two of their top prospects -- first baseman Anthony Rizzo and pitcher Casey Kelly -- to acquire the first baseman. Gonzalez is making $21 million this season, the first in the seven-year, $154 million extension he signed in April 2011.






SportsNation: Trading Adrian Gonzalez?

The Dodgers have put in a waiver claim on Adrian Gonzalez. Should the Red Sox trade him?
Comment and vote!



But with the Red Sox essentially out of contention for a playoff spot and the Dodgers under new ownership, Los Angeles is aggressively making a strong bid to bolster its chances for this season and the future.

Beckett, a 10-and-5 player, has the right to refuse to go to L.A.

It's likely the Dodgers would absorb most, though not all, of the $261 million that Gonzalez, Beckett and Crawford are owed after this season.

A Red Sox official, speaking on the condition of anonymity Thursday, insisted the Red Sox had no issues with Gonzalez on or off the field, but said the club was exploring all avenues to improve. Ridding itself of Gonzalez's salary might free up resources that would allow it to make significant improvements to a pitching staff that has significantly underperformed.

"I think something is happening, but I'm in a state of disbelief that it is," one baseball source said Friday.

Gonzalez was asked about the Dodgers rumors before Friday's game, where he was in the Red Sox lineup batting fifth.

"Waiver questions? I'm not talking about that," he said.

During his daily pregame news conference, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine was asked about the situation.

"I have no thoughts at all," Valentine said. "I saw it scroll on the bottom of my TV."

Valentine said he had a conversation with general manager Ben Cherington earlier in the day, and Gonzalez was not mentioned.

"I talked to Ben this afternoon and there was no mention -- at all," Valentine said. "There wasn't a mention of 'who do you want?' There wasn't any conversation, so I believe it's nothing more than the standard operational of a guy gets claimed, it's a block, it's not a trade and life goes on."

Gonzalez leads the Red Sox in batting average (.300), RBIs (86), on-base percentage (.343) and hits (145) this season.

The Red Sox and Dodgers had broached a trade for Gonzalez at the July 31 trade deadline, but sources with both clubs insisted the talks never got beyond the preliminary stage.

The deadline is 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday, when the Dodgers' claim on Gonzalez expires.

[AR]

Can't see anyone taking Crawford's salary

[slucero]

They should just trade Bobby Valentine instead... problem solved...

[Enigma869]

They should just trade Bobby Valentine instead... problem solved...

If you seriously believe that, you know NOTHING about this Red Sox team. Valentine is a jackass, but he isn't close to the reason this team is so pathetic. Remember, this is the same group of guys who completely quit on Francona last September. Complete douchebag of a team!

[slucero]

They should just trade Bobby Valentine instead... problem solved...

If you seriously believe that, you know NOTHING about this Red Sox team. Valentine is a jackass, but he isn't close to the reason this team is so pathetic. Remember, this is the same group of guys who completely quit on Francona last September. Complete douchebag of a team!

For a sports nut you outta know ALL teams have prima donnas.. the higher the cap.. the MORE there are...

Valentine has done NOTHING to bring any kind of continuity to the Sox... His method of managing is to do it from a distance, and alienate his players, hell, he doesn't even talk to his coaches... that's how he's always managed... and that's why in 16 years as a manager he's won ONE pennant(2000 Mets)

Baseball is a team sport.. and Valentine has no clue what "team" means..

... the Sox deserve better... and Valentine isn't it.

Gutting the team will not solve anything.

[Enigma869]

For a sports nut you outta know ALL teams have prima donnas.. the higher the cap.. the MORE there are...

Valentine has done NOTHING to bring any kind of continuity to the Sox... His method of managing is to do it from a distance, and alienate his players, hell, he doesn't even talk to his coaches... that's how he's always managed... and that's why in 16 years as a manager he's won ONE pennant(2000 Mets)

Baseball is a team sport.. and Valentine has no clue what "team" means..

... the Sox deserve better... and Valentine isn't it.

Gutting the team will not solve anything.

Sorry dude, but you're flat out wrong. Listen...I don't disagree with your point that Valentine wasn't the right hire and said it at the time. That said, there has NEVER been a team in the history of any sport that needs to be gutted more than this Red Sox team. Hell, these fuckers couldn't even show up at the funeral (which was on an off day)for Johnny Pesky (Valentine was there) who was Mr. Red Sox and with the team for more than 70 years. That tells me that this team has ZERO fucking character. I've been a diehard Sox fan for many decades and I fucking HATE this team!

[Enigma869]

Letter I sent to John Henry (the owner of the Red Sox).

Dear John Henry...

I have been a Red Sox fan for more than three decades. I still remember my first trip to Fenway Park back in the 1970's, and how in awe I was by seeing "The Green Monster" in person. I remember running home from school as a boy, just so I could catch the end of a day game in April. The Red Sox have brought me a whole lot of joy over the years, as well as some disappointment. T
hroughout the good times and bad, I have always been very proud to be a Red Sox fan. When the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004, it was the most amazing moment of my life (until my children were born). I couldn't believe that I had finally witnessed something that many generations of Red Sox fans before me (including my grandmother) never had the opportunity to celebrate.

I was always very proud of what the Red Sox represented, on and off the field. I've cringed a bit over the past 15 years, as I've watched the Red Sox focus on selling bricks and leading sing-alongs of "Sweet Caroline", as this organization morphs into something that it never was...A self-absorbed, and selfish organization, who is only concerned about revenue streams and anything that feeds the machine that is "Red Sox Nation".

I can only hope that you recognize that as the "owner" of this team, you owe the public the highest level of trust. I implore you to make drastic changes in the off-season, and ensure that this team has players and employees throughout the organization, who represent the core values of what this team has always represented. As a fan, I can accept a team who doesn't always win. I will never accept a team who has zero respect for the uniform they wear and the city they represent.

I thank you for the two World Series victories. I also resent you for building a team who are absolutely impossible to cheer for. The City of Boston doesn't like this team, and it's time for you to start listening to the reasons why. You may be the "owner" of this team, but this team is not yours. It is our team, and we want it back!

Sincerely,

A Lifelong, and Pissed Off Red Sox Fan

[slucero]

For a sports nut you outta know ALL teams have prima donnas.. the higher the cap.. the MORE there are...

Valentine has done NOTHING to bring any kind of continuity to the Sox... His method of managing is to do it from a distance, and alienate his players, hell, he doesn't even talk to his coaches... that's how he's always managed... and that's why in 16 years as a manager he's won ONE pennant(2000 Mets)

Baseball is a team sport.. and Valentine has no clue what "team" means..

... the Sox deserve better... and Valentine isn't it.

Gutting the team will not solve anything.

Sorry dude, but you're flat out wrong. Listen...I don't disagree with your point that Valentine wasn't the right hire and said it at the time. That said, there has NEVER been a team in the history of any sport that needs to be gutted more than this Red Sox team. Hell, these fuckers couldn't even show up at the funeral (which was on an off day)for Johnny Pesky (Valentine was there) who was Mr. Red Sox and with the team for more than 70 years. That tells me that this team has ZERO fucking character. I've been a diehard Sox fan for many decades and I fucking HATE this team!

We can agree to disagree...

I love Fenway (my favorite park).. never been.. but I'm real glad its still there.. the old parks have so much more character.

Since the deal is done, and Valentine wins.. gonna be an interesting off-season.. now that the SOx have some cap to play with.. they can get some more primadonnas... lol..

lesse how they like (or don't like) Valentine...


Good article here: http://www.boston.com/sports/blogs/obno ... dgers.html

[conversationpc]

The only guy I feel bad for is Crawford. He sucked last year but it wasn't because he didn't play hard and not work his ass off and he's one of the few guys on the team that manned up and took responsibility for their suckitude in September last year. I can deal with a guy who struggles but still plays and works hard. I can't deal with players like Beckett who suck and then blame it on others and generally act like jerks.

[portland]

They should just trade Bobby Valentine instead... problem solved...

If you seriously believe that, you know NOTHING about this Red Sox team. Valentine is a jackass, but he isn't close to the reason this team is so pathetic. Remember, this is the same group of guys who completely quit on Francona last September. Complete douchebag of a team!

I just sold my seats.....I can't even go and watch.

[strangegrey]

They should just trade Bobby Valentine instead... problem solved...

If you seriously believe that, you know NOTHING about this Red Sox team. Valentine is a jackass, but he isn't close to the reason this team is so pathetic. Remember, this is the same group of guys who completely quit on Francona last September. Complete douchebag of a team!

Um, it aint the team either....its the fucking city and the massholes that inhabit it. Its like a virus.

[AR]

Go Orioles!

[Enigma869]

Um, it aint the team either....its the fucking city and the massholes that inhabit it. Its like a virus.

Typical, moronic statement from a New Yorker! There isn't a city in this country (including NY) whose teams have won more over the past 10 years, so I think your theory might be slightly flawed!

[conversationpc]

Um, it aint the team either....its the fucking city and the massholes that inhabit it. Its like a virus.

Typical, moronic statement from a New Yorker! There isn't a city in this country (including NY) whose teams have won more over the past 10 years, so I think your theory might be slightly flawed!

I don't think he's talking about winning or losing but the type of people. That being said, New York doesn't exactly have a reputation for being a friendly town.

[Enigma869]

I don't think he's talking about winning or losing but the type of people. That being said, New York doesn't exactly have a reputation for being a friendly town.

Calling it a "virus" and that it's not the "team", but the "people" tells me that he is calling the people of Boston shitbags. That coming from a New Yorker is fucking hilarious. It's like Charles Manson questioning Ted Bundy's character!

[AR]

So the Dodgers actually took Crawford? Wow. Pretty surprised about that.

[conversationpc]

I don't think he's talking about winning or losing but the type of people. That being said, New York doesn't exactly have a reputation for being a friendly town.

Calling it a "virus" and that it's not the "team", but the "people" tells me that he is calling the people of Boston shitbags. That coming from a New Yorker is fucking hilarious. It's like Charles Manson questioning Ted Bundy's character!

I was thinking of saying something like Joan Rivers ragging on Michael Jackson for having too much plastic surgery.

[conversationpc]

So the Dodgers actually took Crawford? Wow. Pretty surprised about that.

He should be good to go for next year and I think he'll thrive a lot more in the NL.

[Enigma869]

I was thinking of saying something like Joan Rivers ragging on Michael Jackson for having too much plastic surgery.

Right...exact same thing!

[Enigma869]

So the Dodgers actually took Crawford? Wow. Pretty surprised about that.

Not really much of a surprise to me. The reality is that the Dodgers made it very clear to the Red Sox that they wanted Gonzalez and the Red Sox made it clear to the Dodgers that the only way they were getting Gonzalez was if they took on Beckett and Crawford's contracts as well. The Dodgers had no real interest in Crawford or Beckett but the deal wasn't being done otherwise. Gonzalez is still one of the top hitters in baseball, so the Red Sox aren't trading the guy for prospects unless it is well worth their while. LA made them an offer they would have been fools to turn down! Crawford is a good guy but he was never going to do well in a major sports city like Boston, NY, Philly or Chicago. Guys like that need to play in cities where the fans don't pay attention to anything (i.e. Tampa and Los Angeles)!

[slucero]

Bye Bye Valentine... and good fucking riddance...

Red Sox intend to fire Valentine when season ends

In a move that will be seen as anticlimactic at this point, Red Sox upper management intends to remove Bobby Valentine as manager soon after the season ends, people familiar with the situation say.

The belief is Valentine's ouster will come either Thursday or Friday, though that isn't known. Some people believe the Red Sox will give Valentine the courtesy of a meeting, but several people said they don't believe there's any chance he would be able to change their minds, assuming he'd want to.


http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jon-h ... eason-ends

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

Bye Bye Valentine... and good fucking riddance...

Red Sox intend to fire Valentine when season ends

In a move that will be seen as anticlimactic at this point, Red Sox upper management intends to remove Bobby Valentine as manager soon after the season ends, people familiar with the situation say.

The belief is Valentine's ouster will come either Thursday or Friday, though that isn't known. Some people believe the Red Sox will give Valentine the courtesy of a meeting, but several people said they don't believe there's any chance he would be able to change their minds, assuming he'd want to.


http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jon-h ... eason-ends

Best thing (and the only good thing ) to come out of this year. What a tosser. Bye bye butthead