Adrian Gonzalez Agent Says First Baseman Nearing Contract Extension With Red Sox

Boston Red Sox, Adrian Gonzalez Nearing Contract Extension

Way back in early December, shortly after Adrian Gonzalez was traded from the San Diego Padres to the Boston Red Sox, it was reported that the free-agent-to-be Gonzalez and the Red Sox had agreed on a long-term contract extension worth $154 million over seven years.

Shortly after that report, Gonzalez denied that any extension was in place while talking to a Mexican newspaper, saying that nothing about the rumors was true, and that he and his agent would negotiate with the team in the months to follow.

Well, now we've got an update to the story. Not much has gone the Red Sox' way in the early part of the season, what with their 0-6 record and all, but according to the Boston Herald, an actual, official contract agreement between Gonzalez and the team is now approaching. Says agent John Boggs:

"I hope we will have something agreed upon in the next 10 days or so," Boggs said.

There's no telling what the figures will be, although it wouldn't be a surprise to see those same terms as were initially reported after the trade.

Coming off shoulder surgery, Gonzalez is batting .304 in the young season with a home run and five RBI.

Eric Patterson Completes Adrian Gonzalez Trade With Padres

The Adrian Gonzalez trade - which feels like it happened last year - was actually swung just 11 days ago. In it, the superstar first baseman went to the Red Sox, and prospects Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo, and Reymond Fuentes went to the Padres. However, there was also a fourth player going to San Diego as well in the form of a Player To Be Named Later. And on Thursday, we have word that the PTBNL is none other than Eric Patterson.

The 27-year-old Patterson was an eighth-round pick by the Cubs in 2004. Since then he's been traded to Oakland, Boston, and now San Diego. He has experience playing second base and all three outfield positions, and has batted .224 in the Majors with a .652 OPS. His numbers in the minors are more encouraging, as his AAA OPS is .852. There's potential in his bat and he's a capable base-stealer, which makes him an interesting option off the bench or even as a starter.

So that's it. The Padres and Red Sox can now move ahead with all of this behind them.

Adrian Gonzalez Denies That Red Sox Have Worked Out Contract Extension

Shortly after the Red Sox worked out an Adrian Gonzalez trade with the Padres, it was reported that the Red Sox and Gonzalez had agreed to a contract extension, but were waiting to announce it until after Opening Day to take advantage of a luxury tax loophole.

Now, via SB Nation Boston, we learn that Gonzalez told a Mexican website that no extension has been agreed to. Says Gonzalez:

"Nothing about that is true," Gonzalez told Fernando Ballesteros. "It's false. I haven't signed any contract."

"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."

"The only thing I have for sure is the contract 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."

Now, there are two ways to take this. One, if the Red Sox and Gonzalez had already worked out an extension but were planning to delay an announcement, Gonzalez would of course have to issue denials, because to do otherwise would ruin the whole thing. However, the other option is to take this at face value, and Gonzalez does seem pretty convincing.

So either an extension has been worked out, or it hasn't. We don't know. All we can say for sure is that the Red Sox wouldn't have made the trade if they weren't confident that they could get him locked up.

Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox May Have Contract Extension Agreement

On Sunday, the Adrian Gonzalez trade went down without a contract extension in place. However, the Red Sox wouldn't have been willing to send four prospects to the Padres if they weren't confident that an extension could be worked out, and after Ken Rosenthal reported on the expected parameters, Bob Nightengale is saying now that an agreement has in fact been reached, and the two sides are simply waiting to make an announcement.

According to Nightengale's sources, the Red Sox will sign Gonzalez to a seven-year extension worth $154 million, or $22 million per year. These figures match up exactly with Rosenthal's reported parameters, and would give Gonzalez a deal comparable to the eight-year, $180 million contract Mark Teixeira signed with the Yankees two seasons ago.

Why hold off on making an announcement? The most likely answer is for luxury tax reasons. If the Red Sox announced the extension now, then Major League Baseball would look at Gonzalez's next eight years and average out all the salaries for luxury tax purposes. Adding $154 million to 2011's $6.3 million and dividing by eight yields an average annual value against the tax of $20.04 million.

If the Red Sox wait to announce the extension until the day after Opening Day, though - as they did with Josh Beckett last season - then Major League Baseball would only apply the $6.3 million tax charge in 2011, and then give Gonzalez's contract an average annual value of $22 million from 2012 through 2018. It would be more expensive for those seven years by about $2 million, but it would be less expensive by about $14 million in 2011. The Red Sox try to avoid paying a luxury tax penalty, so this could be important.

It's a bit of a loophole, of which the Red Sox appear prepared to take advantage.

Red Sox Introduce Adrian Gonzalez At Fenway Park Day After Trade

Sure, no contract extension is yet in place, but Monday isn't a time for concern. Monday is a time for the Red Sox to rejoice, as a day after pulling off an Adrian Gonzalez trade with the Padres, the Red Sox formally introduced their new star first baseman at a Fenway Park press conference.

Said Gonzalez:

"I'm very excited...I've had five incredible years in San Diego. As I grew up, my whole dream as a kid was to be a Padre. My second dream was to be on the Red Sox. ... I'm just very excited to start this new phase. I look forward to a lot of championships."

The two sides remain apart in contract negotiations, with the sticking point being the length of the deal, and they've agreed to table discussions for the time being. However, the Red Sox remain very confident that they'll be able to reach an agreement when the time is right. Without that confidence, after all, they wouldn't have made the trade.

The Padres were open to dealing Gonzalez away because they kept coming back to the fact that he wouldn't be on the team in 2011. The Red Sox jumped when they did because, according to Jayson Stark, they faced potential competition from a number of teams including the White Sox, Cubs, and Rangers, among others, and didn't want to see a guy they've been chasing for years get away.

When contract negotiations start back up, one must re-visit the parameters reported by Ken Rosenthal. An extension should be capped at seven years and $22 million in annual salary.

After Trade, Adrian Gonzalez Contract Parameters With Red Sox Are Set

The Adrian Gonzalez trade, of course, went down on Sunday, but in the end the Red Sox had to send four prospects to the Padres in exchange for Gonzalez without ever settling on a contract extension. However, the Red Sox are confident that they can get something worked out, and Ken Rosenthal has word on some of the parameters.

According to Rosenthal, an extension with Gonzalez will not be for more than seven years, and it will not average out to more than $22 million per season. That would work out to a maximum contract of seven years and $154 million. For the sake of comparison, the contract that Mark Teixeira signed with the Yankees as a free agent in December of 2008 was for eight years, and worth $180 million.

Interestingly, Rosenthal previously reported that Gonzalez was asking for six years and $150 million, while the Red Sox were sticking to five years and $120 million. Those contract offers have a respective annual average value of $25 million and $24 million, so it's possible that they're now looking at more years at a lesser average salary.

Adrian Gonzalez Seeking Six-Year Contract Extension, According To Report

On Sunday, the Red Sox finally pulled off the Adrian Gonzalez trade they've been trying to make for a few years. Gonzalez is set to be a free agent after the season, though, and the trade was made without a contract extension in place. However, the Red Sox are confident that the two sides can reach an agreement, and Ken Rosenthal fills us in on the state of their talks.

According to Rosenthal, Gonzalez asked for a six-year contract worth $150 million, while the Red Sox countered with a five-year contract worth $120 million. It's a difference of one season and $1 million a year, which sounds really substantial, but may not end up as much of an obstacle.

Given that Gonzalez was previously thought to be seeking an eight-year contract like the one Mark Teixeira signed with the Yankees, that he'd settle instead for six makes the whole thing easier to stomach. Six years at around $25 million a piece, of course, would still be an enormous commitment, but it would mean the Red Sox were paying Gonzalez through age 35, rather than age 37. Those are dangerous years, and good ones to avoid when possible.

The Red Sox and Gonzalez have yet to agree to a contract, but if Rosenthal's report is correct, then it should only be a matter of time. They aren't too far apart.

Adrian Gonzalez Trade To Red Sox Completed Without Contract Extension

After a busy, up-and-down Sunday, the Adrian Gonzalez trade has been completed, with Gonzalez going from the Padres to the Red Sox, and three prospects going from the Red Sox to the Padres.

The trade was jeopardized when the two sides couldn't work out a contract extension for free-agent-to-be Gonzalez before a 2pm ET Sunday deadline. However, the trade was done a few hours later anyway without an extension in place, and according to Jon Heyman, it's because the Red Sox believe they can reach an agreement with Gonzalez before he enters the market.

The two sides share "common ground on parameters," and the Red Sox are confident they can work something out. The likelihood is that, while both sides agree on Gonzalez's annual salary, they differ on the years, with Gonzalez said to be seeking an eight-year contract, while the Red Sox would prefer to keep him closer to six. If they can meet in the middle, or if the Red Sox can introduce some options, then an agreement should be reached.

Jon Heyman says that the Red Sox may be prepared to give Gonzalez seven years, at about $23 million per season.

Adrian Gonzalez Trade Pulled Off Between Red Sox And Padres After All

Re-write everything. Then re-write everything again. The Adrian Gonzalez trade has taken its latest twist, and according to Jon Heyman, the deal is done. A press conference is expected for Monday.

To recap, the Red Sox and Padres agreed in principle to an Adrian Gonzalez trade on Thursday night. Gonzalez was set to become a free agent after the 2011 season, and the Red Sox were given until 2pm ET Sunday afternoon to work out a contract extension. No such contract extension was reached, but there remained a possibility that the trade could still go down anyway, and, now, it has.

Unclear is whether a contract extension agreement has been reached, but if one hasn't, then the Red Sox are presumably confident that they can get something done with Gonzalez before he becomes a free agent. They're still trading Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo, Reymond Fuentes, and a fourth player to the Padres, and that would be a hefty load to give up for one year of a player.

The 28-year-old Gonzalez has been one of the better hitters in baseball over the last few seasons despite spending half his time in an extreme pitcher-friendly ballpark, and his good defense and power to all fields should make him a superstar in Boston.

Adrian Gonzalez Trade Could Still Be Made If Red Sox Feel Confident About Contract

The Adrian Gonzalez trade that would send the star first baseman from San Diego to Boston is now in jeopardy, as Gonzalez and the Red Sox were unable to work out a contract extension before a Sunday afternoon deadline. Gonzalez - who will make $6.3 million in 2011 - is set to become a free agent after the year, and the Red Sox want to get him locked up long-term.

However, while the trade doesn't look too good right now, it isn't completely dead, and there's still a possibility that Boston could pull the trigger. In order to do that, Theo Epstein and the Red Sox would have to be confident that they could still get Gonzalez signed.

Boston and San Diego are free to keep talking about the trade. The trade window didn't close - only the contract negotiation window did. It's possible that the Red Sox could agree to an exchange and then resume talking to Gonzalez and his agent again afterwards.

This would be a gamble, as the Red Sox would have already dealt a handful of prospects to San Diego. However, if they feel that they were close to reaching an agreement with Gonzalez before the 2pm ET Sunday deadline, or if they feel that an agreement could still be reached, then they could roll the dice and bring the first baseman to Massachusetts.

Adrian Gonzalez Trade To Red Sox Possibly Off As Contract Extension Can't Be Reached

The Red Sox figured they'd made arguably the addition of the offseason when they swung an Adrian Gonzalez trade with the Padres that brought the star first baseman to Massachusetts. However, Gonzalez is set to be a free agent at the end of the year, and the trade was contingent on the Red Sox being able to get Gonzalez signed to a contract extension. And according to Jon Heyman, they couldn't.

Gonzalez and the Red Sox had until 2pm ET Sunday afternoon to work out a new contract. This was considered a "soft" deadline, and Alex Speier reported that the two sides were still working right up to and through the limit, but nothing materialized. The 28-year-old Gonzalez was rumored to be seeking an eight-year contract, while the Red Sox were reluctant to go that long and wanted to keep things a few seasons shorter.

There had been reports that the Red Sox would be willing to swing the trade even if they couldn't get Gonzalez signed, but, evidently, that wasn't true. And so all of this action may have gone for naught. Ken Rosenthal reports that the Red Sox and Padres can still talk about the deal, and that only the contract negotiation window has closed. The trade isn't yet completely dead. But the most likely scenario now is that Gonzalez returns to the Padres, where he may play out the season, while the Red Sox turn their attention to signing Jayson Werth and re-signing Adrian Beltre. 

Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox Negotiating Contract Extension As Part Of Trade

The Red Sox are on the verge of a major roster upgrade, as they've agreed in principle to an Adrian Gonzalez trade that will bring the star first baseman over from San Diego.

However, as part of the deal, the Red Sox are trying to negotiate a contract extension for Gonzalez, who is currently a year away from free agency. And according to Ken Rosenthal, they have until 2pm ET on Sunday to work something out, at which point the negotiation window will close.

Gonzalez will earn $6.3 million in 2011 in his final year of team control, and is thought to be seeking an eight-year contract. One must remember that the inferior Ryan Howard signed a $125 million, five-year contract extension with the Phillies last April, while Mark Teixeira signed a $180 million, eight-year contract with the Yankees in December 2008. Given that Gonzalez is still young and highly productive, he has good reason to be seeking as much as he is.

Interestingly, because the negotiation window closes on Sunday, that means a trade was agreed to on Thursday, rather than Friday, when the rumors really caught fire.

Adrian Gonzalez Trade: Red Sox, Padres Agree To Deal In Principle

On Saturday, MLB.com is confirming that the Red Sox and Padres have, in principle, agreed to a trade that would send Adrian Gonzalez to Boston, though an official contract is still yet to be signed. The teams themselves have yet to confirm the trade to the media.

Gonzalez, who posted a .904 OPS last season, is arguably one of the top five hitters in baseball, and the prospect of him in the middle of the already-powerful Red Sox lineup is sort of frightening. He'll make up the heart of the order, along with Kevin Youkilis (.975 OPS in 2010) and David Ortiz (.899). This does mean, however, that the Sox are almost certainly not going to retain third baseman Adrian Beltre, as Ortiz is firmly entrenched in the DH spot and Youkilis will need to move to the five-hole in order to make room for Gonzalez.

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein seemed intent on landing Gonzalez without having to wave goodbye to any major league talent, and he succeeded, but the Padres are certainly getting a lot more than bread crumbs. Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo, and Reymond Fuentes, all minor leaguers, have been highly-regarded by scouts. Padres general manager Jed Hoyer has offered some pragmatic remarks regarding the decision to trade away Gonzalez:

“My view is that we have a great player,” Hoyer said Friday. “We’re also aware that player is not going to be here in 2012. While we would never minimize the value of the 2011 season, we have to think about the long-term health of the franchise.”

While it's no fun to trade away your franchise's best player months after coming within a game of a playoff spot, he's right. The Padres were and are apparently unable to support Gonzalez by placing another power hitter in the lineup, and re-signing him to a massive deal without building a quality bat or two around him doesn't make much sense.

This seems to be a solid move by both teams. For more, check in with our Red Sox blog, Over the Monster, and our Padres blog, Gaslamp Ball.

Adrian Gonzalez Trade Will Reportedly Send Three Top Red Sox Prospects To Padres

While the Red Sox and Padres have yet to officially announce a trade that would send slugger Adrian Gonzalez to Boston, multiple reports are emerging that detail the specifics of the trade. Dan Hayes of NCTimes.com is reporting that the Padres are set to receive several prospects in return.

A baseball source said the deal — which returns three of Boston’s top six prospects: pitcher Casey Kelly, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and outfielder Reymond Fuentes to the Padres — is pending a physical and could perhaps hinge on whether or not Boston can work out a contract extension with Gonzalez, who is set to become a free agent after the 2011 season.

Kelly was drafted in the first round of the 2008 MLB draft, and actually turned down a full scholarship to play quarterback at Tennessee. In 2010, Kelly pitched 95 innings in double-A ball, posting a 5.31 ERA with 81 strikeouts.

Rizzo, a first baseman, was taken in the sixth round of the 2007 draft. He's a power hitter; in double-A this season, he mashed 20 home runs in 467 plate appearances. Gonzalez, one of the best hitters in baseball, is certainly leaving some big shoes to fill at first base; the Padres are likely hoping that within a couple of years, Rizzo will be able to bring some sorely-needed power to the lineup.

Fuentes is another first-rounder who was selected in the 2009 draft. He's a speedy center fielder who stole 42 bases while being caught only five times in A-ball this season. For the time being, his bat leaves a little to be desired (.705 OPS), but the 19-year-old still has plenty of time to improve.

According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Padres are also set to receive a player to be named later.

Stay tuned to this StoryStream for updates. And for more on these teams, check out our Red Sox blog, Over the Monster, and our Padres blog, Gaslamp Ball.

Adrian Gonzalez Traded To Red Sox From Padres, According To Report

The Red Sox and Padres reportedly have a deal in place to trade Adrian Gonzalez to Boston in exchange for prospects, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney. The Red Sox have received clearance from MLB to negotiate with Gonzalez, a sign that the deal is done, per Olney’s report.

This deal now likely means Boston will not try to re-sign free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre. Kevin Youkilis will likely move back to third and Gonzalez will be the team’s new first baseman.

Gonzalez is obviously a huge boon for Boston, being one of the premier first basemen in baseball. He’s posted a .910 OPS over the last three seasons, and is also a big power threat, hitting 31 homers last season for San Diego, and 107 in the last three years.

For the Padres, they will likely receive top pitching prospect Casey Kelly, according to Olney.

For much more on this deal, head to SB Nation Boston and Over The Monster.

Adrian Gonzalez Reportedly On Verge Of Being Traded To Red Sox

Earlier Friday evening, it was reported that the Red Sox were making some headway in putting together a trade for Adrian Gonzalez. San Diego and Boston have been working late into the night, and now, via Buster Olney, we find out that the Red Sox are on the verge of landing the 28-year-old star first baseman.

According to Olney, all the players in the trade have been agreed to, and the deal is far enough along that the Red Sox are trying to work out a contract extension for Gonzalez, who is facing free agency after the end of the 2011 season. At this point, it would be a shock if the trade didn't go down.

The Red Sox have been hot after Gonzalez for years, and have consistently been mentioned in rumors over the last couple offseasons and trade deadlines. To land him now would be a blockbuster move that would counter the Yankees' signing of Mark Teixeira, and that would make up for the loss of free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre. In the event of a Gonzalez trade, Kevin Youkilis would slide back over to third, and Beltre would leave for another team.

Gonzalez has hit 107 home runs and posted a .910 OPS over the last three seasons, but, significantly, he's also posted a .943 career OPS on the road, as opposed to .800 at home. He's spent the bulk of his career in San Diego's cavernous Petco Park, which is among the most pitcher-friendly parks in the league. By liberating him from Petco's confines, Boston would give Gonzalez a chance to prove that he's one of the best hitters in baseball. Additionally, he's a strong defender at first base, and he still has his youth.

There's no word yet on what the Padres would be getting in return for their one true superstar player, but while the Red Sox are reluctant to part with anything from their Major League roster, they have a good farm system, and San Diego will surely pick up a small handful of top prospects. Gonzalez is both excellent and affordable, which gives him a sky-high value. Padres fans may not be thrilled with the idea of unloading the team's best player shortly after the conclusion of a miracle year, but Gonzalez had one foot out the door anyway, and trading him allows the team to land some potential future cornerstones.

The Winter Meetings don't begin until Monday, but it looks like the biggest trade of the offseason could take place this weekend. Stay tuned.

Red Sox Discussing Trade For Padres' Adrian Gonzalez

On Friday, it was learned that the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres have been discussing a trade for Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. From Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston:

It appears [Red Sox general manager Theo] Epstein is making some headway, one baseball source with knowledge of the negotiations said Friday, in tempting [Padres general manager] Hoyer with a package of top prospects in the Red Sox minor league system.

In 2010, Gonzalez put up yet another terrific season, hitting .298 with 31 home runs and a .904 OPS. The 28-year-old is under contract with the Padres for one more year, and given his status as one of the National League's best hitters in recent years, his next contract is bound to be a large one.

To make room for Gonzalez at first base, the Red Sox would likely move Kevin Youkilis to third base. Youkilis originally played third for the Sox before the acquisition of Mike Lowell moved him to first.

Meanwhile, the Padres came surprisingly close to an NL West crown in 2010, but they'll be facing some serious issues if they send Gonzalez out of town. Aside from Gonzalez, no Padre hit more than 13 home runs, and the next-highest OPS was Will Venable's .732. The Padres would surely like to get a quality bat or two in return.

For more on these teams, check in with our Red Sox blog, Over the Monster, and our Padres blog, Gaslamp Ball.