A Plea To Forget About Adrian Gonzalez -- For Now
by Randy Booth on Feb 3, 2010 12:00 PM EST
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PrintThe agent of San Diego Padres slugger Adrian Gonzalez said recently that the Padres can't afford the first baseman, making his departure from San Diego a potential reality -- at some point. This is where all the Red Sox fans drool and say, "oh! oh! please! pick us!"
But, honestly, let's just think about the team that stands now.
Here's what was said about A-Gonz:
Mark Teixeira, the first baseman who most closely matches Gonzalez, signed an eight-year, $180 million contract with the Yankees before last season. If that’s the starting point for a new deal, that’s where the Padres can be expected to start implementing an exit strategy.
"I don’t ever want to speak for ownership because I have no knowledge of what they have and what they don’t," Boggs said. "(But) the feeling we’re getting is more than likely (the Padres) are going to have to trade Adrian Gonzalez because (they) can’t afford him."
Does A-Gonz seem like a fit in Boston? Sure, at some point maybe. Will he be in Boston for Spring Training, though? No way in a very cold hell.
Instead, let's not think about Adrian Gonzalez. Let's not think about him coming over in July. Let's not think about acquiring him in December 2010. Let's just allow Adrian Gonzalez play for the Pads and the Red Sox play, well, for the Red Sox. We've got enough things to think about anyway with the current team.
Perhaps this may be hard thing to do. Gonzalez is one of those players that can change a team; there aren't many of him in baseball. He's up there with the likes of a Joe Mauer or an Albert Pujols (although, in reality, there's no one in the world of Pujols). He's a prize that I'm sure we'd all love to see wearing a Red Sox hat one day, but dang it, it's just not worth it.
Look at the Gonzalez situation like your all-too-long To Do list. You have 20 things on that list, but you find yourself worrying about the one that, in all honesty, is the least important and the furthest away. There are other issues at hand that need attention and need it faster.
Not to stress you out, but here's a nice bulletted list to keep us thinking through Spring Training:
- Who's going to fill out the bullpen?
- Where does Mike Lowell fit with this team, if at all? Will he be any kind of cancer?
- Is Adrian Beltre going to be able to regain his swing in Fenway Park?
- Will Marco Scutaro be a one-hit wonder, or does he have some juice left in the tank?
- Is Tim Wakefield going to be "respected" by being in the starting rotation, or will he find himself in the bullpen.
- Speaking of the rotation, will Clay Buchholz be the unfortunate starter-turned-bullpener when April rolls around?
- Are the Fenway Franks going to be any more expensive?! (Exclamation point added for emphasis and sarcasm.)
That was an easy list. I didn't even really think too hard. I'm sure there are at least 10 more that may be even more important than this one, but you get the picture.
Now, should we really be thinking about Adrian Gonzalez? Or do you think we should polish off more of that To Do list?...
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I want Agon, but not right now.
By the trade deadline Bos will have a better idea of what they need. Agon’s under contract for
2010 & 2012, so alot of their big contracts will off the books. So cost doesnt worry me what Bos haves to give up to get him does.
Wake & Lowell are both pro’s and I dont think either will cause problems in their reduced roles. Franconia will get Lowell AB’s and the 5 SP never make every start.
I think Beltre will be big this yr @ Fenway. Throw out last yr cause he was hurt. His #‘s on the road 07/08 33HR’s .290 AVG .860 OPS. Scut should be ok hitting 9
I don’t think Lowell will be a cancer. I’m sure he wont be happy, but he’ll be a team player and perform off the bench.
I see Clay being more disruptive if he doesn’t get a starting spot.
And he very well should be upset. I'm sorry enough of this represson.
Clay has shown what he can do when healthy and given time in the Bigs. He needs to start. He is entering that age where he needs to start so he can be a solid member of our rotation for the years to come. Bucholz has #2 potential and is the best home grown talent in pitching besides Lester. Give the prospect his shot and give inconsistency/ unpredictable (Wake) in the bullpen.
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Feb 3, 2010 8:40 PM EST up reply actions
It hasn't been repression to this point.
He didn’t show what he could do, except for the no-no, until the last half of last year. But now, yeah, you give him the starting spot.
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Feb 3, 2010 10:50 PM EST up reply actions
agree with everything except for Inconsistent Wake, when he was healthy he was our best pitcher especially early last year.
I think that's what he meant by inconsistent
he was absolutely clutch when healthy, but can’t stay healthy for a full year, so we can’t consistently count on him.
I see what you mean, it definatley falls under the definition of inconsistent. I just find it hard to fault a guy for hurting his back.
Isn’t it a cardinal rule in athletics, you don’t lose your starting job because of an injury.
well not if you seem unable to stay uninjured for a season
which, as he ages, seems more likely. In addition, as key as Wakefield was during the first half of the season, Buchholz was just as key in the second half and has more potential to improve than Wake really does- so he’s not just losing his starting job because of injury, it’s because he’s not really one of the 5 best pitchers on the Sox.
Really? I agree that Buch does deserve a starting job, based on his second half performance. But to say that Wake is not one of the top five pitchers of the starting staff, do you not remember Dice K’s year, there’s no telling if this guy will get his stuff back.
i can understand that
but he was just flat out dominant when came back at the end of the year. Looked to me like he had his stuff back. Wake is there for insurance if Dice k struggles again.
"do you not remember Dice K’s year, there’s no telling if this guy will get his stuff back."
Isn’t it a cardinal rule in athletics, you don’t lose your starting job because of an injury?
USG
Two different scenarios, Dice K was horrid all year then finally sat out due to injury and blamed his poor performance on his injury, that he didn’t disclose.
Dice K had three or four quality starts I would say that he was consistently bad.
well he only made 8 starts excluding his september
so I wouldn’t say the whole year.
He was consistently solid in November.
Yes but his demotion out of the starting rotation was because of performance not injury at the time.
He decided to keep that from the Sox management.
untrue
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/04/matsuzaka_goes.html
It was for a shoulder strain. What he kept from the management was that he was injured coming out of the WBC.
Yes but even in the article he flatly denied that he had a shoulder strain.
He therefore hurt the team, the way I see it is if you say nothings wrong and keep going out and giving up 7 or 8 runs, its a performance issue.
Dice K 3-1 sep
Dice K came back in sep 3-1 ERA under 3.00 in those gms. 08 had an ERA under 3.00
Agon money
Adrian Gonzalez stands to make a fortune in a couple of years, but I’m not sure he will see Texeira money. For one thing, the Yankees don’t need him. If the Red Sox are making a big play for him in FA they will be the playing the role of the Yankees with Texeria, the player at the table with the most money and likely to get every opportunity to sign him. They will have stiff competition from the Angels (Agon is from San Diego) out west and probobly the Mets. My guess is the Padres will trade him after the 2010 season.
Exactly
A-Gon isn’t going to be traded before Opening Day, and I get to think about Spring Training and the Draft well before the trade deadline happens. Even then, it might be next offseason before he goes anywhere.
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Feb 3, 2010 6:54 PM EST reply actions
I hope it's not till next offseason
because if it’s during the middle of the year it means that either
a) he went somewhere besides Boston
or
b) Either Youk, Beltre, or Ortiz have been performing terribly
True, I also hope it's next offseason for those reasons
But we need to be prepared for any possibility. If the Friars are out of it by this year’s deadline and are definitely looking to trade A-Gon, do we even try for him? I assume if Beltre’s doing well we put in a nice opening offer but nothing serious, but if he’s only doing okay, what happens then? Do we try and move him to acquire A-Gon?
Of course, these are all question to be answered much later in the year. Randy’s right, let’s just prepare to enjoy the Spring Training optimism where everyone looks amazing.
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Feb 3, 2010 7:50 PM EST up reply actions
What are the chances...
That Lowell further removed from the hip surgery will have better mobility?? (I’m probably dreaming) Everyday I wish that trade with the rangers went through more and more…..Between Tek, Ortiz, and Mike…killing the bench flexibility.
he theoretically should have better mobility
but I don’t think the front office will see him as a real option to keep on the bench. I’m completely sure by the end of spring training, he’ll be on a different team, even if we get almost nothing for him
I'd like to point out..
That the Friars CEO Jeff Moorad also has little to no optimism that he will sign a major deal with the Pads. He said:
“While I’d be thrilled to have him part of the organization for the long term, the early signals indicate his cost will be greater than our ability to pay.”
Looks like he will either be traded or hit free agency as a Pad. Pretty sure they will flip him mid season while he can still haul in a couple marquee prospects.
I didn't like the old one very much. I didn't see the ball there very well. - Julio Lugo on the old Yankees Stadium.
Trade timing
Adrian Gonzalez WILL be traded, just a matter of when. Logic indicates the Padres will wait until the next offseason a year from now when more teams are likely to be involved, but a contending team at the deadline could make a play and fork over some prospects for the ability to have A-Gon for 1.5 seasons.
I would like to see it also have something to do with how the Padres are doing mid-season. If they are hanging in there and A-gon is lighting it up, they should keep him around for the season and at least give the fans something to see. Remember, this is the NL Wild West, anything is possible.
I dont think its gonna happen
Do we really give up what it will take for a year and a half of this guy? The hell with that.
Plus, unlike some overpaid superstar, nearly every team in the major could afford and use this guy. So the price will be sky high and lots of teams will be in on him.
I dont want to give up Clay/Ellsbury and two or more top prospects for a year and a half of a 1B followed by having to give that then 30 year old 1B a HUGE, long term deal. Pass.
…He is one of the best hitters in baseball and an excellent defender at 1B… great player. I just cant see paying what it will take to land him.
Theo probably wouldn't, no
But you’d be surprised how many fans are wiling to give up Buchholz and more for the guy. I read a trade proposal today for Buchholz, whatever we could get for trading Beckett, and more for A-Gon.
Actually, no, you probably wouldn’t be surprised.
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Feb 5, 2010 12:44 AM EST up reply actions
gonzalex
u need him in that order if betere does not proform as he should
okay i have cerebral palsy arthris and chronic fatigue as well i have a great life and loveing folks some days are better than other days i got a make-a-wish in 2001 and saw my favorite team the broncos it was the trip of a lifetime i wish everyone couild have gotten to enjoy that with me i know some of u hate the broncos and that okay but i bleed organ and bule for my mnr fans but i bleed orange and blue denver will rise again resident broncos fan for every blog resident broncos for stampede bule thanks shvd98z24
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