With the MLB trade deadline long past, most pundits and analysts would tell you that if a trade were to occur it would most likely be small in all sizes. The deal that is being reported as almost complete between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox does not come close to the word small. The deal would send first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, out fielder Carl Crawford, starting pitcher Josh Becket, and infielder Nick Punto from Boston to LA in exchange for James Loney and 3 minor league prospects. Los Angeles would agree to pay almost every dollar of Crawford’s, Beckett’s, and Gonzalez’s contracts, which in total amount to more than $250 million.
Such a deal has never occurred in MLB history. The Dodgers were recently sold by former owner Frank McCourt after the team declared bankruptcy. The Guggenheim Partners, LLC bought the team from McCourt and seems to be willing to infuse the team with large sums of money. This deal is unprecedented.
For the Red Sox, things haven’t gone very well this season. After their historic collapse last season combined with the media stories about players eating fried chicken and drinking beer in the clubhouse. This season, with the addition of manager Bobby Valentine, the Red Sox have done very little to improve their ball club. In response, General Manager Ben Cherington decided to shake things up and release huge contracts giving them great financial flexibility t improve their team in the two years.
Deals like this come along once a decade and almost never after the non-waiver trade deadline of July 31st. Pay attention.
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Authentically Speaking Trivia: In what year did the Dodgers wear green in their uniforms. Answer to come Monday.
Friday's Answer: 2003
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