Red Sox Introduce Adrian Gonzalez
BOSTON (CBS/AP) -- The Red Sox introduced their new first baseman Monday morning. The team scheduled an 11 a.m. press conference, where they announced they have acquired Adrian Gonzalez in a trade with the San Diego Padres.
Gonzalez said the Red Sox have always been his favorite American League team, in part because of Hall of Famer Ted Williams, who like Gonzalez, was a left-hander and San Diego native.
Gonzalez says he's "ready to beat the Yanks."
Web Extra: Adrian Gonzalez Meets The Boston Media
WBZ-TV's Dan Roche confirmed the trade Sunday. In exchange for the slugger, the Sox are sending top prospects Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo and Rey Fuentes to San Diego, along with a player-to-be-named-later.
Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein confirmed a contract extension for the All-Star first baseman was not in place. He said both sides negotiated over the weekend, and good faith was established. Epstein said the Red Sox have, "an understanding of what it takes when the time is right."
"We're going to try to get something so he will be here for a very long time," said John Boggs, Gonzalez's agent.
Boggs has said in recent interviews that Gonzalez wants fair market value. It's believed that if Gonzalez were to hit the free agent market, he'd command a contract similar to that of Mark Teixeira, who finished the second season of a $180 million, eight-year contract with the New York Yankees.
Padres general manager Jed Hoyer -- who used to work in Boston's front office -- has said for some time that the Padres wouldn't be able to afford the kind of big-money contract Gonzalez would command if he hit the free-agent market. The Padres recently exercised Gonzalez's $6.2 million option for 2011, the final year of a team-friendly $15 million, five-year contract he signed in 2007.
The left-hander hit .298 with 31 homers and 101 RBIs last season.
In five seasons with San Diego, Gonzalez has 161 homers – two shy of Nate Colbert's club record -- and 501 RBIs. Including parts of two seasons with Texas, he has 168 homers and 525 RBIs.
He set a Padres record with his fourth 30-homer season. His third 100-RBI season tied Phil Nevin for the most in club history.
Gonzalez had surgery to clean up the labrum in his non- throwing right shoulder on Oct. 20. The Padres said then that the three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove first baseman was expected to be ready for spring training.
The popular Gonzalez grew up in the San Diego area and was the No. 1 overall pick by Florida in the 2000 amateur draft. He was obtained in a trade with Texas before the 2006 season and has blossomed into one of the game's best first basemen.
Boston was interested in Gonzalez last winter.
While many had expected Gonzalez to be traded before the deadline in July, the Padres were surprise contenders in the NL West and had to keep the slugger.
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