Report: Shoppach Used Gonzalez's Phone To Send Infamous Text To Owners

BOSTON (CBS) – The infamous text from Adrian Gonzalez sent to Red Sox ownership last month, actually came from former Sox catcher Kelly Shoppach, according to a published report.

Back on August 14, Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan reported that Gonzalez, "texting on behalf of himself and some teammates, aired their dissatisfaction with (Red Sox manager Bobby) Valentine for embarrassing starting pitcher Jon Lester by leaving him in to allow 11 runs during a July 22 start."

The New York Daily News reported Sunday that the text came from Gonzalez's phone, but was actually sent by Shoppach.

Major league sources told the paper that "Shoppach was deeply involved in writing the message that touched off the latest Sox drama, but Shoppach would not confirm that charge."

The report also noted that "sources say Gonzalez had nothing to do with the message's content."

Here's an excerpt from the Daily News story:

A small group of players that has been unhappy with Valentine this season — a group that included Shoppach, according to a source familiar with the circumstances — was complaining about the manager in late July and engaged Gonzalez in the conversation. A member of the group suggested that the only way to bring about action would be to voice their problems to ownership. Gonzalez was tired of hearing the constant grumbling and agreed with them that a message from him — the team's highest-paid player — would get management's attention.

Shoppach was traded to the Mets in a waiver deal last Tuesday, the same day the Yahoo! report came out.

He denied the claims in the Daily News report.