AGone/Beckett/Crawford/Punto traded to LA

[Little Slide Rooter]

they're giving up webster too.

 

not sure how to feel about this for either side. kind of an unprecedented trade, especially in august.

 

I think that it was an opportunity for two teams to get what they want. Dodgers go from a one man offense to start to season to one of the most elite offenses in the game with a good rotation, most of which should stick around for the 3-5 years.

 

The Red Sox get to dump a ton of salary, and give them a lot of flexibility to spend over the next few years, or else just go younger as The Cubs are doing.

[toonsterwu]

Amazing deal for the Red Sox. I still can't believe it. Getting rid of all that salary AND getting 2 solid young pitching prospects?

 

I can sort of understand this for the Dodgers. They are trying to make a push now, and hoping that it will help with ticket sales and spur interest. But it's a risky proposition, and I'm not sure they make the playoffs. Of course, if they can get in, having Kershaw and that offense ... they could conceivably be the favorites.

[davell]

You only have to pass through waivers once. The Dodgers probably sent Loney through waivers at the beginning of the month. He's the ony guy on their side that couldn't be sent down to the minors. Teams that need 1B and have over 20 mill a year to spend on one aren't many and that was why Gonzalez made it through. No one in their right mind was going to claim Beckett or Crawford and no one saw a videeo game trade like this going down, so that's how it was relatively easy to do. But it was probably worked on for a long time to get a deal like this done anyway.

[Sammy Sofa]

Well, we don't live in a made up world where impact players have to be worth their entire contract to be valuable. Because they almost never are. Wait, that's wrong; leave out "almost."

Evan Longoria says you can put "almost" in.

 

Evan Longoria's "star player" contract doesn't exist yet. When it does he almost certainly will not be worth all of it.

[dew1679666265]

Amazing deal for the Red Sox. I still can't believe it. Getting rid of all that salary AND getting 2 solid young pitching prospects?

 

I can sort of understand this for the Dodgers. They are trying to make a push now, and hoping that it will help with ticket sales and spur interest. But it's a risky proposition, and I'm not sure they make the playoffs. Of course, if they can get in, having Kershaw and that offense ... they could conceivably be the favorites.

 

I'm on the other side of the fence - I think it's a much better deal for the Dodgers and I kind of wonder about the Red Sox' motivation to do this. Gonzalez' numbers are down this year, but he's still on pace to be a 4-5 WAR guy and the only stats that have dropped off are his BB% and HR/FB. Both are concerns, but neither is a clear indication of a decline and considering he's only 30 for most of next year, decline is very unlikely. Beckett has had a down year this year, but his BB/9 is still good and his xFIP is a pretty average 4.39. He's been a good to very good pitcher every year since 2006 other than this year and is signed to a respectable amount of money for just 2 more years - it's perfectly reasonable to think he can bounce back and be worth the money over that time period.

 

Crawford's the only clearly bad contract being dealt here and, honestly, I'd want what the Dodgers gave up (or close) for Gonzalez alone, so the Red Sox are basically just giving away Beckett and Crawford for salary relief. This trade makes me glad that we got Theo and not Cherington from Boston.

[Cubswin11]

I can't imagine how much money they are going to throw at Greinke in the offseason.

[toonsterwu]

Amazing deal for the Red Sox. I still can't believe it. Getting rid of all that salary AND getting 2 solid young pitching prospects?

 

I can sort of understand this for the Dodgers. They are trying to make a push now, and hoping that it will help with ticket sales and spur interest. But it's a risky proposition, and I'm not sure they make the playoffs. Of course, if they can get in, having Kershaw and that offense ... they could conceivably be the favorites.

 

I'm on the other side of the fence - I think it's a much better deal for the Dodgers and I kind of wonder about the Red Sox' motivation to do this. Gonzalez' numbers are down this year, but he's still on pace to be a 4-5 WAR guy and the only stats that have dropped off are his BB% and HR/FB. Both are concerns, but neither is a clear indication of a decline and considering he's only 30 for most of next year, decline is very unlikely. Beckett has had a down year this year, but his BB/9 is still good and his xFIP is a pretty average 4.39. He's been a good to very good pitcher every year since 2006 other than this year and is signed to a respectable amount of money for just 2 more years - it's perfectly reasonable to think he can bounce back and be worth the money over that time period.

 

Crawford's the only clearly bad contract being dealt here and, honestly, I'd want what the Dodgers gave up (or close) for Gonzalez alone, so the Red Sox are basically just giving away Beckett and Crawford for salary relief. This trade makes me glad that we got Theo and not Cherington from Boston.

 

Fair enough. I'll say

 

a) As happy as I am about Theo coming here, I think Theo would be the first one to tell you that he was at the helm when most of these mistakes were made for the Red Sox, and is the reason why the Red Sox need to rebuild. They still have the Lackey contract on the books somewhere, and the system doesn't have the arm depth to replenish things right now, which was why getting two young arms was needed.

 

b) Leaving aside the fact that Beckett is viewed as a problem, if not THE problem, Beckett has also lost quite a bit on the fastball. It's been declining since 06. Without the dominant fastball, he's a good arm, but replaceable.

 

c) I think, at least, all indications point to this, that they would've rather kept Gonzalez if they could, but he was the price to pay. Keep in mind that the length and years left on Gonzalez, though, is a huge factor. When you combine that with the length of the Crawford deal, it's just a ridiculous amount of money. It's hard to envision them getting better than that.

 

Look, I won't disagree that if we exclude contracts, this deal is a bit light on the talent side of the Red Sox. But you simply can't ignore the gigantic amount of salary and years they lost in Gonzalez/Crawford. And in return ... they get two guys who have mid-rotation, if not better, ceilings. That's a heck of a return considering how teams over-protect top arms. This clears the deck for the Red Sox, gives them the young arms that they need, along with Barnes, to build a new rotation around Lester/Buchholz.

 

Edit: They also get a solid utility player that could challenge for the starting shortstop gig (although Iglesias is still a better bet there). I'm not the biggest Jerry Sands guy, but I guess he could also challenge for a starting gig, particularly with the hole at first.

Edited August 25, 2012 by toonsterwu

[toonsterwu]

I can't imagine how much money they are going to throw at Greinke in the offseason.

 

I imagine they'll be involved, but I won't be surprised if they decide to not get ridiculous on Greinke. We'll have to wait and see, but it's not inconceivable that they decide to go with Lester/Buchholz, a couple youngsters, and Lackey and spend a couple years building from within, waiting on Jackie Bradley Jr. (who I still think is a touch over-hyped), Xander Bogaerts, and hoping that they get a SP or two from Barnes/de la Rosa/Webster.

[Guest]

I can't imagine how much money they are going to throw at Greinke in the offseason.

 

I imagine they'll be involved, but I won't be surprised if they decide to not get ridiculous on Greinke. We'll have to wait and see, but it's not inconceivable that they decide to go with Lester/Buchholz, a couple youngsters, and Lackey and spend a couple years building from within, waiting on Jackie Bradley Jr. (who I still think is a touch over-hyped), Xander Bogaerts, and hoping that they get a SP or two from Barnes/de la Rosa/Webster.

You know, I thought he was talking about the Dodgers but he could easily have been referring to the Red Sox.

[toonsterwu]

I can't imagine how much money they are going to throw at Greinke in the offseason.

 

I imagine they'll be involved, but I won't be surprised if they decide to not get ridiculous on Greinke. We'll have to wait and see, but it's not inconceivable that they decide to go with Lester/Buchholz, a couple youngsters, and Lackey and spend a couple years building from within, waiting on Jackie Bradley Jr. (who I still think is a touch over-hyped), Xander Bogaerts, and hoping that they get a SP or two from Barnes/de la Rosa/Webster.

You know, I thought he was talking about the Dodgers but he could easily have been referring to the Red Sox.

 

Oh ... considering the Dodgers still have to extend Kershaw and the money they added ... well ... I guess they could go beyond the Yankees budget, but if they added Kershaw and went after Greinke, that would take them to stratospheric levels on the payroll.

[davell]

For 260 mill, do you think you can get more than Gonzo, Beckett, and Crawford, if you're the Red Sox? They obviously think so, or they wouldn't have done it. If you're the Dodgers, would signing Hamilton and Greinke in the offseason be just as good or better for your franchise? I guess they don't think so, which is why they did it. Gonzo looks like he IS in slight decline. Crawford's obviously not a big city player and Beckett is a fat [expletive]. Maybe LA rejuvenates the last 2, Gonzo will be good in the middle of that lineup, no doubt. Rubby has a pretty decent chance to duplicate Beckett's career, in my mind. His arm is flat out electric. Webster's a very solid prospect in his own right. Both teams did well here.

[SouthSideRyan]

Rubby has the ability to slide into Beckett's spot and be a TOR guy, may take a bit of time to get his stuff back and innings up after TJS though.

 

Haha what?

[davell]

The Red Sox won't touch Greinke, after their big money mistakes they just got out of. They'll make smarter, smaller moves. I fully expect Greinke to be a Dodger though and their payroll to be in the 220 range at the start of next season. With McCourt's deferrments for Manny and Andruw and whoever else, they're sitting at 190 after this deal already. I wasn't kidding when I asked earlier if they'd have a 300 mill payroll within 5 years. I think it's a very distinct possibility. Plus, I'm also really starting to believe they'll be getting a new stadium as well.

[SouthSideRyan]

You only have to pass through waivers once. The Dodgers probably sent Loney through waivers at the beginning of the month. He's the ony guy on their side that couldn't be sent down to the minors.

 

The deal wasn't getting held up because of James [expletive] Loney anyway. It's not like the Red Sox actually want anything to do with him. He's terrible.

[davell]

Of course. I'm just saying they sent him thru early. For all I know, he gets DFA'd this week by the Red Sox.

[illiniguy]

Well, we don't live in a made up world where impact players have to be worth their entire contract to be valuable. Because they almost never are. Wait, that's wrong; leave out "almost."

Evan Longoria says you can put "almost" in.

 

Evan Longoria's "star player" contract doesn't exist yet. When it does he almost certainly will not be worth all of it.

He's been a star since he signed that contract. He just has a stupid agent. But yes his second contract he won't be worth.

[sneakypower]

i don't feel sorry for them, but i can't imagine how appalled i'd be if i were a Giants fan

 

earlier this season LA actually used a lineup of

Gordon, Herrera, Rivera, Hairston Jr, Loney, Castellanos, Gwynn Jr, Treanor

 

now it's something like

Victorino/Crawford, M. Ellis, Kemp, A. Gonzalez, Ethier, Hanley, AJ Ellis, Cruz

 

that's unfathomable

 

THEY HAD JERRY HAIRSTON BATTING CLEANUP

 

AND DH-ING

[davell]

Rubby has the ability to slide into Beckett's spot and be a TOR guy, may take a bit of time to get his stuff back and innings up after TJS though.

 

Haha what?

 

Rubby de la Rosa ABSOLUTELY has TOR stuff. Hell, he's had Pedro comps thrown out numerous times. To say he can have a Josh Beckett career isn;t going too far whatsoever. But he is just coming back from TJS surgery, so even though his velo is back, it could take a him a while to build up the arm stregth to go deep in games and could be on an innings limit next season. But he most certainly has TONS of ability.

[ctcf]

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS

#dodgers have sent a plane. a-gon, beckett & punto are now in the air to LA. #trade

[rawaction]

A-Gone

 

After a blockbuster deal with LA, Alex Gonzalez's Boston career is over.

 

Closing Time

 

POW: Hitters

Pitchers

 

 

Really?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Amazing deal for the Red Sox. I still can't believe it. Getting rid of all that salary AND getting 2 solid young pitching prospects?

 

I can sort of understand this for the Dodgers. They are trying to make a push now, and hoping that it will help with ticket sales and spur interest. But it's a risky proposition, and I'm not sure they make the playoffs. Of course, if they can get in, having Kershaw and that offense ... they could conceivably be the favorites.

 

As expensive as these guys are, they're by no means rent-a-players. They now have Kemp and A Gon at the heart of their lineup through pretty much eternity, as well as Han Ram for the next 2, and theres still hope for Crawford. Not sure what it does to their chances of extending Ethier though. I know that Epstein has changed many of our thinking, but there's something to be said about giving your team a good chance to be the NL's dominant force for the next several years no matter what impact it has on the future.

[Sammy Sofa]

The Dodgers have my 2010 The Show 1-4.

[davell]

They've already extended Ethier, 5/85.

[Little Slide Rooter]

They've already extended Ethier, 5/85.

 

Good God, their payroll could likely buy a small continent or a large country. This will not be a good era to be in the NL West.

[UMFan83]

I know most of these guys have seen better days but it's amazing that the Dodgers managed to get Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett during the trading season. If this was 2010, we're talking 4 perennial all stars.