Across the diamond to third base, that is. The Red Sox have agreed to a trade for a guy they've been coveting for a few years now, the game-changer that they thought they'd have to empty the farm to get: Adrian Gonzalez is coming to Boston in 2011! The package is rumored to be Casey Kelly, Reymond Fuentes (2009 first round draft pick) and Anthony Rizzo (top first baseman prospect who is now blocked by Gonzalez). A contract extension is also rumored to be in the works.
With another lefty on board, it may actually be a better idea to pursue Werth over Crawford because they need right-handed bats. All of this is good news for the Angels, who are supposedly interested in both Crawford and Beltre. If the Red Sox end up signing Werth, that eliminates them from the competition for Crawford as well as for Beltre, who no longer has a position on the team with Youk moving to third to accommodate Gonzalez. If the Sox signed Crawford, they would be too lefty-heavy in a division with a glut of top lefty pitchers such as Sabathia, Price, Matusz, and possibly Pettitte and Lee (Lester would be included in this group, but, obviously, the Sox would not be facing him).
It will be interesting to see what the Sox do in the free agent market as far as outfielders and filling bullpen needs. Getting Gonzalez is a giant step in the right direction.
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