Major League Baseball

Red Sox finally get Gonzalez from Padres

Published Dec. 5, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

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The Boston Red Sox on Sunday completed a deal for San Diego slugger Adrian Gonzalez that earlier in the day appeared in jeopardy, major league sources told FOXSports.com.

The Padres received right-handed starter Casey Kelly, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, center fielder Reymond Fuentes and a player to be named later, a source said.

"I'm very excited to be in Boston and ready to beat the Yanks," Gonzalez pronounced Monday in a Red Sox jersey.

Kelly, Rizzo and Fuentes are all prospects who have yet to debut in the major leagues.

The deal appeared to have hit a wall when the sides struggled to meet a deadline for a long-term extension with Gonzalez. According to a source, Gonzalez "turned down a lot of money because he wanted more, and the window closed."

Major League Baseball had approved a negotiating window, but on Monday, when the deal became official, the Red Sox are now able to resume negotiations at any point.

"We're thrilled to be able to make this trade," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said.

One major league source said the sides have, in fact, agreed on the parameters of a contract extension — just not the final numbers. The person indicated that the deal will not exceed $22 million in average annual value or seven years in duration — in other words, the contract won't be worth more than $154 million.

Gonzalez, 28, is set to earn $6.3 million in the final year of his current contract, which is viewed throughout the industry as a bargain — one reason he seems motivated to get a big-dollar deal now.

"We're going to try to get something so he will be here for a very long time," said John Boggs, Gonzalez's agent.

In five seasons with San Diego, Gonzalez has 161 homers and 501 RBIs. Including parts of two seasons with Texas, he has 168 homers and 525 RBIs. He hit .298 with 31 homers and 101 RBIs last season.

Gonzalez's lefty swings put up big numbers despite him playing at pitcher-oriented Petco Park.

"I think he's going to be a monster in Fenway Park," Padres general manager Jed Hoyer said at baseball's winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Epstein, too, predicts Gonzalez will quickly take aim at the Green Monster in left field.

"We think he is going to wear the wall out," Epstein said.

The Red Sox made a run at Gonzalez before the 2009 trading deadline and again last season, Epstein said. Gonzalez has been an All-Star the last three years and is two-time Gold Glover.

For the Red Sox, the trade allows them to play a little catch up with the Yankees. A couple of years ago, Boston was in the mix to sign star first baseman Mark Teixeira, who wound up going to New York.

"It makes them a great team. He's a heck of a hitter. That's a huge addition for Boston," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "They just obviously improved themselves in a significant way. He's one of the premier players in that position in the game."

Gonzalez had surgery to clean up the labrum in his non-throwing right shoulder on Oct. 20, but he said Monday he's ahead of schedule and expects to be ready for opening day.

"I'm very excited to start this new phase and look forward to a lot of world championships," he said.

Gonzalez said the Red Sox have always been his favorite American League team, in part because of Boston icon and Hall of Famer Ted Williams - like Gonzalez, Williams was a left-hander and San Diego native.

Epstein said the Red Sox had admired Gonzalez since his days as an up-and-coming player for the Texas Rangers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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