Gonzalez Is On The Way

A deal is now in place that will bring Padres slugging first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox, according to multiple sources today.

The trade will include three top Red Sox minor league prospects: pitcher Casey Kelly, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and outfielder Reymond Fuentes. Kelly and Fuentes are former first round draft picks. A player to be named later may also be part of the deal.

I was glad the Red Sox did not have to include Daniel Bard or Ryan Kalish in it, or minor league stud shortstop Jose Iglesias as well. I thought Theo Epstein did really well here, especially since he was dealing with Padres GM Jed Hoyer, who was Theo's right hand man for years and knew the Red Sox farm system intimately.

The deal is contingent on getting Gonzalez, who will be 29 in May, signed to an extension. He could have walked away from the Padres as a free agent after 2011. Gonzalez is currently in Boston for a physical, as he had shoulder surgery shortly after the 2010 ended.

The trade would mean that Adrian Beltre is officially gone, as Kevin Youkilis will now move over to third base on a full-time basis.

Gonzalez will also be seeing his former teammates again in June, as the Padres play the Red Sox at Fenway June 20-22.

And BTW, Gonzalez is 7-for-10 lifetime against Cliff Lee. I'm sure the Red Sox are well aware of that.