The Boston Red Sox finally got the slugger they’ve been coveting for over a year today, completing a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres for first basemen Adrian Gonzalez.
Going to San Diego will be a collection of top Boston prospects, including Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo, Reymond Fuentes, and a player to be named later.
The trade gives the Red Sox one of the premier hitters in all of baseball. Gonzalez, 28, finished fourth in MVP voting last year after sporting a .904 OPS with 31 home runs and 33 doubles. The left-handed slugger is a Gold Glove first basemen and excels at driving the ball to the opposite field, which makes him perfectly suited for playing in Fenway Park.
Kevin Youkilis is now expected to move to third base and vacate the first base slot for Gonzalez, who softens the blow of losing both Victor Martinez and Adrian Beltre to free agency.
But nothing’s free these days and Padres GM Jed Hoyer received a major haul of prospects for San Diego’s hometown hero. Who did the Red Sox give up and how might these players figure into the Padres plans in the future?
Read on to find out.