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Red Sox ink Alex Gonzalez

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sears3820

sears3820

Sitting around in my underwear....
http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=123774



Free agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez and the Red Sox agreed to terms yesterday on a one-year deal worth $3 million, according to multiple sources, and the defensive whiz is expected in town today, barring weather delays.

Gonzalez is expected to take the required physical today or tomorrow, by which time the Red Sox are expected to announce the deal, which was first reported in the Herald on Jan. 15.

Gonzalez will replace the disappointing Edgar Renteria, whom the Sox dealt, along with $11 million, to the Braves in early December for third base prospect Andy Marte. Since the Renteria trade, the Red Sox have maintained steady contact with Gonzalez while also keeping options for a shortstop open, both internally — Alex Cora, Dustin Pedroia — and via trade — Julio Lugo.

When the club completed its deal for center fielder Coco Crisp this weekend, the trade route dried up and the Gonzalez deal solidified.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=8><SPACER width="8" height="8" type="block"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>No one from the Red Sox was able to comment. Gonzalez’ agent, Eric Goldschmidt, did not return calls.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=8><SPACER width="8" height="8" type="block"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Gonzalez, who turns 29 on Feb. 15, is a very slick and smooth-handed defensive shortstop without much to show at the plate. A .245 career hitter with a career on-base percentage of just .291, Gonzalez had a relatively strong year last season with the Marlins. He managed 31 walks, two off his career high, shaved his strikeout total from a career-high of 126 in 2004 to 81 and upped his on-base percentage to .319 with a .264 batting average.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=8><SPACER width="8" height="8" type="block"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The Gonzalez signing certainly fits into the pattern of deals the Red Sox have made in this abnormally busy offseason. Defensively, with Mark Loretta at second base and Crisp in center field and now Gonzalez, the Sox have improved markedly up the middle. Also, with Gold Glovers Mike Lowell manning third base and J.T. Snow at first, the infield defense leapfrogged to one of the best in the league.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=8><SPACER width="8" height="8" type="block"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The one-year deal is also telling, since the Red Sox have tried hard not to get locked up in multiyear deals with players whenever possible. The team is hopeful that with more seasoning in Triple-A and/or the majors this season, Pedroia, their No. 1 pick two years ago, will grow into the shortstop position.

Gonzalez’ stay in Boston may be brief. He is expected to join his Venezuelan winter team, the Caracas Lions, for the Caribbean Series, which begins Thursday.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=8><SPACER width="8" height="8" type="block"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Gonzalez represents the eighth significant new face the Red Sox have added this offseason. He joins Lowell, Snow, Crisp, starter Josh Beckett and relievers Julian Tavarez, Rudy Seanez and David Riske.
 
This isn't the most popular signing in Beantown, the Sox fans on the radio are claiming that he has an average bat at best.

I'd like to add that I don't really know a whole lot about baseball, but I thought Sears would like to hear what's going on up here.
 
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Thanks for the news.

I'm happy with the signing especially since it only cost us $3 mil. Gonzo's merely a stop-gap solution at SS. I like it a lot better than overpaying a Julio Lugo for multiple years, which was another option. It also gives Dustin Pedroia another year to progress and take the starting spot in '07. The left side of the Sox infield will be much improved defensively over last year.

Gonzo isn't going to give you much offensively, but his numbers will improve in hitter-friendly Fenway Park as opposed to pitcher-friendly Dolphins Stadium. Throw him in at the bottom of the order. That way even if he does struggle, his minimal plate appearences won't have a big effect on the offense.

It's also a contract year for Gonzo. Perhaps some motivation to elevate his game a little.
 
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gozno.jpg
 
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Wow, first time I got Sox news here first. This Buckeye-Sox thing is taking off.

Excellent.

We knew this was going to happen. Now, however, nothing is known or leaked as looking prosperous and in the works.

I just hope we can get something for Wells and/or Clement (much rather Wells). We'll see. . .
 
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Crump's brother said:
the Sox fans on the radio are claiming that he has an average bat at best. .
Click to expand...

Uh, they WISH his bat was average at best. If they were disappointed with Renteria, they'll be swinging from the shower curtains after watching Gonzalez.

He's a major turd. I'm really surprised that's the best they could do at short for the whole offseason.
 
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Don't kid yourself. The Red Sox aren't bringing him in for his bat. However, a dead pull hitter like AGon has the possibilty of putting up pretty good stats in Fenway. Gonzo was putting up some decent power numbers the past few seasons 'til elbow problems slowed him down last year.

If he's healthy, there's no reason why he can't put up 15 dongs and bat .270 at Fenway. I'll take that production out of a slick-fielding SS for $3 mil, at the bottom of the batting order every single day and twice on Sundays. Not to mention Gonzo's 16 errors compared to Renteria's 30. That's the straw that broke the camel's back. You can't pay a guy $10 mil to commit 30 errors at a defense-intensive position like SS.

The only other viable option was Julio Lugo. I like this deal a lot better than being extorted by the D-Rays.
 
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What did the Rays want for Lugo? He's be a great addition.

If Gonzalez hits .270 at Fenway, then he'll hit .230 on the road. I'd be surprised if he hit over.250. It's hard for decent hitters to change leagues. It will be murder for him.

I do like the Beckett move, but the others are quite Riske !
 
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The D-Rays were asking for Marte.

Marte for Lugo straight-up would have been pure lunacy. Had that tarde went down, we only had control of FA-to-be Lugo for one year. Definitely not worth trading a Top 10 prospect in all of baseball for. It's too short-aided. Instead, we built for the future and got Crisp for 4 years in exchange for Marte.
 
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