Red Sox, Dodgers, complete massive nine-player deal

The Red Sox and Dodgers have completed a nine-player trade that will sent Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, and Nick Punto to the Dodgers in exchange for James Loney, and four prospects. The four prospects are Allen Webster, Ivan De Jesus, Jerry Sands, and Rubby De La Rosa. Boston will pay just $12 million of the over $270 million owed to Beckett, Crawford, Gonzalez and Punto.

Adding these four players will definitely be a big financial commitment by the Dodgers:

• Gonzalez will earn $21 million per season through 2016, and will earn $21.5 million in 2017 and 2018. 
• Beckett is set to earn $15.75 million per season through 2014. 
• Crawford will earn $20 million in 2013, $20.25 million in 2014, $20.5 million in 2015, $20.75 million in 2016, and $21 million in 2017. 
• Punto will earn $1.5 per season through 2013. 

The Dodgers have made several deals over the last few months, and have added $300 million in future payroll obligations in the process. The club now has a $193.75 million payroll for 2013. The Red Sox, on the other hand, will have a payroll of $45.6 million for the 2013 season.

Both Beckett (10-and-5 rights) and Crawford (no-trade clause) had to approve the deal. Los Angeles claimed both Gonzalez and Beckett off of waivers yesterday, and Punto and Crawford cleared waivers last month, making them eligible to be in the deal. 

Gonzalez has hit .300 with 15 homers this season. He is actually having a down year, considering that he usually hits 30+ homers annually. Dodgers' first basemen have hit just .244 this year, so Gonzalez is a huge upgrade. 

Beckett has posted a 5.23 ERA in 21 starts with Boston this year. He has battled several thumb and back issues. Dodger Stadium is generally considered as a pitcher-friendly park, so Beckett should find a way to have some success there. Beckett also has post-season experience, and that gives Los Angeles a player with a proven track record down the stretch. 

Crawford had Tommy John surgery two days ago and will miss the remainder of the season. He hit .260 with 14 homers and 23 steals in 161 career games with Boston. He is expected to be ready for Spring Training next year, meaning that recently-acquired outfielder Shane Victorino will likely leave via free agency this fall.

The Dodgers recently lost Jerry Hairston Jr. for the remainder of the season, and he served as a super utility man while he was in Los Angeles. Punto will take his spot on the roster, and provide much needed depth for the infield. He has hit just .200 with 5 stolen bases in 148 plate appearances for Boston this year.

Loney has spent his entire career with the Dodgers, and has hit just .254 with four homers in 359 plate appearances this season. He will be a free agent in six weeks, so he'll probably be a temporary stopgap first baseman for Boston. 

Webster posted a 3.55 ERA in 121 1/3 innings in Double-A this season. De Jesus, has been a top prospect for the Dodgers for several years, and has been up and down between Triple-A and Double-A over the last few years. He has hit .295 in 243 plate appearances in Triple-A this year as shortstop. Sands has had a few cups of coffee with the Dodgers over the last few years. He has hit .291 in nearly 900 career Triple-A plate appearances. De La Rosa just returned from Tommy John surgery this year, and posted a 3.71 ERA in ten starts and three relief appearances for L.A. this season. 

Analysis: Wow. That's really all I have to say. This is easily one of the biggest trades of this decade, and will seriously impact both teams. Lets start with the players going to the Dodgers. So, obviously Gonzalez is a huge upgrade over Loney, but the problem is that he has a gigantic contract that the Dodgers are going to have to deal with. I'm sure he'll play well with Los Angeles. As for Beckett, I'm surprised that they are taking on his big contract. Beckett is washed up and has an attitude problem. However, like I mentioned earlier, he has post-season experience, so that is appealing to the Dodgers. Next is Crawford, and I'm assuming that the Dodgers didn't want him, but Boston kind of threw him in to facilitate a deal. He is owed a lot of money over the next 5 years or so, and I doubt that he will return to the player he once was with the Rays. Also, Punto is a nice throw in because he will fill in the role that Hairston Jr. left once he went down for season with a hip injury. I even said that Los Angeles was going to go after a utility player. Now, for the players going to Boston, I'll start with James Loney. Loney isn't your typical first baseman, because he is a contact hitter and only hits about 10 homers per season. He'll just serve as a stopgap, and I'm sure he'll get a multiyear deal from someone in the off-season, despite his poor performance. Who knows, he could return to the Dodgers and serve as the club's backup first baseman, but that is unlikely. Next is Allen Webster, who is a nice prospect to have. He isn't anything overly special, but he might serve as a serviceable starter in the big leagues in the next few years. I don't understand why Boston wants De Jesus, considering that they already have prospect Jose Inglesias set as their shortstop of the future. They could move De Jesus to second base, then they would have to trade their All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Jerry Sands seems like a decent outfielder, and he has some pop to his bat. He should be yet another outfielder that should get an everyday gig with Boston next season. Finally, Rubby De La Rosa seems like he is actually an above-average prospect, throwing in the mid-high 90's and still very young (23 years old.) Overall, good trade for both sides but even better deal for the Red Sox, who free up about $260 million in future payroll obligations.