MLB Trade Rumors: Adrian Gonzalez To Be Traded

Beat writer Bill Madden from the New York Daily News wrote yesterday that one of new Padres GM Jed Hoyers first order of business is to trade first baseman Adrian Gonzalez this offseason to maximize their return for the slugging first baseman.

Here is what Madden had to say:

With 35-year old Jed Hoyer taking over the GM duties for the San Diego Padres, his first big challenge will be to decide what to do with 40-homer first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. He is a San Diego product and the Padres' one gate attraction, but they know they won't be able to afford Gonzalez when his contract runs out after his $5.5million option year in 2011. In order to get maximum return, the Padres probably will have to trade Gonzalez this winter. Either way, it will be about the most unpopular trade they could ever make. And no doubt, the first bidders at Hoyer's door will be the Red Sox, since he served as GM Theo Epstein's top assistant since 2004.

Madden goes on to quote former Padres GM Kevin Towers:

Revenue-sharing money simply isn't enough right now in their market, where a bad local TV package reaps only about $2million and they have $18 million a year in stadium debt. In addition, nobody knows how much it's costing new owner Jeff Moorad to complete his buyout of John Moores. "They're going to have a $40 million payroll for the foreseeable future," said recently fired Padres GM Kevin Towers, "and there's just no way they can devote half of that to one player. It's just a matter of when they decide to trade (Gonzalez)."

More after the jump:

And this from MLB.com on the Hoyer hiring:

 In Boston, Hoyer helped Epstein stock a farm system and develop young, inexpensive players that became stars. He said he'll try to do the same in San Diego, and he said he's already got a good head start with a good young core and talent through the Minor Leagues.

Just another reason why the Padres will trade Gonzalez.

AGonz had another terrific year in 2009 going 40-99-,277-.407-.551-.958 hitting in the worst hitters park in the majors. The Padres can rebuild quickly by dealing Gonzalez to a team with major league ready prospects like the Red Sox, which we have discussed several times before.

Should the Padres deal Gonzalez, a trade of closer Heath Bell would probably follow pretty quickly. The Padres can probably get 5-7 top prospects for both should they deal them this offseason.

There will be plenty of teams looking to trade for Gonzalez including the Red Sox, Dodgers, Braves, Mets and Marlins to name a few. Bell would garner calls from the Phillies, Marlins, and Braves,