I was listening to the MLB channel on XM Radio this afternoon and former GM Jim Bowden was talking about the Padres dealing All star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Bowden thinks the Red Sox will put together a package of prospects headlined by pitching prospect Casey Kelly.
In addition to Kelly, Bowden thinks the Red Sox will include first base prospect Lars Anderson and infield prospect Jed Lowrie. I actually was surprised to hear Lars Anderson in the package, as he is not in the Red Sox Top 10 prospects according to the recent Baseball America. To me, it would make more sense to add first base prospect Anthony Rizzo in the deal, and possibly SS prospect Jose Iglesias. Iglesias, the Red Sox #2 prospect according to BA, is a slick fielding SS, who has some promise at the plate as well. Rizzo, the Red Sox #3 prospect according to BA, is a power hitting first baseman.
With all that said, we get this tweet from Dan Hayes from the North County Times this evening:
Jed Hoyer said it's a near-certainty that Adrian Gonzalez will explore free agency after season.#Padres #MLB
2 sides don't matchup. But Hoyer said this is nothing new. Will continue to listen to trades for Gonzalez but expects to start with him.
So, it is inevitable that the Padres will deal AGonz, and it would make more sense for the Padres to deal him this offseason to maximize the return. However, Gonzalez's offseason shoulder surgery may delay any offseason deals.
Getting back to the proposed deal, Rizzo hit .260-.334-.480 with 25 HRs and 100 RBIs at High A and AA in 2010. Iglesias hit .295-.339-.379, with no HRs, 7 SBs and 20 RBIs in stints at Low A and AA in 2010.
Kelly is the Red Sox #1 prospect according to BA. Kelly went 3-5 with a 5.31 ERA and 1.611 WHIP as a 20 year old in AA this season. He made 21 starts this season, but was handled with kid gloves as he threw only 95 innings, striking out 81 and walking 35.
Would the Padres accept an offer of Casey Kelly, Jose Iglesias, Jed Lowrie and Anthony Rizzo in return for Adrian Gonzalez?