Exactly what free agent would the Sox pursue at first base? Or doesn’t that part actually matter to the story? Ty Wiggington? 

Free agency at all positions is pretty barren this year.  Of people you can sort of call first basemen, the only good ones are Napoli, Berkman, Swisher and Youkilis.  I’m not sure any of those are great fits.  I see a trade to address 1B.  I like the idea of all the financial flexibility, I just have no idea how they will reallocate those funds.  Considering the report that the Sox only pay $10Mish, and getting Rubby and Webster, I definitely like the deal, but two major holes just opened up at 1B and OF. 

 While I agree with the “big dump,” it’ll take time for the Sox to get respectable again. I looked at the 2013 free agent list and there’s not much of anything there. Looks like the Sox will have to count on a couple of “over the hill” veterans for a year or so, until someone in their vaunted(yeah right) minor league system steps up of reasonable free agents appear on the free agent list for 2014. Then again, could the “big dump” have anything to do with possible Sox plans to sell the team and get the hell out of town? 

I agree….looks like most fans are thrilled just to see a big move…to see these guys shipped out.  Everyone can agree that Beckett is not productive and that moving him for nothing in return is maybe addition by subtraction. I”m not so sure that moving AGON and Crawford and getting prospects in return will make the team better. I think Crawford will be a good player again…sure not what he was inked to..that was another dopey Theo move, ditto for AGON.  But don’t we want to see a better team rather than one that might be even worse. Again, folks the problem is with the starting pitching and has been for three years.

Great move

Gonzalez seems to have an opinion on everything , and he lied about the cell phone incident with Kelly Shoppach .

It really doesn’t significantly matter to the story.  What matters is the sox freeing $262 million in payroll obligations.

Then again, could the “big dump” have anything to do with possible Sox plans to sell the team and get the hell out of town?
Lets hope so. 

I thought that they might be able to move Gonzalez and make the team they were dealing with take Beckett as part of the deal   I never thought they’d get away from Crawford.  Who’s running the Dodgers…………Isaiah Thomas?

To make the enima complete they should get rid of Dice-K, Lackey, and Lucchino.

This trade feels good just to get rid of Beckett. I couldn’t look at him for another two years. It was like divorcing your wife and having to live with her in the same house

Dice-K is gone already after the season. Anyone feel like they are trying to  position themselves to trade for King Felix? That’s what I get out of this, other than a straight salary dump.

Why are we dumping on senior management and ownership when they are doing exactly what we wanted them to do – only faster than we ever thought was possible?  We dump on Henry, but he was absolutely right about Crawford.  Maybe we’re just hating on Luchino? But if he is mister big free agent and brand and so on, then why are we dumping all our big name free agents?

I think this ownership group fully understands the exact same thing we are seeing.  While they are not going to the media to say, “we have a crappy team and we’re going to fix it” — which many of us seem to want them to do — they are instead just doing it.

Say what you will about Cherington and Lucchino, if they pull off this deal, it will be a feather in their caps.  Getting rid of three of  Epstein’s mistakes in one deal is quite something.  Too bad Lackey couldn’t have been included.

Big name overpaid players are not the answer.  Replacing the contributions of these players shouldn’t be too difficult.  It will be a pleasure NOT to see Beckett taking all that time on the mound between pitches or A-Gone running the bases.

Say what you will about Cherington and Lucchino, if they pull off this deal, it will be a feather in their caps.  Getting rid of three of  Epstein’s mistakes in one deal is quite something.  Too bad Lackey couldn’t have been included.

Big name overpaid players are not the answer.  Replacing the contributions of these players shouldn’t be too difficult.  It will be a pleasure NOT to see Beckett taking all that time on the mound between pitches or A-Gone running the bases.

Finding someone who will hit 20 HR shouldn’t be that difficult.  Mauro Gomez could probably do it, but A-Gone’s defense might be a little harder to replace.

Finding someone who will hit 20 HR shouldn’t be that difficult.  Mauro Gomez could probably do it, but A-Gone’s defense might be a little harder to replace.

Wow, and I thought other deals they made were awful. So we are giving up possibly a top ten offensive player in Adrian Gonzales, a dynamic player in Crawford, just to get rid of Beckett? I mean I want Beckett out badly but not at the cost of Crawford and Gonzales. 

I liked the Crawford signing, even if they way overpaid for him, at least he is a player with potential, same for Gonzales. I would keep both of those guys, for one Crawford actually cares and Gonzales has the best swing I have seen since Manny left. I am sorry but this deal sucks for the Red Sox. If they make this we are back to finding a replacement for not signing Mark Texiera. We only have one middle of the lineup hitter in Adrian Gonzales and they want to get rid of him already? I know we have Ortiz but at some point Ortiz will fall off the map again, unless he and Bartolo are on the same workout plan. Just compare this deal to what we gave SD for Gonzales and tell me we aren’t getting hosed? Why do we want James Loney? The guy sucks, no thanks. You know you won a trade generally when you get the best player in the deal, the Red Sox in this deal aren’t getting anything known back in return. Basically two prospects one with health concerns and the other barely made the top 100 prospects list. Pathetic, just move Beckett for whatever you can get and live with it. Stop creating more problems trying to fix one.  

Wow, and I thought other deals they made were awful. So we are giving up possibly a top ten offensive player in Adrian Gonzales, a dynamic player in Crawford, just to get rid of Beckett? I mean I want Beckett out badly but not at the cost of Crawford and Gonzales. 

I liked the Crawford signing, even if they way overpaid for him, at least he is a player with potential, same for Gonzales. I would keep both of those guys, for one Crawford actually cares and Gonzales has the best swing I have seen since Manny left. I am sorry but this deal sucks for the Red Sox. If they make this we are back to finding a replacement for not signing Mark Texiera. We only have one middle of the lineup hitter in Adrian Gonzales and they want to get rid of him already? I know we have Ortiz but at some point Ortiz will fall off the map again, unless he and Bartolo are on the same workout plan. Just compare this deal to what we gave SD for Gonzales and tell me we aren’t getting hosed? Why do we want James Loney? The guy sucks, no thanks. You know you won a trade generally when you get the best player in the deal, the Red Sox in this deal aren’t getting anything known back in return. Basically two prospects one with health concerns and the other barely made the top 100 prospects list. Pathetic, just move Beckett for whatever you can get and live with it. Stop creating more problems trying to fix one.  

With Gonzalez and Crawford, you can’t sign Ellsbury (although he is now on waivers).

Crawford just showed you what he is — a .270/.300/.350 slap hitter whose sole skill was stealing bases.  He is now three years slower than his prime and getting slower.  Why do we want a slow, poor hitting, oft-injured, poor fielding left fielder for the next 6 years tying up $20 million per year?

Gonzalez in the AL East, in Fenway, is at best a .300 hitter with a .900 OPS delivering 25 HRs and 100 RBIs, and bringing a Gold Glove at 1st.  Pretty good.  But is that worth $25 million per year?  And factor in that he is not a leader at all and a poor clubhouse guy to boot – remember his nonchalance at the end of last season? – coupled with his antagonism to management and ownership which won’t end (Shoppach is gone too!) – and you got to get rid of him.  He won’t be easily replaced, but it’s not like he is projecting to be a perennial All Star for us.  He’ll have much better luck in the NL – but don’t get fooled – he wouldn’t be able to do that here.

Mike Napoli would be a good fit at 1B.

Moyer, Wakefield, Clemens each pitches three. I’d pay for that, why not?

kind of tell you how my life is going since BOBO. I am Sox/Dodgers fan. travel out there every summer since 1968. I was ecstatic when I heard the Sox dumped these guys then emtions turned when I heard to whom. It was like the night UBL was killed I thought they said Obama! Talk about 180 degrees in emotions  

Let’s be clear – Gonzales, Crawford and Beckett are all great players. Beckett was an outstanding pitcher last year and will probably flourish in the National League, Gonzales has been on a tear since the All Star break, Crawford showed flashes of his old form in the month he played despite elbow pain, and even Punto is a useful utility player. West Coast Red Sox fans will tune in to see them and help refill Dodger stadium. Together with their earlier Ramirez trade, the Dodgers are turning themselves into the Lakers of baseball, the West Coast Yankees.

So I applaud Cherington’s bold move, but let’s not pretend any of these players or contracts were as bad as they’ve come to seem since last September. This was a win-win if the Sox management can turn their new-found flexibility into WAR. In the meantime, their farm system has gotten better, but hasn’t benefited from years of losing and compensation like Baltimore and Tampa. An AL East wildcard is certainly not a lock.

It’s going to be a long road. Cherington was listening to the fans, but baseball isn’t easy and the Sox aren’t going to start winning instantly. Can we stand behind this team and management, and stop talking about beer and chicken and the September collapse? Can we turn the page?

nice deal.

Wow I can’t believe all these clowns in Sox nation !! R y’all serious in believing that upper mgnt is gonna be allow to spend that type of money again hahaha the real joke is on us as the fans . I will say its a sunny day in Cali and a dark day in REDSUX clubhouse with Bobby V as our future manger . This was what upper mgnt wanted to unload all these contracts one way or another to make them self not look bad by doing so , so they used this excuse but y’all will realize they ain’t gonna sign any key player and keep da money .. Fell well Sox nation we been screw once again and y’all think it’s for da better part ..

with this trade i feel like they’re getting rid of all the negative things that have happened the past two seasons and now the sox are really loaded in the farm system. the team is young for the most part and in free agency next year they’ll be alot more careful with the money spending. plus with all these high paid guys gone alot of the pressure is gone and we can see these young guys play and develop

thats a good idea, the sox have plenty of talent and potential in AA and AAA

Doesn’t matter who Sox pickup at first base.  Their first priority is to get the farm system back at its high level and focus on the starting pitching.  The main reason we are in this position is Lester and Beckett being “way” below 500 pitchers.  I do sense that we aren’t seeing the end yet.  I still would expect another blockbuster here to rid themselves of Lackey.  With Lackey out that would put a close to the Theo “insane” era or do I mean error :)

A lot of people are talking about a weak free agency, I wouldn’t worry about that as much as collecting the right talent.  Remember the cash being freed up helps the Sox for “trades” too.  The moves aren’t just about “buying” themselves back into a race as much as admitting that this group of “players” would have been a disaster long term.  I for one would rather them show progress next year and have cash at mid season next year.  The tables in baseball can turn “real” fast.

Baseball has changed. You have to build a team through young talent (Nationals, Angels with Trout). The days of spending big money on free agents and buying a WS are over.

“Can we turn the page?” Probably not any time soon. Too many fans are still upset about 2011 to let it slide that easily. Although, most of those fans are probably pink hat bandwagon jumpers, so there’s still a chance.

Is NESN going to carry the Dodger games now.

glad to get away from crawford and beckett . might miss gonzo his attitude was questionable .hope sox sign elesbury to a long term contract  the team is moving forward lets see what next year brings rest papi for next season  go patriots

Still waiting for Speier and Bradford to acknowledge their complicity in perpetuating the myths of Beckett and Epstein as one the hand a workhorse who always gives his all and on the other a boy genius of a general manager.  

so i told them dogers u can hav gonzalez but  gotta take beckett and crawford too……. AND THEY DID

Amazing to see how the Red Sox brass spins a major salary and talent dump into a good thing.Looks to me like they have added 40M to their profit line with no immediate plan to make the club better

Yeah, well you are right. I was wrong, after thinking about this for awhile I change my mind. I like the deal, it is going to allow them to rebuild. I did want them to get rid of Beckett, the guy was one of the main problems they had. If they can get rid of John Lackey, Bobby V, and maybe even Larry Lucchino (his contract is up for renewal anyways, so just don’t renew it) then the clean sweep should be complete. Or just take Larry’s ability to make baseball decisions away and let him focus on selling crap.  

I was thinking about next season, what I should have been considering is two years down the line. As long as they do not repeat the same mistakes of the past few years (like sign a Josh Hamilton or a Greinke). I think they have an opportunity now to build this team to be a winner again. I will deal with another bridge year if it means a solid baseball team for the future. They do seem to have a lot of young talent in the organization. 

Could we see an Ellsbury and whatever else it takes deal for King Felix? Would Seattle want Ellsbury or would it have to be a three team deal sending Ellsbury somewhere else to get prospects Seattle wants? 

For the first time in a while I can see the light at the end of the tunnel for this team. 

Bring Youk back!