REPORT: Red Sox to Send Gonzalez, Beckett, Crawford to Dodgers in Blockbuster

The Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers are discussing a lopsided blockbuster. (Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE)

Not even 24 hours after they cleared waivers, the Boston Red Sox are prepared to unload their biggest contracts on the Los Angeles Dodgers in a post-deadline blockbuster like we’ve never seen before. If completed the Red Sox will have dumped $261 million off their books in a single trade.

According to Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston, the Red Sox are prepared to trade Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto to the Dodgers in exchange for minor league and minor player pieces. The Dodgers would send pitcher Ruby De La Rosa to Boston as the centerpiece of the trade along with  James Loney, Ivan De Jesus, Jerry Sands and another top prospect yet to be identified.

It was earlier thought that if the Red Sox traded Gonzalez, not only would they have to be blown away by a deal, but it would signal a complete admission of rebuilding in Bean Town.

That appears to be the case with this deal being constructed the same day Beckett and Gonzalez were claimed off of waivers by the Dodgers.

Outfielder Carl Crawford is a bonus name in all these talks, but with his lack of production in Boston, the Red Sox have deemed him expendable and are including him in this overhaul of a deal. Not only are the Red Sox throwing in the towel for the next few years, but they’re basically giving these players away as a way to dump their salary off their books.

As for the Dodgers, there is no doubt that they are all-in for a World Series this year after trading for Hanely Ramirez before the deadline and now adding the three biggest players in Boston along with Punto who can play just about anything in the infield and can be a solid bat in the lineup.

The deal is nowhere near final, but the two sides are talking extensively about pulling the trigger on this post-deadline blockbuster. If it happens, this is a huge boost for the Dodgers and the beginning of a new era for the Red Sox.