Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers meet for first time since blockbuster trade
By Brian Spaen
It’s almost been one year since the Boston Red Sox cut loose a lot of their star players in a very disappointing season and sent them to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In return, it’s reignited both teams that are well on pace to make it deep into October.
Perhaps this series could be a preview of this year’s World Series.
Alex Espinoza, in a special appearance with ESPN Boston, refreshes what happened in a trade that sent some of Boston’s best players across the country.
"With Bobby Valentine at the helm and a clubhouse disintegrating, Boston general manager Ben Cherington boldly agreed to the biggest trade in MLB history — both in terms of star power and salaries moved. To Los Angeles went Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Nick Punto and more than a quarter-billion dollars of contracts. To Boston went pitching prospects Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster along with James Loney and minor-league hitters Ivan DeJesus and Jerry Sands."
A season later, the Red Sox hold the best division in the American League, and slightly hold a half-game lead in the competitive AL East over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Dodgers don’t nearly have the tough division the Red Sox have, but have pulled away with an eight-game lead heading into Wednesday’s late games.
The Red Sox and Dodgers play a three-game series beginning Friday night. Saturday’s game will be a regional game on FOX that most of the country will get; first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 PM ET. Sunday night’s game will be on ESPN with an 8:05 PM ET first pitch.