On Sunday, the Red Sox finally pulled off the Adrian Gonzalez trade they’ve been trying to make for a few years. Gonzalez is set to be a free agent after the season, though, and the trade was made without a contract extension in place. However, the Red Sox are confident that the two sides can reach an agreement, and Ken Rosenthal fills us in on the state of their talks.
Adrian Gonzalez Seeking Six-Year Contract Extension, According To Report
According to Rosenthal, Gonzalez asked for a six-year contract worth $150 million, while the Red Sox countered with a five-year contract worth $120 million. It’s a difference of one season and $1 million a year, which sounds really substantial, but may not end up as much of an obstacle.
Given that Gonzalez was previously thought to be seeking an eight-year contract like the one Mark Teixeira signed with the Yankees, that he’d settle instead for six makes the whole thing easier to stomach. Six years at around $25 million a piece, of course, would still be an enormous commitment, but it would mean the Red Sox were paying Gonzalez through age 35, rather than age 37. Those are dangerous years, and good ones to avoid when possible.
The Red Sox and Gonzalez have yet to agree to a contract, but if Rosenthal’s report is correct, then it should only be a matter of time. They aren’t too far apart.
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