Padres trading Adrian Gonzalez to Red Sox, remove themselves from contention

There is cause for celebration, Rockies fans! We don’t have to worry about the Padres next season!

The Padres were one of the biggest surprises in baseball last year. The Friars lost in a tiebreaker – to the eventual World Champions – after finishing the regular season tied for first in the NL West. The organization must have been satisfied with that result because they just gave up on 2011. San Diego was facing a situation much like the Rockies had with Matt Holliday. Gonzalez had one year left on his contract and the Padres felt like re-signing the first baseman was impossible. Instead of losing him as a free agent, they traded him for prospects. Fortunately, San Diego is not likely to see as much success with the Gonzalez trade as the Rockies did with the Holliday trade. There aren’t many CarGo’s out there.

(Photo: Yardbarker.com)
He will not be missed.

During his time in San Diego, Adrian Gonzalez was one of the best players in the West. In each of the last four seasons, Gonzalez managed to hit at least thirty homeruns, despite playing half of his games in expansive Petco Park. He is also a very slick fielder who has two Gold Gloves. If not for Albert Pujols, Gonzalez would also have a couple of Silver Sluggers. He was instrumental in San Diego’s 2010 run at the division and they will not be contenders without him.

Inevitably, the Red Sox get their man. After coveting the Padres’ first baseman for years, they are finally going to acquire him. He will have a monster first season in Fenway.  To commemorate his departure, please feel free to leave your favorite Adrian Gonzalez memory in the comment section.

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