The Los Angeles Dodgers Working a Deal with The Boston Red Sox for Adrian Gonzalez

The Los Angeles Dodgers are working on a blockbuster deal for Adrian Gonzalez of the Boston Red Sox. Photo Credit: US Presswire

Sources: Dodgers very serious about trading for Gonzalez and have lots of options. Deadline is 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday. Y! Sports story coming.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 24, 2012

According to several reports, the Los Angeles Dodgers have claimed Adrian Gonzalez off waivers and are now in talks to acquire the All-Star left handed first basemen.

Gonzalez, a former NL West star and San Diego native, was put on Waivers by the Red Sox who are all but out of the playoff hunt. The Dodgers recently suffered a 3-game sweep by hated rivals and the NL West Leading San Francisco Giants, leading them to an increased state of panic.

Reports indicate that the Dodgers would take on huge amounts of salary in the forms of Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford’s contracts as well as prospects Rubby De La Rosa and Jerry Sands.

The Dodgers have a gaping hole at first base due to the light hitting of James Loney, and Gonzalez would perfectly compliment a middle of the order that already includes Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, and Hanley Ramirez.

The new Dodger ownership group, The Guggenheim Partners, led by Magic Johnson, Stan Kasten, and Peter Guber, have already shown they have deep pockets, acquiring Hanley Ramirez and his hefty contract before the July 31st trade deadline. This deal would add anywhere between 150-300 million in payroll to the Dodgers, who only a year ago, were floundering under Frank McCourt’s leadership and were nearing bankruptcy.

While this deal would tremendously boost the Dodger’s offense, the payroll hit could affect the Dodgers long term. Carl Crawford recently underwent Tommy John Surgery so his inclusion in this deal is purely for monetary reasons. The Dodgers have already locked up Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier long term, but Cy-Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw will be a free agent after next season. This trade could affect negotiations with the 24 year old left-hander.

Still, it’s hard not to see how beneficial this would be to the Dodgers’ playoff and championship hopes. It would be yet another example of how this ownership is different than the last, and that the days of Frank McCourt using the team as his own piggy bank are far behind.