Report: Dodgers Awarded Waiver Claim on Adrian Gonzalez

by Ricky Doyle on Fri, Aug 24, 2012 at 2:25PM

The Dodgers' reported interest in Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez seems to have been confirmed.

The Dodgers won a waiver claim on Gonzalez, according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal has since confirmed the news, adding that trading players like Gonzalez is usually easier in the offseason, but that the Dodgers could be the only team willing to absorb his entire contract.

Gonzalez could very well end up staying in Boston, but the claim at least means the Red Sox now face three options regarding the four-time All-Star. The Sox could pull Gonzalez back off waivers, meaning he won't go anywhere and nothing has changed. If they'd like to move Gonzalez, they could either let him and his contract go to the Dodgers or they could trade him to the Dodgers.

It's hard to imagine the Red Sox parting ways with Gonzalez, who has been the hottest hitter in baseball since the All-Star break. If they were to move him, though, it would certainly signal that a major shakeup could be forthcoming in Beantown.

Gonzalez, 30, is hitting .300 with 15 home runs and 86 RBIs in 123 games this season. He's slated to earn $21 million per season through 2016 before obtaining a raise to $21.5 million for 2017-18.