SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres say trading All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to Boston for three top prospects is neither a fire sale nor a sign the team is giving up on 2011.
General manager Jed Hoyer and co-owner Jeff Moorad both say trading Gonzalez was the right move for the long-term health of the franchise, which has a long history of moving star players for financial reasons.
Moorad says he understands that some fans are upset. But he also asks that they not overreact to the loss of Gonzalez. The Padres, who fell one victory short of a playoff berth last season, knew Gonzalez was going to be too expensive to keep when his contract expires.
Moorad says one GM told him, “It looks like you cut the head off the head of the Boston farm system.”
