Dodgers demote De La Rosa, who could be in Adrian Gonzalez deal
The wheels appear to be turning on a blockbuster deal between the Dodgers and Boston Red Sox involving All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
The Dodgers have demoted hard-throwing right-hander Rubby De La Rosa in the latest move involving a player said to be a potential piece in the deal.
De La Rosa was placed on waivers by the Dodgers, but pulled back after he was claimed by a team. He now could end up as a “player to be named later” in a trade with the Red Sox for Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, a four-time All-Star, was won by the Dodgers in a waiver claim on Friday, as was Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett. The teams now have 48 hours to consummate a deal involving those players, or the Red Sox could pull one or both back, or let either or both go without a trade, with the Dodgers then becoming responsible for their contracts.
Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford, who also might be part of the deal, has already cleared waivers. Crawford, who underwent reconstructive elbow surgery Thursday, has five years left on a seven-year, $142-million contract. He isn’t expected to be ready to play for at least 10 months.
Gonzalez is owed $127 million over the next six years. Beckett is owed $31.5 million the next two seasons.
De La Rosa, 23, is among the Dodgers’ top prospects. His fastball velocity has hit triple digits, but he underwent Tommy John surgery in August of last year and only recently returned to the mound.
De La Rosa pitched two-thirds of an inning Wednesday night, giving up two runs, but his fastball was clocked as high as 96 mph. Other Dodgers prospects who are being discussed as part of the deal are pitchers Zach Lee and Allen Webster and outfielder-first baseman Jerry Sands.
When they demoted De La Rosa on Friday, the Dodgers promoted utility man Alex Castellanos, who was batting .347 with 17 home runs and 52 runs batted in for the triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes.
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