Technology Slice Blog

Adrian Gonzalez Trade Stopped - When SI.com’s Jon Heyman first reported that the trade designed to send Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox was killed by a contract dispute, my reaction was: “Wow, that’s crazy.” But it’s not crazy. Not at all. In fact, both sides were right to balk. Adrian Gonzalez hit .298/.393/.511 this past season with 31 home runs and 101 RBI while playing solid defense at the first base position. He’s 28 years old, talented as any first baseman in the league not named Pujols and looking to cash in on his impending free agency. So when the Red Sox made a mandate Saturday that Gonzalez sign a long-term contract extension before finalizing the blockbuster five-player trade, he asked for a deal similar to the eight-year, $180 million behemoth that Mark Teixeira signed in December of 2008 with the Yankees. Remember, the Red Sox helped drive up that Teixeira contract. But they’re not wrong for choosing to not pay it now. Gonzalez will be a free agent next win...