Red Sox, salary dump, discuss trading Gonzalez to Dodgers

BOSTON -- Adrian Gonzalez of the Red Sox and James Loney of the Dodgers were scratched from their teams' starting lineups Friday night as the clubs tried to finalize a major trade involving the first basemen.

The Red Sox also were discussing sending pitcher Josh Beckett, leftfielder Carl Crawford and infielder Nick Punto to Los Angeles, a baseball official informed of the talks said.

Red Sox officials are trying to reduce payroll during a disappointing season. "I think they're looking to put the ballclub in a better situation next year," David Ortiz said. "I'm not saying that we're going to be in a better situation without those players. We are about to find out."

If the trade is completed, the Red Sox will be relieved of a huge salary burden, assuming the Dodgers pick up most of what is owed. Gonzalez, Crawford and Beckett are due $261 million from 2013-18.

Beckett was scheduled to pitch Saturday night. Is that still the case? "To the best of my knowledge, yes," manager Bobby Valentine said.

The Red Sox had placed Gonzalez on waivers, ESPN reported. Teams often do that to gauge other clubs' interest in players and then try to work out a trade. "Waiver questions? I'm not talking about that," Gonzalez said before Friday night's game.

Loney, who can become a free agent after the season, is hitting .254 with four homers and 33 RBIs in 114 games in his seventh major-league season, all with the Dodgers.

"It's a little frustrating because you just think there's so much more there. And I know James thinks there's more there," manager Don Mattingly said. "It's hard to have anything really negative to say about James because he's a great kid and he works really hard. He's giving us everything he's got. It's not a matter of not wanting to or not trying to or not doing the work. It's just not coming out."