Padres' Gonzalez in Boston to take physical

SAN DIEGO - All-Star slugger Adrian Gonzalez was in Boston yesterday to take a physical exam needed to complete a trade from the San Diego Padres to the Red Sox, two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade hasn't been completed.

Gonzalez had surgery to clean up the labrum in his non-throwing right shoulder Oct. 20. The Padres said then that the three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award-winning first baseman was expected to be ready for spring training.

Besides passing the physical, Gonzalez and the Red Sox will have to agree to a renegotiated contract because of the caliber of prospects Boston is giving up, one of the people familiar with the deal said. That person said the teams hope to wrap up the trade before the winter meetings start Monday.

The Padres, who have a long history of dumping star players for financial reasons, will receive three of Boston's top prospects, plus a player to be determined for Gonzalez. The prospects are righthander Casey Kelly, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and centerfielder Reymond Fuentes.

Rizzo is probably two years away from the big leagues, so the Padres will have to sign a free agent to play the position to begin the season. Kyle Blanks, a first baseman who had been switched to leftfield to give him playing time, had reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in late July and is expected to be sidelined until perhaps midseason.

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein did not respond to an e-mail seeking confirmation. Padres GM Jed Hoyer hasn't responded to requests for comment.

Hoyer worked under Epstein in Boston's front office before he was hired as Padres GM following the 2009 season. Additionally, Padres assistant GM Jason McLeod was Boston's scouting director for seven years before returning to San Diego last December.