Dodgers Make Blockbuster Deal With BoSox

Hollywood loves a blockbuster, and the new owners of the Dodgers certainly showed they understand the concept, too.

The Dodgers on Saturday completed a trade of Major League Baseball all-stars that is being compared to the sale of Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1919.

The team announced at midafternoon that it had acquired four-time All- Stars Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, World Series MVP pitcher Josh Beckett, infielder Nick Punto and cash from the Red Sox, who are mired in last place in the American League East.

Team owners Stan Kasten and Earvin "Magic" Johnson, and General Manager Ned Colletti called an afternoon media availability at Dodger Stadium today to announce the deal, which Forbes magazine called one of the biggest trades in baseball history.

"The bet here is that the veteran players will help build the (Dodger's) brand, give it the players they need to make the postseason, and help the new owners maximize the big payout with their new television deal in 2014," said Forbes sports money columnist Mike Ozanian. He compared the deal to the BoSox sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919, a deal that many cite as the curse of the Bambino that wrought decades of frustration for Boston.

Dodgers first baseman James Loney and four other players will be sent to Boston. The Dodgers will pick up more than $260 million in payroll costs from the Sox, according to various published reports.

Gonzalez spent his childhood in Tijuana and now lives in San Diego. He has been batting .300 and hit 15 homes in 123 games so far this season for Boston, and has a career fielding percentage of .995 at first base.

Crawford, an outfielder, was MVP of the 2009 All-Star Game, and in 11 years at Tampa Bay and Boston had a career batting percentage of .292. But he is coming off of "Tommy John" surgery and has played just 31 games this season.

Beckett has a 130-92 lifetime record and .393 ERA in 12 seasons with Florida and Boston.

—City News Service