If the Boston Red Sox were hoping that shortstop Alex Gonzalez would take a reduced contract to come back with them, they were sadly mistaken.
According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and later confirmed by Joe Haggerty of CSN New England, Gonzalez has signed a one year deal with an option with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Red Sox held a $6 million option on Gonzo but declined it making him a free agent.
Instead, he’ll get $2.75 million in 2010 with the Jays holding an option of $2.5 million in 2011.
With Gonzo off the market now, there’s not really much out there for shortstops. The big names available are Miguel Tejada, Orlando Cabrera and Marco Scutaro. All three of them would cost the Red Sox their first round draft pick since they’re all Type A free agents.
Of the three, I would expect to see the Red Sox go after Scutaro with possibly a 2-year deal, giving Jose Iglesias some time to develop in the minor leagues.
