10-time NBA All-Star Kevin Garnett is officially a Boston Celtic. Garnett was introduced at an evening press conference at TD BankNorth Garden to the Boston media. Present along with Garnett were Celtics captain Paul Pierce, the recently acquired Ray Allen, director of basketball operations Danny Ainge, head coach Glen “Doc” Rivers and Celtics ownership.

Garnett was acquired for five players, Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair and Theo Ratliffe plus 2 first round draft picks. It was the largest trade for any one player in NBA history.

The three players were almost giddy in their excitement at the prospect of getting to play together. Garnett and Pierce played in a High School All-Star game in the mid 90’s and Allen and Garnett are from the same general area in South Carolina and played against each other regularly.

Next up for Danny Ainge is to add some other players to bring the roster up to the league minimum of twelve players. Expect him to look for some more veteran players as free agents to fill in the gaps. His immediate need is for a second point guard to play in place of Rajon Rondo.

It is an exciting time for Celtics fans. The team is relevant once again. With this deal the Celtics are considered one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference along with Cleveland and Detroit. The last time the Celtics were in the Eastern Conference Finals was in 2002 when they lost to New Jersey in six games.

The once proud franchise has won the most titles in NBA history, owning 16 NBA championships having won 11 in thirteen years between 1957 and 1969. That streak also includes 8-in-a-row from 1959-66. They last won a NBA Championship in 1986 when Larry Bird, Kevin McHale (who traded Garnett to Boston), Robert Parish and Ainge all wore Celtic green.

With Brendan Donnelly on the DL, Mike Timlin sitting with a sore shoulder and no place to put Kason Gabbard once Curt Schilling returns Boston Red Sox Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein pulled the trigger on a deal with the Texas Rangers to get some solid right hand relief help. The Sox have acquired closer Eric Gagne for Gabbard, outfield prospect David Murphy and outfield prospect Angel Beltre.

For waiving his no trade clause the Sox will pick up all the bonuses in Gagne’s reworked contract worth about $3.6 million dollars. Gagne and his agent, Scott Boras, wanted the bonuses to be reworked because Gagne will not be closing or finishing many games because of the presence of Jonathan Papelbon.

The 32-year-old Gagne, in his 9th major league season, is a three-time all-star and a former Cy Young Award winner while with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gagne in his first American League season is 2-0 with 16 saves, 2.16 ERA and 1.05 WHIP for Texas. He is expected to set up Papelbon and close on the occasions when Papelbon isn’t available.
Gagne has three seasons of 45+ saves in his career including seasons of 52 and 55 saves. His career record is 27-21 with 177 saves, 3.20 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.

The 25-year-old Gabbard has just 14 major league appearances since making his debut in June of 2006. This year as a replacement for the injured Curt Schilling he is 4-0 in 7 starts with a 3.73 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP.

Also in the deal are 25-year-old Triple A outfielder David Murphy. Murphy is currently batting .289 with 9 HRs and 47 RBI for Pawtucket.

Beltre, a 16-year-old prospect from the Dominican, is a left handed hitting outfielder with some power, a strong throwing arm and plays exceptional defense. He signed last year with the Red Sox as an under 17 year old free agent for a reported $600,000 dollars. Beltre participated in extended spring training and then was playing this year in the Dominican Leagues.

According to several sources the Red Sox made another offer to Chicago for OF Jermaine Dye.

The Sox also reportedly have made the best offer to Texas for closer Eric Gagne. Reportedly the Sox are willing to part with Triple A OF David Murphy and P Kason Gabbard.

Both Dye and Gagne have limited no trade clauses and both are concerned about how Boston would deploy them. Dye has a no-trade to four teams including Boston, while Gagne has the Sox listed among 12 teams on his list. Gagne has bonuses based on how many games hefinishes and has already made an additional $1.3 million on top of his $6 million salary. But coming to Boston to set up closer Jonathan Papelbon would give him other opportunities such as playoff and World Series shares and the ability to showcase himself for a big free agency pay out for 2008. Word is Theo and the Trio maybe willing to just pay out Gagne’s $5 million in bonuses in order to lure him to Beantown.

Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe is reporting that the Rangers now may prefer to hold onto Gagne and try to sign him to an extension.

Other teams interested in Gagne are the Brewers and the Yankees, both of whom have quality closers already in place. While the Sox are in competition with the Angels, Diamondbacks and Dodgers for Dye.

A couple of MLB GM’s who have info on the potential deals said the Red Sox would not discuss the possibility of trading Manny Delcarmen, Jon Lester or Michael Bowden. They also remained adamant in not trading Clay Buchholtz, Jacoby Ellsbury or Justin Masterson.

The Sox are still working hard to move OF Wily Mo Pena, Pawtucket pitcher Devern Hansack and fifth starter Kason Gabbard has drawn considerable interest as well.

Several news outlets are reporting that there is a trade in place that would send Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star forward Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics in a multi-player trade.

Garnett who just last month told the Celtics he wasn’t interested in playing in Boston has apparently changed his mind after the Celtics acquired All-Star Ray Allen in a draft day trade with Seattle.

Garnett, a 10-time NBA All-Star, would come to Boston in exchange for Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliffe and two first round picks.

The deal cannot be complete until issued with KG’s contract can be worked out. Among the issues are the player option worth $24 million for the 2008-09 season as well as a 15 percent trade kicker which must be paid in real cash at the time of the deal. According to league sources Garnett must agree to waive a portion of the reported $6.75 million of the of trade kicker. Meanwhile, Garnett is on a cruise until the end of the week and that is slowing down trade/approval
process.

For coming to Boston it is reported Garnett would get a contract extension which has one year plus the player option remaining.

I just wanted to let everyone know I will be taking a break from SOX & Dawgs for the week while going on a three state bender. Actually just going to be spending some time with the familia. But don’t you worry, I have assembled the finest team in sports blogging that money can’t buy, only friendship can. Steve will still be checking in as usual and Jason from My Baseball Bias and Sooze from Babes Love Baseball will do their best to bring you the news that you come here for. Let’s just hope Jason doesn’t change this to a Yankees blog (just kidding).

Believe me when I say this. Like Allstate, you are in good hands.

Former Boston Red Sox draft pick Donnie Sadler, who now plays in the Arizona Diamondbacks system, was suspended for 50 games after he tested positive for a drug if abuse under baseball’s minor league program.

The 32-year-old Sadler has played parts of eight major league seasons with Boston, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Texas and Arizona. On May 12th he had his first major league plate appearance since 2004 against Houston.

Sadler is currently playing for Triple A Tucson where he is hitting .214 with two homeruns and 17 RBI in 52 games. In 418 major league games Sadler has a .202 batting average with 6 homeruns and 46 RBI.

Sadler is the 20th minor league player suspended this season, the sixth for a drug of abuse.

The Red Sox drafted Sadler in the 11th round in 1994. He made his major league debut on Opening Day 1998 for Boston where he played parts of three seasons until he was traded to Cincinnati in November of 2000 for Chris Stynes.

When my beloved New England Patriots were rumored to be looking at acquiring wide receiver Randy Moss from Oakland I openly wondered why. Why would head coach Bill Belichick put that human distraction in his locker room? Why do you want a guy who doesn’t hustle? Who doesn’t give his most on every play?Then they pulled the trigger and made the deal for Moss.

And I just hoped beyond hope that guys like Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, Tom Brady and Richard Seymour had the hold on the locker room that they appear to have. I just wondered why the Pats who were so close to going to another Super Bowl last season would jeopardize the team chemistry with a known bad egg?

Then Moss arrived.

And since day one he has been an upstanding citizen. Studying, learning the play book, asking questions, taking part in mini camp, working out in the weight room, working one-on-one with Brady in extra sessions, making meetings and training sessions even though the Patriots front office gave him permission to work out elsewhere.

Then in mini camp and now in training camp he has done nothing to distract and everything to fit in. He has even said all the right things. He has taken a big five-gallon pail of the Belichick Kool-aid home and he drinks from it all day long, every day.

Is this the same Randy Moss that tried to run down a meter maid? Is this the same Moss that pantomimed mooning the Lambeau Field crowd? Is this the same Moss who grew disgruntled in both Minnesota and Oakland? Is this the same Moss who openly admitted he doesn’t go all out on every play?

No this apparently the new and improved Randy Moss. This guy smells a ring, he has seen the three Lombardi Trophies, he wants to hold one, one of his own. He knows his time limit on his career is running out, he knows he has Hall of Fame credentials that can only be increased with a Super Bowl Title. He knows the goal of the franchise is to win a Super Bowl and anything less is seen as a failure.

Randy Moss has bought into the Patriots. He has joined a list of players with reputations of dissent who have. Like Harrison, Corey Dillon and Bryan Cox have done before him. Now he wants what they got. A Super Bowl ring.

La Texy caliente over at Center Field has a video of Jonathan Papelbon’s 9 innings segment on NESN with Tina Cervasio.

Dan over at Red Sox Monster found out that Alyssa Milano doesn’t give Papelbon a papelboner.

Jason from My Baseball Bias thinks Curt Schilling needs to shut up, again.

Bugs and Cranks has a look at the Daryl Strawberry All-Stars.

Anthony from the Oriole Post has some great pictures from when the Orioles honored Cal Ripken, Jr. this week.

J.D. from SporTech Matter isn’t happy about the recent free agent signing for the Miami Heat.

Sweet and sexy Sooze from Babes Love Baseball has a look at a funny headline from an Angels game this week.

Duece of Davenport has a video of how not to use a diving board.

The Bench Warmer has a look at the top six athletes turned actors.

SPORTSbyBrooks has a look at Matt Leinart’s movie role.

The Feed has a look at characters for a Simpsons Sports Movie.

Awful Announcing found a really bad typo on ESPN.com.

Richie Rich from Home Run Derby has a look at the Mets fan commercial videos.

Larry Brown Sports shows us how sports bloggers are lazy and hypocritical.

And last but certainly not least, here is a look at Fitzy from the Townie News, latest Wicked Pissah webcast. As always, his videos are funny as heck but not safe for work (NSFW). Also, don’t forget to buy your GFY t-shirt.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=376QZDBKRz0[/youtube]

The Cleveland Indians, fresh off losing 3 of 4 to the Boston Red Sox, have made the first major splash in the non-waiver trade market. They acquired the ageless veteran Kenny Lofton from the Texas Rangers for catcher Max Ramirez.

This is Lofton’s third stint with the Tribe. He had previously played for them during the 1992-1996 seasons and then again in 1998-2001. Ramirez had been acquired by the Indians from the Braves when they traded Bob Wickman.

I think this is a good move for the Indians. Trot Nixon has been in a slump for most of the season and with his known back issues, he could end up being a liability to the Indians. The Indians also have David Dellucci on the disabled list.

For an old man, Lofton has put up some good numbers. He was hitting .303 with 7 homer and 23 RBIs while stealing 21 bases. He will give the Tribe some much needed speed to go along with Grady Sizemore. Lofton will see time in right or left field for the most part and could spell Sizemore in center if needed.

We all know Barry Bonds is getting close to tie and break Hank Aaron’s career homerun record of 756. Barry currently stands at 753 through last night’s game.

Barry is also approaching 3,000 hits in his career. He currently needs 93 more to get there and probably will get it early next season. He would need to average 1.5 hits a game in the Giants remaining 63 games. We all know Barry won’t play in all of the games.

But what other milestones are players approaching.

Ken Griffey, Jr. is knocking on the door of 600 homeruns in his career as he stands at 587. He should get there by the end of the 2007 season.

With his homerun against the Royals last night, Alex Rodriguez now stands at 499 and is one away from 500. My guess is he breaks it tonight. Also trying to join the 500 homerun club are former Indians teammates Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez. They stand at 489 and 485 hrs each respectively.

Gary Sheffield is approaching 2,500 hits in his career as he is only 4 away. He should get there by this weekend. Luis Gonzalez stands at 2,471 hits and Ivan Rodriguez has 2,450. Both of them should reach 2,500 before the end of the season.

Jeff Conine is 38 hits short of 2,000 and should hit his milestone by the end of the 2007 season or early 2008.

Tom Glavine got his 299th win of his career last night and will go for 300 in his next start. Randy Johnson is next in line at 284 wins and will only get there if he is able to pitch in 2008.

Mike Mussina is on the cusp of 250 career wins as he has 244. With the way the Skanks are playing, he might get there this season, if not he will eclipse 250 in 2008. David Wells is at 235 wins and would need to pitch in 2008 to have any chance of achieving 250 wins in his career.

Andy Pettitte is currently chasing down 200 wins as he has 192 wins right now. As I said above with Mussina, Pettitte has a chance to break 200 this season but if he doesn’t, he will definitely get there in 2008.

Mariano Rivera is trying to get to 500 saves and needs 72 more to get there. I would expect him to get there by the end of the 2008 season.

Craig Biggio is trying to break a record that has stood for 104 years. It is the hit-by-pitch record that Hughies Jennings owns. Jennings had 287 HBP and Biggio has been 285 times. My best guess says he gets there by the time he retires at the end of this season.

And last but not least, Bobby Cox is currently tied at 131 career ejections with John McGraw. No doubt in my mind that Cox will get ejected again this season.