The Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly have a deal in the works to acquire Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for five players. As the final details of the trade are being worked out, one report says L.A. will have to take "more than 95%" of the money owed to Gonzalez, Beckett, Crawford and Punto.
After this season, that group of players is owed approximately $250 million.
Source:
— Michael Silverman (@MikeSilvermanBB) August 25, 2012#Dodgers would take on more than 95 percent of#RedSox salaries in blockbuster trade. bit.ly/LXiJpq
A quick bit of math would mean the Dodgers would assume at least $237,500,000 of guaranteed contract money.
Given the new ownership group running the franchise, Los Angeles does have the funding available to pay these players. The club only has outfielders Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier under contract through 2014, so a couple of long-term deals could work. Whether they should take on these contracts or not is a completely different discussion.
For more on the Dodgers, check out True Blue LA and SB Nation Los Angeles. Head over to Over The Monster and SB Nation Boston for Red Sox news and reactions.