Los Angeles Dodgers Awarded Waiver Claim on Boston Red Sox 1B Adrian Gonzalez

One day after Adrian Gonzalez was placed on trade waivers by the Boston Red Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been awarded the claim on the All-Star first baseman, according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. 

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Source: #Dodgers awarded waiver claim on Adrian Gonzalez. #redsox

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) August 24, 2012"

UPDATE: Friday, August 24 at 4:10 p.m. ET by Eric Ball

While it sounded crazy at first, the odds of a deal are increasing.

Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com is reporting that “there is a growing possibility” that Gonzalez will in fact end up on the Dodgers. He cites multiple baseball sources.

With the Red Sox season all but over, it appears shedding payroll is something Boston is interested in doing to rebuild for next year. Unfortunately for fans, it’s not Carl Crawford or Josh Beckett; it’s arguably their best player.

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Before you get too excited, Jim Bowden of ESPN tweeted out this response from a member of the Red Sox front office:

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When I asked a member of Red Sox front office a few minutes ago..are you trading Adrian Gonzalez to Dodgers next 48 hours?response "NO!!!"

— JIM BOWDEN (@JimBowdenESPNxm) August 24, 2012"

The Dodgers' playoff hopes, while still very much alive, did take a hit this week when they were swept by division rival San Francisco, pushing them three games back in the National League West and 1.5 games behind St. Louis for the final wild-card berth. 

Offense has been the problem all season for the Dodgers, and that came to light against the Giants. They struggled to score against Madison Bumgarner, Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. 

Two of those three starters were not surprising at all, but even Lincecum showed flashes of being the two-time Cy Young winner he has not been in 2012. 

Unless the Dodgers are so desperate to find a hitter that they want to include the pitching prospects they supposedly wouldn't include in a deal for Ryan Dempster before the July 31 trade deadline—Zach Lee, Allen Webster—it is going to be hard to convince the Red Sox to make a move. 

Plus, those pitchers have upside, but they are not sure-fire, can't-miss prospects who can be a No. 1 or 2 starter in the big leagues. 

The waiver claim will give the Dodgers 48 hours to try and strike a deal with the Red Sox, but it would be a massive surprise if anything happens.

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