Red Sox Trade Rumors: Is Adrian Gonzalez Or Adam Dunn Headed For Boston?

Can you hit better than .185 or mash more than one home run as the designated hitter for the Boston Red Sox?

If so, you may have to submit your resume to Theo Epstein soon.

According to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, the Boston Red Sox are looking to acquire a bat, now. Heyman is speculating that the Red Sox are "aggressively seeking hitting help."

According to other teams in the league, the Red Sox are actively looking to swing a deal before the All-Star Break. And with the talent Boston has buried throughout the minors, a deal is all but imminent.

Jon Heyman is speculating that the Red Sox are looking to acquire any one of the following:

• Victor Martinez (Catcher, Cleveland Indians)
• Adam Dunn (1B/OF, Washington Nationals)
• Adrian Gonzalez (1B, San Diego Padres)
• Hanley Ramirez (SS, Florida Marlins)

 Anyone of these four would provide an immediate injection of offense.

Hanley Ramirez is probably a pipe dream as his contract is quite favorable for the Marlins. Besides, Florida only blows their team up when they win a World Series, right?

Adrian Gonzalez is also a long shot, but man, would he provide some punch.

The idea would be to move Kevin Youkilis across the diamond to third, allow Gonzalez to play first, and move Mike Lowell to DH. Papi is really on the short end here.

The other two players, Victor Martinez and Adam Dunn, seem to be more realistic trade options. Washington would love to pick up some young arms in the mold of Justin Masterson or Michael Bowden. The Nationals certainly aren't competing for a division title in 2009.

Cleveland should be a division contender in the AL Central, but the team is a mess right now and Eric Wedge is probably headed towards unemployment.

Acquiring a future catcher in the mold of Victor Martinez would require quite the bounty, but with no obvious successor to Jason Varitek, it might be worth the price.

Also rumored by Heyman are Josh Willingham (no thanks), Nick Johnson (meh, injury-prone), and Aubrey Huff (could be a good stop-gap).

The next few weeks will continue to bring a whirlwind of trade rumors.

SoxTeaParty.com will keep you well-informed.

Darryl Johnston is the Red Sox correspondent for Fanball.com. He has many years of sports writing under his championship belts. Email him - [e-mail]