Remember back in the day when SI's Jon Heyman tweeted that the Red Sox and Adrian Gonzalez weren't able to work out a contract extension and the trade for the then-Padres slugger was dead? Remember four hours later when he tweeted that it was back on?
I sure do. And today, the once-disputed framework of a contract that would ensure the All-Star first baseman remains a Red Sox for years to come was finalized. Adrian Gonzalez will be in Boston through at least the 2018 season after signing a seven-year, 154-million dollar extension.
The contract includes a $6 million signing bonus, and unlike many recent contracts handed out by Theo Epstein, doesn't come with any options after the 2018 season, meaning Gonzalez will be a free agent at that point.
It's the second long-term extension inked by the Sox already this season, after Clay Buchholz was given a four-year, 30-million dollar deal earlier in the week.
The deal was first reported by CSNNE's Sean McAdam.