Proposed deal signals chance of direction for Red Sox

Holy cow. A regular old day of playing out the string quickly turned into something astounding when news broke of the proposed nine-player megadeal that would send more than $270 million worth of Red Sox -- Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto -- to Los Angeles for first baseman James Loney and four prospects. The deal won't be complete until at least Saturday pending the exchange of medicals and the resolution of Crawford's and Beckett's no-trade rights, but the ramifications for the Red Sox are far-reaching. For one, they rid themselves of Beckett, one of the most polarizing players in franchise history. For another, they free themselves from the shackles of two of their worst contracts (Beckett has a $31.5 million remaining over his final two years, while Crawford is owed a staggering $102.5 million). "That's a lot of talent, a lot of money," said second baseman Dustin Pedroia. "It's a lot of things." Even tho...