On Friday, August 24, 2012, there were rumblings all across sports media that the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers were discussing a mega trade. The deal was reported to be centered around Adrian Gonzalez. Less than 24 hours later the trade was complete, and Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, and Nick Punto were all sent to Los Angeles.
Boston managed to shed nearly a quarter-billion dollars in salary relief. But more than that, three of the most notable faces of the infamous “beer and chicken” team from a year earlier, would no longer be negatively influencing the clubhouse.