Given all the trouble they went through to get him, the Red Sox will take no chances with Adrian Gonzalez — on or off the field.
The All-Star first baseman had yesterday off from swinging the bat at Red Sox camp in Fort Myers, Fla., resting his surgically repaired right shoulder after an offseason procedure. He did take part in defensive drills.
“He cut back on everything. Just cheerleaded,” manager Terry Francona told the media. “He feels good, but that’s what we really wanted him to do.”
What the Red Sox also want to do is lock the 28-year-old slugger into a long-term contract, something they have been expected to do since trading for Gonzalez in December. The only thing standing in the way of an expected multiyear extension worth around $150 million is the calendar. The Red Sox must wait until after Opening Day to avoid paying a luxury tax penalty.
“We’re not going to let him get away,” Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino told WEEI Tuesday. “We’re going to get him signed, for sure.”
Gonzalez, who was cleared to hit off a tee Monday, had taken a total of 50 swings that past two days before yesterday’s “re-gen” day.
He is expected to resume swinging the bat today.
