The Padres are just now saying what everyone in baseball has been saying for over a year now:

“While I’d be thrilled to have him part of the organization for the long term, the early signals indicate his cost will be greater than our ability to pay.”

That is from CEO Jeff Moorad to the San Diego Tribune yesterday. Gonzalez’ agent, John Boggs agreed and is fully expecting a trade:

“The feeling we’re getting is more than likely (the Padres) are going to have to trade Adrian because (they) can’t afford him.”

These guys really need to head about 100 miles north to LA and get an acting gig because they had me fooled there for a minute. It sounds like the two sides thought there was a legitimate chance of a deal getting done but you can’t fool me. Was it the frugal ownership that finally sunk in? The fact that the Red Sox would pay through the roof for him? Is it because the Padres have no talent in the major or minor leagues? Or is it simply that they finally realized that no one in San Diego gives a shit about baseball? Regardless, you know Jed Hoyer is sitting in his office just laughing at the show his CEO has been putting on. There is no doubt in my mind that when Jed took over as GM of the Padres he called every single team and said Gonzalez is on the first plane out of San Diego on July 31, 2010 after 4pm est (the MLB trade deadline). Now the team is trying to lighten the blow on the few fans they have by giving them a good five months to take it in. Does this mean that the Red Sox are first in line for Gonzalez’ services? Of course not, but it means Theo is one step closer to bringing someone in to try and give you some semblance of what Manny and Ortiz did in their heyday.

- Chris