Thursday, Padres general manager Jed Hoyer is settling things down a bit.
"The team's position with regard to Adrian has not changed at all. We are excited to have him under contract for the next two seasons," Hoyer told the Boston Herald via e-mail. "He is a great player who fits our city, team, and payroll remarkably well. We have had, and will continue to have, dialogue with Adrian's representatives about keeping him in San Diego long-term. It is still early in that process and attempting to draw conclusions in the middle of any negotiation is an inexact science."
On Wednesday, Gonzalez' agent John Boggs said that he was getting a sense that the Padres would not be able to afford to pay his client for a long-term contract. Padres CEO Jeff Moorad helped fuel the fire, telling the San Diego Union-Tribune, "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."
Gonzalez, 27, is entering the final year of his contract, which has an option for the 2011 season. He is earning $4.75 million this year and $5.6 next year (assuming the option is picked up), which is a bargain to say the least. He hit .277 in 2009 to go with a career-high 40 homers and .99 RBIs. That came after hitting 36 home runs and 119 RBIs the year before.
