From the Boston Globe’s Chris Snow.
According to two major league sources, the Sox have spoken with the Texas Rangers about trading for first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2000 draft. The 23-year-old Gonzalez, who hits lefthanded, split last season between Triple A Oklahoma and Texas. He hit .338 with 18 homers and 65 RBIs in 326 at-bats with Oklahoma, .227 with 6 homers and 17 RBIs in 150 at-bats with Texas.
While the Rangers are believed to be interested in acquiring an outfield prospect, possibly Double A outfielder Brandon Moss, the Sox are likelier to offer up Triple A catcher Kelly Shoppach (above). Shoppach is a native of Fort Worth.
If the Sox were to acquire Gonzalez, they could go with a first-base platoon of Gonzalez and the righthanded-hitting Kevin Youkilis. Youkilis appeared likely to start at third base in 2006 until the deal for Beckett, which required the Sox to take on Lowell, a Gold Glove winner at third base who is scheduled to make $9 million each of the next two seasons.