8:23 a.m. EDT update: Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the deal is “pretty much done.” Beckett and Crawford have waived their no-trade rights and both teams have signed off on medicals, so we’re presumably waiting on approval from the commissioner’s office.
6:40 a.m. EDT update: According to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com, the blockbuster deal will be made official Saturday.
2:10 a.m. EDT update: Jon Heyman reports that Crawford has approved the trade. All that stands in the way now is Beckett waiving his no-trade clause and league approval. Expectations are that it will be finalized.
Here’s a breakdown of all of the pieces involved.
11:05 p.m. EDT update: According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Dodgers are one of just three teams on Crawford’s no-trade list. He’s yet to be asked whether he’d approve the deal, though many have suggested he’d welcome the move.
10:40 p.m. EDT update: The Boston Herald’s Michael Silverman reports that the Dodgers would absorb more than 95 percent of the combined $271.5 million in salaries the Red Sox are sending their way. If that’s true, the Red Sox would eat no more than $13.5 million.
8:00 p.m. EDT update: FOXSports.com’s Jon Morosi reports that the Dodgers have agreed to send RHP Rubby De La Rosa, RHP Allen Webster, 1B/OF Jerry Sands, INF Ivan De Jesus and 1B James Loney to the Red Sox for 1B Adrian Gonzalez, OF Carl Crawford, RHP Josh Beckett and INF Nick Punto. Nothing is expected to be finalized tonight.
7:42 p.m. EDT update: A source told CSNNE.com’s Sean McAdam hat the Red Sox have yet to secure trade permission from either Josh Beckett or Carl Crawford, but he adds that neither is expected to block a deal. Adrian Gonzalez lacks any sort of trade protection in his contract.
FOXSports.com’s Jon Morosi is reporting that top Dodgers prospect Allen Webster is also involved, which would seem to suggest the Red Sox are throwing quite a bit of cash into the trade.
WEEI’s Rob Bradford reports that an announcement of the trade is unlikely to come tonight.
7:03 p.m. EDT update: Adrian Gonzalez was scratched. too.
6:58 p.m. EDT update: The Dodgers just scratched James Loney from Friday’s starting lineup. It looks like this is getting done.
6:50 p.m. EDT update: Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan says the Red Sox and Dodgers have the framework in place and believes that something is going get done. The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham says the sides have two possibilities in play, the likely nine- or 10-player trade that includes Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett, as well as a somewhat smaller trade that excludes Crawford.
The Dodgers sent rumored key component Ruddy De La Rosa back to Triple-A today, a move that would facilitate a deal. De La Rosa didn’t clear waivers, so he can’t be traded as is. However, now that he’s back in the minors, he can be included as a PTBN (a player to be named) and then get sent to Boston once the season is over.
5:58 p.m. EDT update: Speaking on WGAM with Matt Perrault, ESPN Boston’s Gordon Edes said he believes the Red Sox would get back RHP Rubby De La Rosa, INF Ivan De Jesus, 1B/OF Jerry Sands and 1B James Loney in return for Gonzalez, Crawford, Beckett and Punto.
Loney is probably just in there for salary purposes, not as someone the Red Sox would be looking at as a 2013 first baseman. De La Rosa is the legitimate prospect, a possible No. 2 or No. 3 starter as soon as next year. De Jesus is a utilityman, while Sands would be worth an audition as a first base or left field option.
5:50 p.m. EDT update: A source told FOXSports.com’s Jon Morosi that a deal is close, with Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto all involved.
Morosi says the Red Sox would seen some cash to the Dodgers in the trade.
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Wow!Blockbuster: red Sox, Dodgers working on deal that would send AGon, Crawford, Beckett and Punto to LA. Hurdles remain, but closing in
— Gordon Edes (@GordonEdes) August 24, 2012Gonzalez, Beckett and Crawford! That’s around $300 million in players who aren’t as good as the Red Sox needed them to be on the verge of being shoved out the door. No idea what the return could be. Rubby De La Rosa is the Dodgers top prospect, but some have said he’s untouchable. I guess we’ll find out.