Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs & San Diego Padres: Blockbuster Trade Brewing?

Though the trade talk between the Boston Red Sox and the San Diego Padres surrounding first baseman Adrian Gonzalez has died off, there could be a new rumor floating to the surface.

The Chicago Cubs have had previous interest in Jacoby Ellsbury; there's no question the Red Sox would love to add Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to their lineup; and the Padres have already asked for Clay Buchholz and top prospects Casey Kelley or Ryan Westmoreland.

So with all that information already known, could these three teams come together to work out one of the biggest blockbusters of the offseason, next to the Roy Halladay-Cliff Lee trade a month ago?

The question remaining is, who would go where? Though this may all be pure fiction, let's assume for a moment these three teams have already begun talks about this exact trade. What would each team require to get the deal done?

Boston wants Adrian Gonzalez and we already know the Padres will not trade him without getting the aforementioned Buchholz and Westmoreland back in the deal. But what do the Cubs have that the Red Sox want?

There had been talk at one time about the Cubs exploring the option of trading Carlos Zambrano, but with the shortstop position possibly being a weakness for the Red Sox, would the Cubs be open to sending Ryan Theriot to Beantown?

So assuming what we know (again, this may all be purely fiction, though fiction can sometimes be fun), here's what this possible blockbuster trade may look like.

To Boston:

Adrian Gonzalez (from San Diego), Ryan Theriot (from Chicago)

To San Diego:

Clay Buchholz (from Boston), Ryan Westmoreland (from Boston) plus another mid level prospect or two

To Chicago:

Jacoby Ellsbury (from Boston)

The way that deal looks, would all three teams sign off on it? Boston could be the one hold up as the Red Sox have been reluctant to include Westmoreland or pitching prospect Casey Kelley in any deal; nor do they want to trade Jacoby Ellsbury.

So at this point, it will remain purely speculation. But don't be surprised it the trade winds begin to blow and talk of this blockbuster picks up steam, especially right before the 2010 season opens in April.

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