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The Boston Red Sox placed first baseman Adrian Gonzalez on waivers Wednesday, according to Sean McAdam of Comcast SportsNet New England.

Source: Sox placed Adrian Gonzalez on trade waivers today. Pretty standard stuff in Aug., but perhaps willing to listen on him this winter? — Sean McAdam(@Sean_McAdam) August 22, 2012

After a forgetful first half of the season, Gonzalez has picked up the pace in the second half. Gonzalez is hitting .304/.349/.478 with 15 home runs and 85 RBI through 121 games with Boston this season.

As McAdam tweets, plenty of players are placed on waivers in August just so there’s flexibility should something irresistible land on the desk of Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington.

Boston also placed Aaron Cook, Felix Doubront and Andrew Miller on waivers earlier in the month, according to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe. Among others, Carl Crawford has already cleared waivers, tweets Cafardo.

The Red Sox probably won’t be dealing their All-Star first baseman during the regular season, but as McAdam points out, they could listen on him during the offseason. Gonzalez is signed through the 2018 season for a ton of money, making things rather difficult to work out an even deal. He’s owed $21 million for the next four years and then $21.5 million for the two final years of the deal.

Just because Boston won’t necessarily trade Gonzalez doesn’t mean that teams won’t pursue him. Earlier in the month, Dan Shaughnessy of The Boston Globe reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers had interest in him. Shaughnessy writes that the Dodgers would’ve offered players to help rebuild the team as they currently employ a lackluster James Loney at first base.

Placing players on waivers doesn’t imply that a deal will happen, by any means, but why would the Red Sox even consider trading him? He is somehow connected to the text sent from the clubhouse to the front office regarding a private meeting, but that isn’t a good enough reason.

Sure, he didn’t have a great first half, and that’s one of the many reasons why the Red Sox won’t make the playoffs this year, but that’s no reason to trade him. He’s still an outstanding hitter and a fantastic fielder. He is one of the biggest factors for the future of this team. Also, there really isn’t a MLB ready prospect to replace him.

Yes, Adrian Gonzalez is on the waiver wire and a team could possibly put a claim in for him, but don’t expect to see him in any uniform but Boston’s for the near future.