The big news for the Boston Red Sox yesterday was not the signing of a free agent such as Jason Varitek or A.J. Burnett but rather the trade of center fielder Covelli “Coco” Crisp.
In an effort to shore up their bullpen for the 2009 season, the Red Sox traded Coco to the Kansas City Royals for reliever Ramon Ramirez. It’s a good move for the Red Sox as it now gives them some flexibility in the bullpen. It gives them the choice of moving Justin Masterson back into the starting rotation if they so choose or quite possibly allows them to trade Manny Delcarmen.
If the Red Sox were able to acquire a starting pitcher in free agency, Delcarmen could become expendable in the bullpen and be used along with another pitcher (Clay Buchholz or Michael Bowden) in a trade with the Texas Rangers for one of their catchers.
One thing’s for certain now, with the Red Sox trading their 4th outfielder they will need to be active on the free agent market for another 4th outfielder. It’s quite conceivable that the Red Sox will go after Gabe Kapler or Rocco Baldelli to fill that role. I really don’t see any of the other outfield free agents as players who fit what the Red Sox are looking for.
Expect the competition for the services of A.J. Burnett to be an AL East affair.
I leave you with these two videos of Coco Crisp.
[flash http://ianbethune.com/cocofight.FLV w=425 h=300]
[flash http://uncutvideo.aol.com/videos/896cd8d27ef134da32a0408435c89c64]
video courtesy of NESN
The Rays fight like girls, scratching and pulling hair.
