Once Mike Carp was designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners, the Boston Red Sox showed an interest in him. And now they've finally got their man.
It's expected that Carp will compete for the back up job to Mike Napoli along with Lyle Overbay and a slew of others. Carp could have the inside track since he was placed on the 40-man roster.
Here's the release from the Red Sox:
FORT MYERS, FL – The Boston Red Sox today acquired first baseman/outfielder Mike Carp from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. To make room for Carp on the 40-man roster, outfielder Ryan Kalish was placed on the 60-day disabled list recovering from right shoulder surgery. Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement.
Carp, 26, batted .213 with six doubles, five home runs, and 20 RBI in 59 games for the Mariners last season but missed 78 of the club's contests due to three trips to the disabled list. Between 37 minor league rehabilitation games with Triple-A Tacoma and High-A High Desert, the left-handed hitter combined to bat .250 with nine doubles, three home runs, and 21 RBI. Over his final 25 games of the season in the majors, he hit .293 (22-for-75) with three doubles, a home run, and seven RBI.
In 2011, Carp ranked among AL rookies in batting average (3rd, .276), slugging percentage (2nd, .466), and OPS (2nd, .791), and was named to Baseball America's MLB All-Rookie Team. That year, he notched 17 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, and 46 RBI in a career-high 79 games for the Mariners.
Originally a ninth-round selection of the New York Mets in the 2004 June Draft, Carp has hit .255 with 28 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, and 71 RBI in 173 games in his major league career, all for the Mariners (2009-12). He owns a career .300 batting average (39-for-130) against left-handed pitchers. Defensively, he has posted a .997 fielding percentage in 82 career games (77 starts) at first base. He has also appeared in the outfield, playing 52 games (48 starts) in left field and one game in right.
Kalish, 24, underwent a successful right shoulder arthroscopy and posterior labrum repair in late January. In 36 games with Boston last season, he hit .229 with three doubles and five RBI.
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photo credit: getty images
