The Boston Red Sox made their first big splash on the MLB trade deadline day as they have acquired catcher/1B Victor Martinez from the Cleveland Indians.
In exchange for Martinez, the Red Sox have sent reliever Justin Masterson, 2007 1st round draft pick Nick Hagadone and 2008 1st round sandwich pick Bryan Price.
Martinez is hitting .284 with 15 homers and 67 RBIs this season. Masterson is 3-3 with a 4.50 this season as both a starter and a reliever.
Hagadone is coming off of Tommy John surgery in 2008 and is currently playing for the Single-A Greenville Drive where he is 0-2 with a 2.52 ERA. Price is 1-6 in 11 starts with a 6.54 ERA with the Salem Red Sox. He was 3-2 in 8 starts with a 2.45 ERA for the Drive before being promoted to Salem.
This is a major coup for the Red Sox as they didn’t have to give up Clay Buchholz and/or Daniel Bard. Now the big question remains as to where Martinez will play.
It’s quite possible the Red Sox could also move Adam LaRoche since Martinez can also play first base.
