Victor Martinez make Red Sox Extra Offensive
By acquiring All-Star catcher Victor Martinez, the Boston Red Sox are getting the big bat they’ve been seeking by adding the AL’s top offensive catcher.
A three-time All-Star, Martinez is hitting .284 with 15 homers and 67 RBI, but he’s done that in a home park that ranks 28th in scoring (and last in the AL) in scoring, according to ESPN’s Park Factor calculations. Boston’s Fenway Park, on the other hand, ranks ninth overall (and fourth in the AL).
That bodes well for V-Mart’s fantasy owners, who can expect an uptick in production just by moving to a better offensive lineup. However, he also creates a logjam at first base since the Red Sox recently acquired Adam LaRoche from the Pirates. Martinez will also cut into playing time for starting catcher Jason Varitek, who’s probably the biggest loser from a fantasy standpoint. David Ortiz, hitting just .228 this season, also figures to lose at-bats – especially against left-handed pitching.
Perhaps the biggest news is that neither of the top young arms on Boston’s major league roster, Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard, is part of the deal.
The Indians, who’ve already traded ace Cliff Lee and first baseman Ryan Garko in the past week, will receive 24-year-old right-hander Justin Masterson as the centerpiece of the three-player package. If that’s the case, it’s a huge boost to Masterson’s fantasy value since he’d probably go straight into the Indians’ starting rotation.
Also in the package are minor league pitchers Nick Hagadone and Bryan Price. Hagadone, 23, was a college teammate of NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum. He missed most of last season after having Tommy John surgery and has only pitched 25 innings at Class A this year.
Price was drafted 45th overall by the Red Sox in the 2008 draft, but only has a 5-11 record in the minors with a 4.42 ERA.
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Yankees acquire Reds Jerry Hairston Jr
The Yankees made a minor move at the trade deadline acquiring utility man Jerry Hairston Jr. from the Cincinnati Reds for minor-league catcher Chase Weems.
Hairston Jr. has been in the majors for a decade, making his debut back in September 1998 with the Orioles. He played second base in Baltimore through 2003, eventually moving to the outfield in 2004 after Brian Roberts established himself as the everyday second baseman.
Hairston hit .261 with 26 homers, 160 RBI and 94 stolen bases in six seasons with the Orioles before being traded to the Cubs in February 2005 for Sammy Sosa. He has bounced around since then, playing parts of two seasons in Chicago before being traded to Texas, where he played for 1 1/2 years with the Rangers. He’s spent the past two seasons in Cincinnati, serving as a jack of all trades for the Reds.
This season, the 33-year-old Hairston has played 33 games at third base, 31 at shortstop, 17 in the outfield and nine at second, so he’ll likely replace Cody Ransom on the roster while giving the Yankees another player to use in the outfield before Brett Gardner returns from the DL. Hairston is hitting .254 with eight homers, 27 RBI and seven steals in 86 games this season.
Weems, 20, was selected by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. He batted .260 (45-for-173) with 10 doubles, 1 HR and 14 RBI in 55 games with Single-A Charleston this season. Weems made his professional debut in 2008, combining to bat .220 (18-for-82) with 8 runs, 5 doubles, 1 home run and 10 RBI in 33 games with the GCL Yankees and Charleston.
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Red Sox Deal with Casey Kotchman
The Red Sox, just minutes after getting catcher Victor Martinez from the Indians, have reached a deal to acquire first baseman Casey Kotchman from the Braves for first baseman Adam LaRoche.
LaRoche, 29, played for the Braves from 2004 to ’06. He hits for more power than Kotchman and traditionally hits well in the second half. The Braves’ thinking is that he could ignite returning to familiar surroundings.
The Red Sox’s motivation in adding Kotchman is not as clear. Kotchman is an outstanding fielder, and the Red Sox’s defense would improve if he were at first and Kevin Youkilis got the majority of playing time over Mike Lowell at third.
Martinez, under that scenario, presumably would get most of his at-bats at catcher and DH.
This is the second straight year that Kotchman has been dealt at the trade deadline. Last year, the Angels sent him to Atlanta as part of the Mark Teixeira deal.
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