The Boston Red Sox Make Another Trade Before The Deadline

Sports Betting News - August 1st, 2009 - Written by Ryan Smith

After completing trade deals with three other teams before the trade deadline the Boston Red Sox decided to add another big bat to their struggling line up. Victor Martinez the Cleveland Indians long time catcher, who just turned 30 years-old this year is a switch hit all-star catcher, but has started some games at first base this season. With Mike Lowell hurt the Boston Red Sox might put Kevin Youkilis at third base and start Victor Martinez at first base, the position he will likely finish his career at.

Martinez is batting .284 this season and has sent 16 home runs into the seats, and accumulated 67 RBI's on the season, while missing some games at the start of the year. Martinez who has spent his entire career with the Indians, came up as an 18 year old Short stop and eventually moved over to the Catcher position. Victor was obviously distraught about being told he was traded, reports were that Victor Martinez began to cry at his locker at the end of the game last night. ESPN reports Martinez had this to say about his recent change of teams "It's tough," and "This is my house. This is my home."

Martinez will join the Boston Red Sox team that is deep in the hunt to make the Playoffs despite falling to second in the A.L. East division. Just a week after the all-star break the Red Sox began to struggle and dropped to a game and a half behind the New York Yankees for the first time all year. The red Sox are still a game and a half behind the Yankees but are the leaders in the Wild Card race at the moment.

The Red Sox have a catcher already in Jason Varitek, who happens to be the team captain. Martinez will relive Varitek at catcher in some games this season. the trade makes the red Sox defense that much better, but also increase the run production for the offense as Martinez is having one of his most productive seasons behind the plate in 2009.

This trade was another considerable trade completed by the Cleveland Indians before the trade deadline. The Indians recently sent last years A.L. Cy Young award winner to the National League, in the Philadelphia Phillies. The Indians have stocked up on a large number of pitchers to bolster their farm system in these two trades. For sending Martinez to the Red Sox, the Indians received starting pitcher Justin Masterson who is 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA this season in 6 starts. The 6-foot-6 Masterson was the second round pick for the Boston franchise in 2006. The Indians also received minor league pitching prospects Nick Hagadone and Bryan Price. Hagadone is only 23 years-old and pitches left handed, and Price is only 22 years-old with a right handed arm. In a few years these prospects collected by the Indians this year will soon become their team. Good trade moves for a team suffering injuries and has no chance to make the playoffs this season.

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