Red Sox plug Kinsler into Pedroia’s spot at second
BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox acquired Ian Kinsler from the
Los Angeles Angels on Monday night, replacing the injured Dustin Pedroia at second base even as the American League East leaders distance themselves from the New York Yankees — and the rest of baseball, too.
Boston will send Triple-A pitchers Ty Buttrey and Williams Jerez to Los Angeles, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. The Angels and Red Sox will in effect split the remaining US$3,666,667 on Kinsler’s $11-million contract that expires at the end of the season, with Los Angeles paying Boston $1,833,333.
“He’s the closest teammate that I’ve ever had to Dustin Pedroia,” said Red Sox left-hander David Price, who was Kinsler’s teammate with the Tigers when Dombrowski also traded for him there.
“He brings that intensity, that fire every single day. He’s a gamer,” Price said. “He’ll make any team better.”
A four-time all-star, Kinsler, 36, is batting .239 with 13 homers and 32 RBIs this season.
Dombrowski said he expects Kinsler to be the regular second baseman, moving Brock Holt and Eduardo Nunez back into utility roles once third baseman Rafael Devers comes off the DL.
Entering play on Tuesday, the Red Sox were 75-33, the best record in baseball. Boston is a season-high six games ahead of the Yankees, who visit Fenway Park for a four-game series this weekend.
Pedroia has played three games this year after left knee surgery in the off-season. Dombrowski says it’s likely he won’t be back until very late in the season, if at all.
A 25-year-old right-hander, Buttrey has a 2.25 ERA in
32 relief appearances at triple-A Pawtucket this season.
Jerez, 26, is 2-1 with five saves and a 3.63 ERA in 34 games for Pawtucket.
The left-hander averages 95 m.p.h. with his fastball.