Red Sox swing deal with Angels for Kinsler
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 Class AAA pitchers Ty Buttrey and Williams Jerez to Los Angeles, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said after the Red Sox beat Philadelphia, 2-1, in 13 innings. The Angels and Red Sox will in effect split the remaining $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.
Kinsler, 36, is batting .239 with 13 homers and 32 RBI for the Angels this season. Dombrowski said he expects Kinsler to be the regular second baseman.
Pedroia has played just 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.
In other deals:
❚ The Washington Nationals sent former all-star closer Brandon Kintzler to the Chicago Cubs, exactly a year after the right-hander moved in another deadline deal.
The National League Central-leading Cubs sent minor-league pitcher Jhon Romero in the trade announced less than an hour before Tuesday’s deadline.
Kintzler, who turns 34 on Wednesday, was 1-2 with two saves and a 3.59 ERA in 45 games this season.
❚ The NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers kept revamping their infield, getting power-hitting second baseman Brian Dozier from the Minnesota Twins for infielder Logan Forsythe and two minor-leaguers.
Dozier is batting .224 with 16 home runs and 52 RBI. Dozier, who is making $9 million this year, will be a free agent in the fall.
The Dodgers also bolstered their bullpen by acquiring right-hander John Axford from Toronto in exchange for minor-league pitcher Corey Cropping.
Axford is 4-1 with a 4.41 ERA in 45 games for the Blue Jays this season. He’s held hitters to a .234 average.
During Axford’s 10-year big-league career, he’s also pitched for Milwaukee, St. Louis, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Colorado and Oakland.
❚ The NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies acquired all-star catcher Wilson Ramos from the Tampa Bay Rays for a player to be named later or cash.
Ramos is batting .297 with 14 homers and 53 RBI but is currently on the disabled list with a left hamstring strain.
❚ The Pittsburgh Pirates have bolstered their rotation, adding righthander Chris Archer from Tampa Bay for a pair of coveted prospects in outfielder Austin Meadows and pitcher Tyler Glasnow and a player to be named later.