July 31, 2007 at 3:57 PM
Sox deal Gabbard, Beltre and Murphy for Gagne
Multiple media sources are reporting that RHP Eric Gagne, who had listed Boston as a team that he would not accept a trade to, has waived his no-trade protection and has accepted a trade to join the Boston Red Sox. In exchange for Gagne the Red Sox will send outfielders Engel Beltre and David Murphy and LHP Kason Gabbard to the Texas Rangers. In 34 appearances with Texas this season Gagne put up a 2-0 record with 16 saves in 17 opportunities over 33.1 IP allowing eight ER (a 2.16 ERA) on 23 hits, walking 12 and striking out 29. Gagne reportedly waived his no-trade clause in exchange for guaranteeing performance clauses in his contract which expires after this season. Beltre, 17, was a free agent signee out of the Dominican Republic in 2006 and spent most of this season with in the GCL; Murphy, 25, was a 2003 first round pick from Baylor and except for a brief major league call up has spent the year in Pawtucket; and Gabbard, 25, who was a 29th round pick in 2000 out of high school, began the '07 season in Pawtucket, making a spot start in May for the big club before being called up June 26.