November 28, 2012 at 2:38 PM
Sox trade Stewart to Pittsburgh, Rosario to Oakland, Valencia to Baltimore in flurry of moves
The Red Sox made a flurry of moves on Wednesday as fallout from last week's 40-man roster transactions continued. The club traded pitcher Zach Stewart (pictured) to the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitcher Sandy Rosario to the Oakland A's, and infielder Danny Valencia to the Baltimore Orioles. Boston will receive players to be named later for the first two, and will receive either a PTBNL or cash for Valencia.
Earlier this week, infielder Ivan De Jesus, Jr. was outrighted to Pawtucket after clearing waivers. The only player designated for assignment last week whose future is still uncertain is reliever David Carpenter.
Earlier this week, infielder Ivan De Jesus, Jr. was outrighted to Pawtucket after clearing waivers. The only player designated for assignment last week whose future is still uncertain is reliever David Carpenter.
The Red Sox acquired Stewart and utility player Brent Lillibridge from the White Sox in exchange for Kevin Youkilis on June 24. Lillibridge was traded during the season for reliever Jose De La Torre, so now both players acquired for the former Sox cornerstone have moved on. The team viewed Stewart, who was working out of the Chicago bullpen, as a potential depth option for the major league rotation, but he got shelled in two starts for Boston, giving up 14 runs in 5.2 innings despite decent numbers as a starter in Pawtucket. The Stewart trade today continues a long history of deals between the Red Sox and Pirates - the teams have made at least one trade each year dating back to 2008, and made at least two swaps in each of those seasons except 2011. The clubs' general managers, Ben Cherington and Neal Huntington, have a history dating back to Cherington's first internship with the Indians, and they both received graduate degrees from UMass Amherst.
Valencia was acquired from the Twins for minor leaguer Jeremias Pineda in August. He helped shore up the depth chart at third base and was needed soon thereafter when Will Middlebrooks suffered a season-ending injury. However, he failed to impress at either Boston or Pawtucket.
Rosario was claimed off of waivers from the Marlins in October and never threw a pitch for the team.
Photo credit: Zach Stewart by Kelly O'Connor
Chris Hatfield is Executive Editor of SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @SPChrisHatfield.
Valencia was acquired from the Twins for minor leaguer Jeremias Pineda in August. He helped shore up the depth chart at third base and was needed soon thereafter when Will Middlebrooks suffered a season-ending injury. However, he failed to impress at either Boston or Pawtucket.
Rosario was claimed off of waivers from the Marlins in October and never threw a pitch for the team.
Photo credit: Zach Stewart by Kelly O'Connor
Chris Hatfield is Executive Editor of SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @SPChrisHatfield.