On Monday, the Boston Red Sox completed the first of what will likely be several pre-deadline trades, sending outfielder Shane Victorino, a.k.a. The Flyin’ Hawaiian, and cash to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for outfielder Josh Rutledge.
While Rutledge should provide decent depth, the real impact of this trade is the second chance it provides for Rusney Castillo, who was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to fill Victorino’s roster spot. The highly touted Cuban outfielder was signed for $75 million last season, and hit reasonably well in the waning months of 2014. However, when given a shot in the majors earlier this season, he displayed a lack of competence in right field and looked lost at the plate at times, despite his tremendous upside with the lumber. He was hitting just .230 with 14 strikeouts compared to only 3 walks before being demoted.
However, Castillo has been hitting well in the minors, especially lately. He is batting .282 for the year with Pawtucket, and has hit safely in nine of his last ten games. If he can continue the offensive upswing with Boston, Victorino’s old job could be his to lose.
More trades are likely not far off for the Sox. It would be an understatement to say the 2015 has disappointed so far. After being the preseason favorites to win the AL East, they have ridden horrendous pitching and lackluster hitting, as well as baffling baserunning and fielding miscues, to dead last in the division. As they begin to retool for 2016, don’t be surprised to see names like Mike Napoli, Justin Masterson, and Craig Breslow being shipped off to parts other than Yawkey Way.
The writing was on the wall for the 34 year old outfielder. Hampered by injuries for the past several seasons, including the majority of 2015 thus far, he had not made a large enough offensive impact to stick around. He is hitting just .245 with one home run and four RBI. His contract was set to expire at the end of the season, and it seemed unlikely that he would be given a new deal.
Despite his lack of playing time and production over the past two years, Victorino will always be loved in Boston. In 2013, following a down year in 2012 with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers, he hit .294 with 15 homers and 61 RBI, while playing his usual Gold Glove defense. It was in the playoffs, however, that he really shone. He cemented himself as a Boston sports hero, one of those fleeting stars like Dave Roberts and J.D. Drew before him who shone brightly for brief moments before fading, by coming up big in key moments in the playoffs. His game-winning grand slam in Game 6 of the ALCS against the Tigers secured the series, and in Game 6 of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, he knocked a three-run double to help secure the title for the Red Sox.
Overall, Victorino’s time in Boston was not great. Injuries not only frustrated him, but irked the fans and tested the already limited patience of the Fenway Faithful. And while his glove never let him down, his bat clearly began to fail him. However, the Red Sox and the people of Boston will take it, and when Victorino makes his return to Boston, be it in another uniform or as a part of the inevitable tribute to the 2013 squad, he will do so to a huge ovation. Red Sox fans may be impatient, but we never forget. Victorino’s role in securing the Sox’ third title in a ten-year span earned him the undying gratitude of the fans, and whatever struggles he faced afterward were worth that magnificent 2013 season.
Dave Roberts was little more than a bench player for most of his tenure with Boston, but people only remember The Steal. J.D. Drew was horribly frustrating with his mediocre offense and lacking personality, but in the playoffs in 2007 he was a god. And that, too, will be Victorino’s legacy with Boston. Despite the injuries and frustration, he brought the city a title, and for that he always be loved.
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