After dealing for infielder Aaron Hill on Thursday, the Boston Red Sox completed two more trades on Friday. The first, coming early in the afternoon, sent utility man Michael Martinez to Boston from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for cash. In the second, completed late in the evening, the Red Sox shipped minor leaguers Jose Almonte and Luis Alejandro Basabe to the Arizona Diamondbacks for veteran reliever Brad Ziegler.
Making moves. Red Sox trade for Brad Ziegler from Arizona in exchange for two minor leaguers: RHP Jose Almonte and INF Luis Alejandro Basabe
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) July 9, 2016
Red Sox Trade for Brad Ziegler, Michael Martinez
Martinez Provides Much-Needed Depth
The first trade shores up the Sox bench depth, particularly in the infield. Martinez can play second base, third base, and shortstop, in addition to all three outfield positions. However, the 33-year-old Martinez doesn’t offer much in the way of offense. While he’s hitting .283 in sixty-three plate appearances this season, he’s a career .199 hitter over six major league seasons. He has seen time with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates, in addition to the Indians. Cleveland designated Martinez for assignment on July 2.
The depth he provides opens up more trade possibilities for the Red Sox. Should Boston decide to move Travis Shaw for a starting pitcher, they now have the roster flexibility to do so. However, given the recent spat of injuries that have struck Shaw, Hanley Ramirez, and Brock Holt, Martinez more immediately just represents a healthy body capable of taking the field.
Ziegler Reinforces Weakened Bullpen
Ziegler, for his part, joins a bullpen in desperate need of fresh arms. Junichi Tazawa and Craig Kimbrel are both dealing with injuries, and Koji Uehara hasn’t looked like the 2013 version of himself for a while. Ziegler, 36, had been in the midst of a fairly strong campaign for the Diamondbacks. The eight-year veteran owns eighteen saves, twenty-seven strikeouts, and a 2.82 ERA in 38.1 innings pitched. However, he does have a dangerously high 1.46 WHIP, thanks in part to the fifteen walks he’s issued.
The Red Sox needed a reliever with closing experience, and Ziegler at the very least brings that. If Kimbrel misses significant time, Ziegler and Uehara could form a platoon of sorts to hold down the role until Kimbrel returns. He also came relatively cheap.
Almonte, a 20-year-old right-handed pitcher, was 2-2 in ten starts for the Single-A Greenville Drive. He owned a 3.91 ERA and forty-five strikeouts, against just thirteen walks, in fifty-three innings. Despite a mediocre ERA, opponents were hitting just .245 against him. Almonte is likely the piece Arizona truly coveted in the trade for Ziegler.
Basabe, 19, manned second for Greenville this season. Across 229 at-bats, he was hitting .310 with an .879 OPS. However, Basabe’s hit tool is below average overall. While he does have some power and speed, his calling card is his defense.
For Arizona, this move looks toward future seasons. Neither Basabe nor Almonte will see Major League action any time soon. Perhaps one or both with develop into legitimate big leaguers at some point. For Boston, the trade addresses a serious immediate need. More trades are sure to come, as the Red Sox still need to address their starting rotation.
Main Photo:
