Red Sox and A’s Agree on Trade: Bailey for Reddick

The Red Sox have their closer and it is the much anticipated move that sees Andrew Bailey coming to Boston from Oakland.  In return, the Red Sox part ways with outfielder Josh Reddick as first reported by Buster Olney of ESPN.  Oakland outfielder Ryan Sweeney is also heading to Boston as part of the deal.

This deal was reported to be in the works for weeks, but nothing ever seemed to come of it.  Earlier today, Olney tweeted that Bailey would be dealt, but the LA Angels were also in on the mix.  In the end, when Boston missed out on Gio Gonzalez, they went after Bailey and ended up getting their man.

Bailey, 27, will be under the team’s control through the 2014 season and will earn roughly $3.5 million next season.  Last year in Oakland Bailey converted on 24 of 26 save opportunities while sporting a 3.24 ERA with a 1.104 WHIP.  He struck out an average of 8.9 batters per 9 innings and worked in a career low 41.1 innings thanks to a nagging forearm strain that he suffered early on in the year.

In order to acquire Bailey, Ben Cherington knew he’d have to give up an outfield prospect and that turned out to be Josh Reddick.  At just 24-years of age, Reddick was on the fast track to stardom last season but faltered in the final two months and looked uncomfortable at the plate. In the end he ended up with decent offensive statistics: .280, .327, .457, .784 to go with 7 home runs and 28 RBI in 278 plate appearances.

Look for a more detailed breakdown of the deal tomorrow as we examine who won and who lost the deal right here on BoSox Injection.

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