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Red Sox history of August trades shows impact of new MLB rule

By Sean Penney

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 18: Dave Dombrowski the President of Baseball Operations of the Boston Red Sox stands at home plate before a game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on September 18, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox won 5-4. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 18: Dave Dombrowski the President of Baseball Operations of the Boston Red Sox stands at home plate before a game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on September 18, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox won 5-4. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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ST LOUIS, MO – OCTOBER 27: Quintin Berry #50 of the Boston Red Sox steals second base against Matt Carpenter #13 of the St. Louis Cardinals in the top of the eighth inning during Game Four of the 2013 World Series at Busch Stadium on October 27, 2013 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO – OCTOBER 27: Quintin Berry #50 of the Boston Red Sox steals second base against Matt Carpenter #13 of the St. Louis Cardinals in the top of the eighth inning during Game Four of the 2013 World Series at Busch Stadium on October 27, 2013 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

August 27, 2013: Red Sox acquire Quintin Berry from Kansas City Royals in exchange for Clayton Mortensen.

The Dave Roberts steal remains one of the most memorable moments in franchise history and showed the Red Sox the importance of having a stolen base threat they could bring off the bench. That clearly played a factor in Boston’s decision to acquire Quintin Berry when they were gearing up for another championship run.

Berry played sparingly down the stretch, appearing in only 13 games, but they picked his spots wisely. He went 5-for-8 with a home run and three steals to wrap up the regular season.

While he didn’t record a plate appearance in the postseason, Berry appeared in three games as a pinch-runner and stole a base each time. His impact on the game was limited but he accomplished what he was brought in to do and the Red Sox ended up winning each of the postseason games he played in.

Berry appeared in only 25 games for three different teams over the next four years. He was always a fringe major league player but he possessed one skillset the 2013 Red Sox sorely lacked on their bench – speed. He provided the team with a threat on the base paths and earned a World Series ring for his efforts.

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