BoSox Injection
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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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BOSTON – OCTOBER 11: Pitcher Billy Wagner #13 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Game Three of the ALDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Fenway Park on October 11, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
BOSTON – OCTOBER 11: Pitcher Billy Wagner #13 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Game Three of the ALDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Fenway Park on October 11, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

August 25, 2009: Red Sox acquire Billy Wagner from New York Mets in exchange for two players to be named later.

Billy Wagner’s time in Boston was brief but he was excellent down the stretch for the Red Sox in 2009. The right-hander allowed only three earned runs over 13 2/3 innings for a spectacular 1.98 ERA while producing a 14.5 K/9.

Wagner made two playoff appearances, totaling only one inning, as the Red Sox were swept by the Angels in the ALDS. Facing elimination in Game 3, Wagner took the mound in the eighth inning to protect a three-run lead. He allowed a leadoff double and a walk while recording only two outs in the frame before closer Jonathan Papelbon took over. A base hit by Juan Rivera drove in two runs, both charged to Wagner. A pick-off helped Papelbon escape the inning with a one-run lead still intact but he ended up blowing the save in the ninth to end Boston’s season.

The meltdown was blamed on Papelbon but Wagner’s shaky outing forced the closer into the game early and he was charged with two runs late in a game the Red Sox would lose by one. It was an unceremonious ending to Wagner’s short tenure with the club but fans can still look back and say the Red Sox once had one of the all-time great closers and a potential future Hall of Famer on their side.

Boston completed the deal in October by sending Chris Carter and Eddie Lora to the Mets. The former played only 100 games the following season before his big league career was over and the latter never made it to the majors. Wagner’s last appearance in a Red Sox uniform may not have ended well but Boston clearly got the better end of this trade.

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