Victor Martinez from the Indians on Friday just before the non-waiver trade deadline. The Red Sox also traded Adam LaRoche, who was with them just over a week, to the Braves for fellow first baseman Casey Kotchman. The potential deal that had fans of the Yankees and Red Sox holding their breath for weeks never did materialize. Roy Halladay stayed with the Blue Jays as the deadline passed.
"We think Victor Martinez is a great fit for our club," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said on a conference call with reporters, "and provides a significant offensive boost and does it with some versatility that complements our roster well." Martinez, 30, has a $7.5 million option for next season, which the Red Sox are likely to pick up, The Boston Globe reported. The Red Sox sent Justin Masterson and two minor league pitchers to Cleveland.
Martinez, hitting .284 with 15 homers and 67 RBI, has an unusual skill set. He's a switch hitter who has been a catcher most of his career, but due to injuries and defensive deficiency, he has played just as much first base of late. "There are a lot of things to like about Victor," manager Terry Francona told reporters in Baltimore. "[He] can do a lot to hopefully be able to attack a lot of the better pitching in the league."
