Red Sox on verge of acquiring CF Kotsay

Sources: Red Sox on verge of acquiring CF Kotsay

The Red Sox have had production issues in the outfield, and then they lost one of their best bats on Tuesday. They may be addressing those issues.

Sources told ESPN's Peter Gammons and ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney on Tuesday that the team is on the verge of acquiring center fielder Mark Kotsay from the Atlanta Braves.

Boston is talking to Kotsay, who was held out of the Braves lineup on Tuesday, about his limited no-trade clause. ESPN.com has learned that Kotsay cleared waivers earlier this month, so the Braves can trade him to any team.

The 12-year veteran is batting .289 with six home runs and 37 RBIs this season. His on-base percentage is .338, compared to .319 for Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp, who is batting .257.

A move for Kotsay could be in response to earlier news on Tuesday that right fielder J.D. Drew was heading to the disabled list with a lower back strain. The All-Star was batting .289 with 19 homers and 64 RBIs.

The Red Sox ended Tuesday 3½ games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. They hold a 2½ game lead over the Minnesota Twins for the wild card.