Red Sox send Crisp to KC

Sox ship Crisp to KC for Ramirez
Right-hander addresses Boston's need for bullpen help



BOSTON -- For more than a year, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said that he did not feel any urgency to deal center fielder Coco Crisp and that he would only do so if it improved the team.
Epstein finally found that opportunity on Wednesday, dealing the speedy center fielder to the Royals for reliever Ramon Ramirez.

Ramirez, a 27-year-old righty, went 3-2 with a 2.64 ERA in 71 games in 2008. He registered 70 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings.

The trade was first reported by Sports Radio 810 in Kansas City on Wednesday morning. Ramirez confirmed it to MLB.com from the Dominican Republic shortly thereafter, adding that the Royals informed him of it shortly after 10 a.m. ET.

"I feel fine about it because I realize baseball is a business and every team tries to do the best for their organization," Ramirez said by phone through an interpreter. "If I'm going to Boston, I'm going happily and I will work as hard as I worked for Kansas City."

Because Jacoby Ellsbury is viewed as Boston's center fielder of the present and future, Crisp was deemed to be expendable.

But with Crisp's value as a defender and a baserunner, Epstein chose to hang on to him in 2008. It paid off, as several injuries to other members of the Red Sox -- not to mention some inconsistency by Ellsbury offensively -- enabled Crisp to have 361 at-bats.

The switch-hitter batted .283 with seven homers and 41 RBIs, stealing 20 bases.

Crisp's most memorable at-bat during his time with the Red Sox came in Game 5 of the 2008 American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. On the 10th pitch of his at-bat in the bottom of the eighth inning, Crisp rifled a game-tying single to right field, bringing Boston all the way back from a 7-0 deficit.


The Red Sox went on to win the game to stave off elimination and also won Game 6 before bowing out with a 3-1 loss in Game 7.

Crisp was brought to Boston via a trade from the Indians in January 2006. The hope was that he could replace Johnny Damon in both center field and the leadoff spot.

But Crisp's time with the Red Sox got off to an ominous start, as he fractured his left index finger in the fifth game of the season. Though he returned six weeks later, Crisp struggled offensively for much of 2006 (.264 average) and '07 (.268).

As it turned out, Crisp hit mainly toward the bottom of the order during his three years with the Sox. Crisp is an aggressive hitter and Boston likes to have a more patient approach from the leadoff spot.

Crisp had a strong finish to 2008, hitting .375 in September.

As for Ramirez, he figures to join Hideki Okajima and Manny Delcarmen as key setup relievers for Jonathan Papelbon. It is unknown at this stage if Justin Masterson, a star setup man for the Red Sox down the stretch, will move back to his more natural role of starting.

Ramirez looks forward to the challenge that awaits him in Boston.

"Of course, it's a big motivation to go to a team like Boston, but don't forget, with every team -- no matter how good or bad they are -- you have to prove yourself and you have to contribute to the team," Ramirez said.

Over three seasons, Ramirez has pitched in 154 games, all in relief, posting a 3.62 ERA.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Dick Kaegel, a reporter for MLB.com, contributed to this report from Kansas City. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.