VETERAN FIRST BASEMAN HAD HEFTY SALARY
TOP CATCHER WIETERS COMES OVER FROM PIRATES
BOSTON - ONE CHANCE WAS ALL IT TOOK TO MAKE STANTON WELLS THE FUTURE RED SOX FIRST BASEMAN AND FORCE $16 MILLION MAN PRINCE FIELDER OUT, BUT ONE INJUTY WAS ALSO ALL IT TOOK TO PUT THAT FUTURE OF WELLS IN DOUBT.
FIELDER, IN THE FINAL YEAR OF HIS HIS HEFTY CONTRACT, WAS SHIPPED JUNE 20 TO PITTSBURGH ALONG WITH OF HILARIO CAVAZOS AND RELIEVER HARRY IRVIN IN EXCHANGE FOR ALL-STAR CATCHER MATT WIETERS OF OF JASON CHILDERS. THAT TRADE WAS ALSO PARTLY IN RESPONSE TO THE INJURY OF JASON JARAMILLO, HAVING A CAREER YEAR AT CATCHER WITH A .340 AVERAGE AND IS NOW BACK FROM THE DL.
WELLS, 23, WAS IN THE MIDST OF AN 11-OF-24 TEAR (.458) BEFORE THE DEAL WHILE FIELDER, 27, HAD BELTED 14 HOMERS AND DRIVEN IN MORE THAN 40 RUNS WHILE HITTING NEAR .290 FOR BOSTON.
TWO DAYS LATER, WELLS TORE A CALF MUSCLE, FORCING A TRADE FOR THE TOP POWER PROSPECT IN CLASS AA, ENOCH KYLE, ACQUIRED JUNE 23 FROM TAMPA ALONG WITH RP PEDRO FELICIANO FOR SP ANTHONY GAMBINO, LF GERARDO PARRA AND PROMISING 2B HARLAND HUMMELL.
KYLE, HERETOFORE A 6-5, 232-POUND LEFTFIELDER, WAS IMMEDIATELY SLOTTED INTO A NEW POSITION, TAKING THE SPOT OF WELLS AT FIRST. KYLE, 24, HAS RESPONDED WITH HALF HIS 14 HITS GOING FOR EXTRA BASES, FOUR DOUBLES AND THREE HOMERS, HITTING .280 IN HIS FIRST 50 AT-BATS.
"TIME WILL TELL IF HE WILL HIT FOR AVERAGE," AN NL SCOUT SAYS. "HE WAS UNDER .26O AT AA AND HAS NEVER TOPPED .277 IN THE MINORS. BUT HE'S GOT TONS OF POWER."
WIETERS IS HITTING .304 OVERALL WITH 18 HOMERS AND 48 RBIs.
THE RED SOX HAD ALREADY DEALT PROMISING INFIELDERS HUNTER QUEEN AND RONNY DIGGS AND HUNTER QUEEN, WHO ARE IN SAN DIEGO'S EVERYDAY LINEUP. CATCHER GARTH THARP, PART OF THE TRADE FOR STARTER JUNG-YEOL KU, IS STARTING FOR THE TIGERS.
OF DARIUS OLIVER CAME OFF THE DL JUST BEFORE THE ALL-STAR BREAK AS DID JARAMILLO AND INF JACQUES ALI, AMONG THE CONTENDERS TO TAKE OVER AT SECOND BASE OR SPELL SUPER PROSPECT RODERICK SUTHERLAND AT THIRD. SUTHERLAND'S AVERAGE HAS DROPPED TO .254 AND HE'S HIT JUST FOUR HOMERS AND DRIVEN IN 21 RUNS AFTER AN EARLY SEASON TRADE FROM SAN DIEGO WHERE HE WAS HITTING .462 WITH 5 DINGERS AND 19 RBIs.
"IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON IN BOSTON," THE SCOUT SAID.
THE RED SOX ARE 40-48 IN THE AL EAST, A DOZEN GAMES BACK OF TORONTO, AND 6.5 BEHIND MINNESOTA IN THE WILD CARD RACE.
***
OTHER 2011 DEALS INCLUDED:
* SP PHILLIP HUMBER FROM HOUSTON FOR RP GABRIEL ALONSO, C ROB JOHNSON AND 2B ANIBAL CALDERON
* SP BRENT HASTRAWER FROM DODGERS FOR SP LIVAN HERNANDEZ (INADVERTANTLY PICKED UP ON WAIVERS DURING FAST-FORWARD TO SCHEDULE)
* SP ???? AND C ROB JOHNSON FROM BRAVES FOR C JARVIS RANDLE, >> AND 3B MATT TUIASOSOPO
* 1B-OF NICK SWISHER ON WAIVERS FROM RANGERS
* SP ANDY PETTITTE AND RP MANNY ACOSTA FFROM PADRES FOR >>>
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