Red Sox acquire closer Bailey from A's Outfielder Sweeney also headed to Boston in five-player swap

BOSTON -- The Red Sox arranged the guy who is almost certain to be their next closer by completing a invest with the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday for two-time All-Star Andrew Bailey.

Coming over in conjunction with Bailey inside the deal is outfielder Ryan Sweeney. To have Jonathan Papelbon's successor to the ninth inning, the Red Sox traded right fielder Josh Reddick and also prospects -- 20-year-old third baseman Miles Head and 19-year-old righty Raul Alcantara.

Red Sox gm Ben Cherington was discussing Bailey with Oakland GM Billy Beane businesses several weeks.
"Andrew is usually a proven top-quality closer in the American League," Cherington said. "He's used it for 3 years within the American League, he's had a number of success. He's converted an increased amount of his opportunities. He has got the stuff. We actually like his makeup for Boston and everything we've heard of him the last few weeks has only strengthened our conviction that she can fit into rather well to team and our clubhouse."

Bailey -- merely born in Nj and spends his offseasons in Connecticut -- is thrilled to be going into a top contender that plays inside Northeast.

"I'm very excited. This is how my family we have a home in the offseason," the 27-year-old Bailey said. "You can't get much more than Oakland to the Northeastern. I'm definitely excited to try out baseball about the New england but for the Red Sox."

And Bailey already includes a solid relationship with his new manager Bobby Valentine. They've collaborated on charity are employed Connecticut lately.

"I spoke to Bobby after I got off of the phone with Ben Cherington. Bobby so i are fantastic friends," Bailey said. "He does lots together with the foundation I'm a portion of. Bobby and that i have a very good relationship and he's excited to acquire me up to speed for excited for being there for him. We're both awaiting it and it also just type of helps knowing someone planning."

The right-hander pitched in 42 games last season, notching 24 saves. He missed the earliest 60 days of the season using a right forearm strain. Bailey also missed every thirty days in 2010 which has a strained intercostal muscle.

However, the Red Sox did extensive background record checks on Bailey's health before consummating the trade, and are generally confident he can sustain.

"We has a possibility to check into Bailey's wellness background and obtain to recognise a great deal more of the he went through the," Cherington said. "He had Tommy John surgery about a few years ago and he's fully recovered from that. He previously had some elbow symptoms this season along a rather minor procedure following the 2010 season. When the rope reached Spring Trained in 2011 along with perhaps ramped up too fast along a little a setback and got some scar tissue breakup plus some minor soft tissue injury.

"He surely could endure that, make contact with pitching and do well. His stuff brilliant performance were solid along the stretch and hubby was systematic through-out 4 seasons after he returned. We are very confident he'll receive camp good to go capable to help our company in 2012."

Bailey hasn't ever felt better about his health entering a season.

"I'm feeling good, in all honesty along with you," Bailey said. "This is my first healthy offseason I've had since I am in the big leagues. In 2009, I had created a little bit procedure done on my own knee that we were forced to rehab in the midst of December. Last year was the bone chips and bone spurs being applied for understanding that kind of lingered into Spring Training and into your season. With that being said, here is the very first time that I have been healthy while not having to rehab anything prior to the middle of December or even into Spring Training. I have been previously able to get after it from The beginning and for that reason far, knock on wood, strong and healthy and searching forward to Spring Training."

Bailey has pitched 157 games in the Majors, finishing 133 advisors. Bigger a 2.07 ERA.

Boston's bullpen is starting to get together. In Bailey, the recently acquired Mark Melancon and Bobby Jenks, the Red Sox have three pitchers with closing experience.

Daniel Bard goes to Spring Training for a starter and can be competent to remain there ever since Bailey continues to be added to pitch the ninth inning.

The inclusion of Reddick inside deal makes a question mark in right field for Boston.

Ryan Kalish, who impressed the Red Sox within the final 2 months from the 2010 season, is surely an option. But Kalish injured his shoulder within a collision last April and missed the majority of the season. He previously had neck surgery in the offseason.

The newly acquired Sweeney, 26 and a left-handed hitter, are typically in this mixture. He hit .265 with a homer and 25 RBIs in 264 at-bats for Oakland in 2011.

"Ryan Sweeney we expect you'll become a big portion of our outfield mix," Cherington said. "He can begin to play right field. He's an excellent defender. His versatility is like Reddick, really, each of them can play both outfield spots and play them well.

"Sweeney has played in a large ballpark in Oakland and handled the defensive section of the game well. We also appreciate his offensive method of Fenway. He has got an opposite-field approach. He's some guy we made an effort to acquire previously and think he fits well with these team. So he'll often be a big a part of our outfield mix."

The Red Sox have Darnell McDonald and Mike Aviles on their own roster. Aviles has been mostly an infielder throughout his career but has spent time in Puerto Rico this winter concentrating on his enthusiasm within the outfield.

"We still have Darnell McDonald on our roster, who may have done an excellent project for us in past times and has now hit left-handed pitching," Cherington said. "We got good reports on [Aviles] when he was in Puerto Rico. Obviously we love to him to be a hitter so when an offense. We presume we have some internal solutions for right field and Sweeney is a huge component of that."

The 24-year-old Reddick should settle nicely into Oakland's outfield mix. He got on to a red-hot start for Boston last year before cooling off down the stretch.

Bailey, the American League Rookie of the Year in '09, is looking forward to tasting a pennant race the very first time.

"It's an element that There's no doubt that every kid on the market playing tee-ball strives to help out the postseason plus meaningful games in September and ultimately the World Series," Bailey said. "I'm about to welcome making use of open arms. It does not get a new style i always attack the hitters. I'm aggressive and like to go immediately after guys. As long as I follow my guns and trust my stuff, We will be fine, I'm certain."

Though Bailey does not have an overpowering fastball, he's got a fearless approach.

"I'm not gonna blow by you at 98-99 [mph]," he was quoted saying. "I'm not too kind of guy. I sit within the low 90s, trust in control and becoming prior to guys. The motto I live and eat is 'strike one is the most beneficial do my part baseball.' As long as you keep to that, you can be fine.

"Obviously, pitching, and shutting as an example, is larger in Boston. Obviously the market's a lot bigger, even so think We will be fine start. A final three years are already great, the ability to close resistant to the teams I'm going to be closing against from the same league. It isn't like I am about to different territory or a new league we need to learn all of the hitters.

"It's exactly the same guys I have been previously facing going back 3 years, just with another type of uniform on. A common things I can also work on are one, obviously staying healthy and also, staying on my guns and being who I'm. Simply because I'm wearing some other uniform doesn't mean Let me change on or off this line of business."

Published December 29th, 2011

Tags: Red, Sox, acquire