Boston Red Sox Acquire Victor Martinez

The Boston Red Sox made a big splash at the end of the trading deadline. They have acquired All-Star catcher Victor Martinez from the Cleveland Indians for three young prospects. Martinez has hit .284 this season, with 15 homers and 67 RBI's. In return for Martinez, the Indians received three young pitchers, in Justin Masterson, Nick Hagadone, and Bryan Price. Good news for the Red Sox is that they did not have to give up top pitching prospect Clay Buchholz. Masterson was Boston's second-round pick in 2006, and helped Boston make the playoffs last year after being called up from the minors. Masterson was both a reliever and starter for the Red Sox in his two years with the team, going 3-3 in 31 appearances this year. Both Hagadone and Price are young, minor-league pitchers.

This is the second major trade that the Cleveland Indians have made this week. On Wednesday, the Indians traded reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee to the Philadelphia Phillies for four minor-league prospects. The Indians have traded two of their best players, and are obviously trying to restock on new, young players, hoping make a future run to a World Series in the years to come. The Indians are currently in fourth place in the AL Central, and eighteen games under .500 at 42-60. They are twelve games behind the leading Detroit Tigers and have almost no chance of making the playoffs this year.

Martinez will most likely be a backup catcher for the Red Sox, as Jason Veritek is their captain and current catcher. Martinez could also be the designated hitter (DH) on most nights, as he is a slugger with big power and gives the Red Sox another big bat in their strong lineup.

The Red Sox, who have been leading their division, the AL East, for most of the season, are now in second place, behind the New York Yankees. The Red Sox are 2.5 games out of first, but are currently leading the AL Wildcard race, meaning they would make the playoffs, if the season ended today. The Red Sox have a record of 59-42, seventeen games over .500.

This was not the only trade that the Red Sox made before the trading deadline. They also traded the newly-acquired Adam LaRoche to the Atlanta Braves, for Casey Kotchman. The Red Sox had acquired LaRoche on July 22 from the Pirates and had been swinging a hot bat recently. The Red Sox are looking to stock up on big bats to try to make another World Series run.