The Indians acquired first baseman/left fielder Lars Anderson from the Red Sox for Double-A starter Steven Wright, the teams announced. WEEI's Alex Speier first reported the trade (on Twitter).
The Red Sox have promoted Anderson in each of the last three seasons, but he has never played more than 18 games or collected more than 43 plate appearances in any one season with Boston. He has spent most of this year at Triple-A, where he has a .259/.359/.415 and nine home runs in 401 plate appearances. The 24-year-old bats left-handed and was considered one of the top prospects in baseball as recently as 2009.
Wright, a 27-year-old knuckleballer, posted a 2.49 ERA with 7.9 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9 in 115 2/3 innings at Double-A this year. He started 20 games this year and has started for most of his six-year minor league career.
I’m thrilled the Sox will be getting something out of this guy. He’s buried on the organizational depth chart.
I hope he gets a chance to play with Cleveland. He’s put up with a lot so far.
If by “put up with a lot” you mean that he has dropped down the organizational depth chart after three straight seasons of failing to post an .800 OPS in AAA, then yes, he’s a doormat.
Atrophying in AAA ball can do a lot of harm. I’d like to see how he does if he gets an actual chance with the Indians.
It’s for a minor league reliever.
I think it’s save to say they won’t be getting Justin Masterson back in return???
It’s as safe to say that as it is to lick the walls in a 1940’s house.
I like the taste of lead paint chips.
They have no need now. Sent Matty Albers for Craig Breslow and can move Franklin Morales back to the rotation. Morales made 5 starts and in 4 he was absolutely dominant.
Those 4 starts? 23IP 16h 4er 6bb 26k
I will never have to hear Lars being discussed in a Sox package again!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a Red Sox fan, and I approve this message.
Seconded
I was very happy for him when he almost went to Oakland last year for Harden. Now he has a chance in Cleveland. Should be interesting to see what the Sox get in return. I don’t expect it to be much, but He deserves a shot.
Journeyman Minor Leaguer RP Steven Wright, who does have some decent numbers at the AA level this year
ERA and K/9 wise, walks a lot
He is still getting used to becoming a knuckle ball pitcher, that’s where the walks are coming from. I’m a Cleveland fan and was excited to see this guy in CLE. He’s gonna be good for you guys, so hopefully this works out for both teams.
Agreed, The crying from this return will be the last we have to deal with.
Thirded…motion passed…thank god
Please tell me its Masterson!
For a bag of balls to be named later
Justin Masterson??
be realistic. we’re getting santana
I was so confused, I thought Lars was supposed to be packaged for King Felix yo!
Not for nothing, but Masterson has been taking a beating. Way too many people are looking at 2011 and think it is his norm. In 09, 10, and 12, his ERA is 4.47 or higher. He’s okay, but he is also going to get expensive over the next two arb years.
It was a joke, obviously not a good one because I got a lot of down arrows!!
getting those downvotes on r/mlbtrades is rough
Didn’t see this one happening
Masterson back on the Red Sox maybe?!
Moving on..
Hahaha…. Masterson…
It’s a minor league pitcher, according to sources
Wanted the M’s to get this guy. Oh well.
For who Masterson? I’m sure he’s worth more than that but.
No, it was for Lindor. Sigh…Masterson? Really?
Minor league pitcher apparently
Is this good for the Red Sox?
we don’t know who Indians are sending yet……
It’s good for Lars Anderson. Really glad he’s finally in a place where he might get a chance.
That probably depends on who they are getting, don’t you think?
interesting theory
Sure. Gives him a fresh start. Wasn’t going to happen for him here in Boston.
Lars was destined to be a throw-in in a trade sooner or later since he’s permanently blocked by Gonzo. If anything we’re mainly doing him a favor by sending him somewhere else.
for Steven Wright
He was blocked in Boston, glad he’ll have a chance with a new club
A 27 year old AA pitcher? Yup, bag of balls indeed.
Giving him a shot to actually play.
MIddlebrooks this season is a perfect example of taking advantage of an opportunity. You open your own doors in this league, and if you play well you will get playing time. No team should ever trade anyone to give them a shot to play, it’s the player’s responsiblity to make his shot. If Anderson lived up to his hype before he would be on this team somewhere. He’s young enough to still have a shot, but he has to play well to get that chance.
He wasn’t in their long-term plans and they got a solid AA pitcher for him. I will take this trade any day of the week.
Knuckleballer
Pitcher is 27 y/o Steven Wright. 2.70 ERA with 101 k’s in 115 IP for AA..
no, AA.
40 man roster move?
Remember, Lars Anderson was nearly dealt to the Oakland A’s last yr in that failed Rich Harden deal, so they’ve been looking to deal him
This deal looks like a winner for the Tribe. Good return on a 27 year old pitcher in AA.
Rocking the foundation of Baseball with this one.
I guess this deal was so pressing that they just had to squeeze it in seconds before the deadline. Something like this could have been done weeks ago…
It was done so the Indians can say they are adding to the team and not “breaking up the core” talent. Lets be honest where has that core talent gotten them so far 6 games out of first and Detroit and Chicago are adding. They needed to do something to shake up the team and either improve now or 2013. Perez and masterson could of both been moved and probably should of been. And as much as I love choo he will be gone after next year guaranteed and they could of got something good instead of a draft pick they will probably waste again. I will always support them but I’m being realistic.
Red Sox could use some minor league pitching depth, so good move
Gotta love Cleveland’s commitment to field the best minor league teams possible
true that
Is it just me or is this web page running slow from all the flooded comments?
Wright is a knuckleball pitcher so don’t be fooled by his age. And hey, the Tribe gets another left handed hitter.
Correct me if I”m wrong, but wasn’t Lars Anderson considered a top prospect for the Red Sox?
awhile ago. not so much anymore.
I like the deal for Cleveland. Maybe a little more upside.
Lars was the #17 prospect in all of baseball in ’09 according to Baseball America. He never quite lived up to his potential though (obviously) and wasn’t even in the Red Sox top 20 prospects at this point.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but I can’t help but think what we could’ve gotten back if we traded him a few years ago. I remember in the past few years, almost every blockbuster trade involved Lars Anderson…and now he’s given up for a bag of balls.
Trouble is, when he was rated that highly he was Boston’s “1B of the future.” It would be like them trading Bogaerts or Barnes now.
Gah would rather have Wright then Anderson.. Wright is a knuckleball pitcher.. Anderson is a fringe player that sucks batting against lefties.. just what the Indians need another guy who can’t hit lefties!
I’m betting all the “hard core” Sox fans on here are bummed to lose future hall famer Lars Anderson
Was blocked by Gonzo and hasn’t lived up to potential the last few years.
Yea I totally get the move and it is actually a good depth move. I was referring more to him being included in every ridiculous Sox trade proposal the last 2 years. I won’t miss those
As a Sox fan, I won’t either haha. He was always a throw in piece for every big trade! Oh…such and such team would love Lars…we should just throw him in there because his name is Lars. Ridiculous.
Doubt it. He was highly regarded at one point (#17 prospect in baseball), and that’s why he was included in a bunch of trade proposals, but he never lived up to his potential, and people know it.
Sox get Steven Wright?
Last night I went to a 24-hour grocery. When I got there, the guy was locking the front door. I said, “Hey, the sign says you’re open 24 hours.” He goes: “Not in a row!”
Get Wakefield as this Wright kid’s personal tutor.
How can a baseball played named Lars Anderson not be bound for glory? It’s one of the best baseball names since Von Hayes.
Wow. Looking at Wright’s numbers, I am happy with this trade. Especially because he is a knuckle-baller.
2.49 ERA with 7.9 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9 in 115 2/3 innings at Double-A this year…. Walks are high but 2.49 in 115 innings!? solid.
Knuckle baller!? Nice.
Blocked in Boston vs blocked in Cleveland….Laporta is doing better in AAA and cant get a shot.
Well, LaPorta is really nothing more than minor league depth (he’s 3 years older than Anderson, a below average defender at 1B, and has over 1000 plate appearances of well below average offense in the majors), so there’s a chance Anderson jumps over him on the depth chart anyway. Plus, Anderson started playing LF some this year so there’s a chance they could give him some reps out there too (maybe not a great chance – I don’t know what they think of his defense out there – but a chance).
Well said, only LaPorta will get chance after chance, simply because he is the only thing worth a flip they got out of the CC Sabathia deal even if Lars Anderson is better than LaPorta.
He’s been down in the minors all year except for a few games with the Indians. I think they’ve given up on him, and getting Lars shows they don’t want LaPorta at all.
Steven Wright is a great comedian. Glad he’s coming back home to Boston.
So apparently his prior minor league numbers were before picking up learning the knuckleball. So he learns the pitch, and his ERA drops by over 2 runs in half a season? Love the upside on this pick up for Sox.. He’ll def be under guidance of Wakefield now giving him a much better chance at improving than he would have had in crappy Cleveland minor leagues..
“The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.” Steven Wright.
27 years old and he’s in AA?
Red Sox are tying up a few loose ends today? Neither Lars nor Pods have a future in B-town. Too many players. Two few roster spots. If one looks deep enough Breslaw might look to some like a cagey move on Cherington’s part. Time will tell.