The Boston Red Sox have reportedly traded outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to the Detroit Tigers for starting pitcher Rick Porcello, according to CJ Nitkowski of Fox Sports.
Porcello, a 25-year-old righthander, should help fill a hole in Boston’s rotation that remained after Jon Lester chose to sign with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. In Cespedes, the Tigers get a much-needed power bat in the outfield.
Detroit will also reportedly receive a minor league pitcher in the deal.
It seemed all but certain that the Red Sox would trade Cespedes after they signed free agent Hanley Ramirez. Boston already has a shortstop with a ton of potential in Xander Bogaerts, so the belief is Ramirez could play left field. Moving Hanley to third base won’t be an option after the Red Sox signed Pablo Sandoval.
Porcello has one year of arbitration eligibility left and is expected to make around $12 million — unless the Red Sox sign him to a long-term extension. Cespedes will make $10.5 million in 2015 before becoming a free agent in 2016.
Given some of the reports we have heard about the Red Sox’s feelings toward Cespedes, it seemed like only a matter of time before he was dealt.
