Hansen part of the Pirates' booty
Reliever's trade leaves a hole in the bullpen
If Craig Hansen is going to be the closer of the future, it will have to be for the Pirates.
After waiting for Hansen to blossom for four seasons, the Red Sox shipped the reliever to Pittsburgh yesterday along with outfielder Brandon Moss, in a deal that brought Jason Bay to Boston and sent Manny Ramírez to the Dodgers.
After being drafted by the Sox 26th overall in 2005 out of St. John's - considered a coup when Hansen dropped because of signability issues - he made his major league debut that September. Save for a stretch in 2006, followed by a full season in Triple A in '07, he was never able to transition well to the majors.
Though many in the organization praised the 24-year-old Hansen's stuff, which included an above-average fastball and wicked slider, he had a 1-3 record and 5.58 ERA in 32 games this season with the Sox.
The trade leaves a hole in the Sox' bullpen, one that could be filled internally - say with Triple A starter Michael Bowden - or with a deal during the waiver trading period.
Moss, meanwhile, should get the chance in Pittsburgh that he didn't in Boston. He helped the Sox beat Oakland in Japan with a home run on Opening Day in the Tokyo Dome, but most recently had been sent back to Pawtucket when David Ortiz was activated from the disabled list last Friday. He hit .295 in 34 games with the Sox this season, with two home runs and 11 RBIs.
Like David Murphy, whom the Sox sent to Texas at the trading deadline last season, Moss, 24, could benefit immensely from the move and the chance to play more. The 2002 eighth-round pick was learning how to play first base in the minors this season to increase his versatility.
Grade-A pitcher
Perhaps the best part of the visit by the Oakland A's this weekend is that the Sox will not have to face Rich Harden. He opposed the Sox twice in the first four games of the season, but was traded to the Cubs July 8. The Sox, however, will face Justin Duchscherer, who held them hitless into the seventh inning May 24, the last time he faced them. That's a tall task, especially given how poorly the Red Sox have been playing. They have lost five of their last six games, slipping three games behind the Rays in the American League East . . . Bay reported that his agent, Joe Urbon, had a long day of travel yesterday. After heading from Boston to Seattle, he jumped on a red-eye back to Boston last night to join Bay . . . Bay was happy to be dealt to the Sox for another reason. "The most important thing that I've found out so far about the Red Sox organization is that we don't have to wear suits on the plane," he said. "I've been wearing a full suit on the plane, so I'm excited to dress down." . . . Bay's parents, David and Kelly, won't be able to get to Fenway Park soon to see him play. They're headed to Beijing to watch daughter Lauren play softball for Canada in the Olympics. Lauren also competed in the 2004 Athens Games.
