Report: Indians Might Trade Justin Masterson, Red Sox Among Teams Who Have Scouted Right-Hander

by Ricky Doyle on Mon, Jul 30, 2012 at 2:20PM

Justin Masterson back in Beantown?

It might never come to fruition, but the Red Sox did scout the right-hander on Saturday, according to CBS Sports' Danny Knobler. The Rangers reportedly also sent scouts to watch Masterson's start in Minnesota, during which he got roughed up by the Twins.

According to Knobler, the Indians have told teams that they may trade Masterson, who was the club's Opening Day starter after putting together a solid 2011 campaign.

Masterson went 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA in 34 games (33 starts) last season, but he has struggled to maintain that form this season, posting a 4.47 ERA to go along with a 7-9 record through his first 22 starts.

The 27-year-old Masterson, of course, started in the Red Sox organization. After being drafted in the second round in 2006, he went on to pitch parts of two seasons in Boston — mostly out of the bullpen — before being shipped to Cleveland as part of the deal that netted the Sox Victor Martinez.