Mike Aviles Will Go to Blue Jays as Compensation for John Farrell

by Doug Kyed on Sun, Oct 21, 2012 at 12:25AM

The Red Sox will go into next season with a new manager and a new starting shortstop.

The Red Sox confirmed Sunday that Mike Aviles will be going to Toronto as compensation for John Farrell, who has been hired as Boston's new manager. Alex Speier of WEEI first reported the news Saturday.

Aviles started 130 games for Boston last season, with 123 at shortstop. The five-year veteran batted .250 with 13 home runs and a .663 OPS. Aviles was traded to the Red Sox in July 2011 from the Royals, where he spent three and a half years.

Aviles has also played second base, third base and right field in the majors, but he's spent the majority of his time at shortstop, where he has a carer .974 fielding percentage.

The Blue Jays were looking for a new middle infielder after multiple off-field issues from Yunel Escobar.

Aviles was signed to a one-year deal by the Red Sox but was still arbitration eligible since he has spent less than six years at the major league level. The Red Sox will receive a player from the Blue Jays in the Farrell deal, but that has yet to be announced.

Check out Speier's tweet below.

Updated: Red Sox hire John Farrell as manager, send Mike Aviles to the Blue Jays fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/… via @weei

— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) October 21, 2012