The Boston Red Sox traded pitcher Jake Peavy to the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. Could utility man Mike Carp be the next to go?
Carp confirmed to reporters at Tropicana Field on Saturday that he has asked the Red Sox for a trade. Carp, who has seen his role reduced this season, believes he can contribute to a contender.
“I understood how everything was working and what we were building toward,” Carp told reporters in St. Petersburg, Fla. “And that all fell apart, so I don’t know what else to do.”
Carp is hitting just .215 (17-for-79) with nine RBIs and a .641 OPS in 39 games this season. The 28-year-old missed more than a month with a broken foot, but he still has received far less opportunities in 2014 than he did during his breakout 2013 campaign, when he hit .296 (64-for-216) with nine homers, 43 RBIs and an .885 OPS in 86 games.
The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham, who was the first to report the news, was told by Carp that the trade request was respectful. Abraham also reported that two scouts have said National League teams have interest in the slugger, possibly in a bench or platoon role.
“I feel like I’m taking a step backward in the role I’m in,” Carp told reporters.
The Red Sox acquired Carp from the Seattle Mariners during spring training last year. The first baseman/outfielder could be an interesting buy-low candidate for a club looking to add a left-handed bat.
