The Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers made a splash on the final day of the MLB winter meetings.
The Red Sox traded slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to the Tigers in exchange for starting pitcher Rick Porcello, according to multiple reports. C.J. Nitkowski of FOX Sports first reported the trade. Boston gets a much-needed boost to its starting rotation in Porcello, who went 15-13 with a 3.43 ERA in 31 starts last season with Detroit, while the Tigers receive some serious pop in their lineup.
The Red Sox acquired Cespedes from the Oakland Athletics at the Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline in the Jon Lester blockbuster. The 29-year-old hit .260 with 22 homers, 100 RBIs and a .751 OPS in 152 games this season, but with the surplus of outfielders the Red Sox boast, his name popped up in plenty of trade speculation this offseason.
The 25-year-old Porcello, meanwhile, has spent six full seasons with the Tigers, posting a 76-63 record and a 4.30 ERA and 1.359 WHIP.
WEEI’s Alex Speier reports that the Sox will send two additional players to the Tigers for Porcello.
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The Red Sox haven’t been quiet on the pitching front after losing the Lester sweepstakes to the Chicago Cubs, as they have reportedly agreed in principle to a trade to acquire left-hander Wade Miley from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
UPDATE (11:04 a.m.): Alex Wilson will also be joining Cespedes in Detroit, according to multiple reports, in addition to a lower-levels southpaw.
UPDATE (12:50 p.m.): Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington has confirmed the Cespedes-Porcello swap.
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Thumbnail photo via Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports Images
