UPDATE (1:32 A.M.): The Red Sox officially announced the trade.
The #RedSox today acquired utility player Eduardo Nuñez from the Giants in exchange for minor league RHPs Shaun Anderson and Gregory Santos. pic.twitter.com/1qb490aBuS
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 26, 2017
ORIGINAL STORY: The Boston Red Sox were surveying all their options as the Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline approaches, and they reportedly made their first deal late Tuesday night.
The Red Sox acquired infielder Eduardo Nunez from the San Francisco Giants, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman.
The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reported Boston will send minor league pitchers Shaun Anderson and Gregory Santos to the Giants.
The Red Sox are sending RHP Shaun Anderson (3.99 ERA in HiA Salem) and 17-yr-old RHP Gregory Santos (0.90 ERA in 30 IP in the DSL) to SF. https://t.co/bL2y1eaD4X
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) July 26, 2017
Nunez is a versatile veteran infielder who can play multiple positions on the diamond. He’s primarily been a third baseman and shortstop his entire career while also playing some outfield. That versatility will likely give him a chance to become the club’s latest option at third base, while also spelling Dustin Pedroia at second base and Xander Bogaerts, who continues to battle a hand issue, at shortstop.
At the plate this season, Nunez is hitting .307 with four home runs and 29 RBIs in 318 plate appearances. He’s been especially good over the last week, hitting .438 (14-for-32) with six RBIs in his last eight games.
The Red Sox didn’t have to part with any high-end prospects in order to acquire Nunez, who is a pending free agent. SoxProspects.com ranks Anderson as the 22nd-best prospect in the club’s farm system. The 22-year-old was a third-round draft pick out of Florida in 2016 and has a 6-3 record with a 3.42 ERA in 18 starts this season between his time with Salem and Greenville. Santos, 17, was pitching well for Boston’s team in the Dominican Summer league, allowing just three earned runs in 30 innings of work.
Thumbnail photo via Stan Szeto/USA TODAY Sports Images
