FORT MYERS, Fla. — On the first day that pitchers underwent formal workouts for the Red Sox, the team traded one of them away.
Robert Coello, who was playing catch at the player development complex on Monday, but was nowhere to be seen on Tuesday, was traded to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for minor league second baseman Tony Thomas.
Coello, 26, had been designated for assignment last Wednesday. He appeared in six games for the Red Sox last September, posting a 4.76 ERA out of the bullpen. A converted catcher, Coello led Boston farmhands with 130 strikeouts in 32 games (13 starts) between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket last year.
The right-hander was one of 11 players that took part in the Red Sox Rookie Program in January.
Thomas is a 24-year-old who was selected in the third round of the 2007 amateur draft. He hit .276 with 11 homers, 11 triples and 73 RBIs last year at Double-A Tennessee. He also stole 15 bases in 17 attempts.
