Red Sox Ship Crisp To Royals For Reliever Ramirez

November 19, 2008 4:08 p.m. EST

Boston, MA (AHN) - The Boston Red Sox sent ALCS hero Coco Crisp to the Kansas City Royals Wednesday in a one-on-one trade that yielded promising reliever Ramon Ramirez.

The outfielder drove in the tying run that helped Boston overcome a seven-run deficit to beat Tampa Bay in Game 5 of their series last month.

The switch-hitting Crisp batted .417 in the playoffs although his anemic offense in the regular season and the emergence of young speedster Jacoby Ellsbury made the seven-year veteran expendable.

Crisp played in 98 games at center field last campaign, hitting .283 with seven homers and 41 RBIs.

His speed at the bases-he stole 20 last season for a third straight 20-theft campaign-was one of the key factors that the Royals considered in trading for him.

Kansas City has had a dearth in the leadoff spot, including power, which it addressed in last month's acquisition of Mike Jacobs from Florida.

The 29-year-old Crisp should inherit the leadoff role in a team that fell third-to-last in the AL in runs scored.

Ramirez appeared in 71 games last season and finished 3-2 with a 2.64 ERA and 70 strikeouts. He was the primary set-up option behind closer Joakim Soria and could do the same for Boston with Jonathan Papelbon.

The Red Sox plan to send Justin Masterson back to the rotation for next season with the arrival of Ramirez, a third-year reliever who suited up for Colorado during his first two seasons.