Boston Red Sox Acquire Steve Pearce from Toronto Blue Jays
The Boston Red Sox continued their shopping for reinforcements on Thursday after announcing they had acquired first baseman Steve Pearce from the Toronto Blue Jays. The veteran Steve Pearve has also played the outfield.
Dave Dombrowski, the president of baseball operations for the Red Sox announced the trade after Boston beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-2.
The Red Sox executive said the team acquired Pearce as well as cash considerations from the Blue Jays in exchange for Santiago Espinal an infielder who is currently in the minor leagues.
Pearce, who is 35, has a .291 batting average, four homers and 16 RBIs for Toronto in 26 games this season. His career batting average is .255 with 83 homers and 269 RBIs.
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Alex Cora the Red Sox manager said the team was getting a strong bat they could use when facing left-handers on the mound. Cora added that it is just one more part of our arsenal, saying the team got better tonight with the addition of Pearce and it was good to have him on the club.
Pearce may join the team as soon as this weekend when the Red Sox travel to the Big Apple to play the New York Yankees in a battle between the top two teams in the American League East.
Pearce has never been an everyday player but when he does play, he has put up solid numbers and can draw walks at the plate. Against left-handers this year, Pearce is batting .306 in 53 plate appearances and over his career against southpaws he is batting .265.
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Boston will be the seventh team Pearce has played for during his major league career that has spanned 12 years. After playing his first game with Boston he will have played with each of the five teams in the AL East.
Espinal, who is 23, was with Salem the High-A affiliate of the Red Sox and was batting .314 for the season.
Boston is currently in first place in the division at 55-27, which is the best record in the AL. The Yankees have the second best record in the league at 52-26 and sit one game behind the Red Sox. Boston has won four straight and 7 of its last 10 while New York has won 6 of its last 10.
