Joel Hanrahan to the Red Sox: Soon to Be Done Deal

By Brian Roach in Featured, Red Sox, Top Story ⋅ December 22, 2012 at 6:57pm ⋅ Post a comment

The Boston Red Sox will soon reportedly acquire Joel Hanrahan in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to several reports. The Pirates closer has been brilliant the last two seasons, putting up 40 saves and a 1.83 ERA in 2011 and compiling a 5-2 record with 36 saves and a 2.72 ERA in 2012.

The bullpen just got a lot stronger and Hanrahan could make the Sox a threat to win the AL East. The trade makes me wonder if the Red Sox don’t trust incumbent closer Andrew Bailey to get the job done in 2013.

Trade Details

The Red Sox have wanted Hanrahan since 2010, but could not put together a good enough package for the righthander, until now.

The team is reportedly trading outfielder Jerry Sands and prospect Stolmy Pimentel for Hanrahan. In all, it’s a six-player trade, with four players headed to Pittsburgh and Hanarhan and one other player headed to Boston.

It’s not known who else is involved in the deal.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were among the teams interested in Hanrahan.

Why Trade for Hanrahan? Andrew Bailey isn’t that good.

Bailey has been really inconsistent with injuries and performance over his four-year career.

After winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2009 with the Oakland Athletics, the 28-year-old has really struggled with injuries and missed most of the 2012 season with a thumb injury. He had trouble with his command when he came back and finished with six saves, a record of 1-1 and a career-high 7.04 ERA in 19 games.

With the Hanrahan deal now done, Bailey may perform better as a setup man for the 2013 season.

Tags: Alfredo Aceves, Boston Red Sox, Felix Doubront, Franklin Morales, Joel Hanrahan, Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates