Loretta for Mirabelli

[love_that_reefer]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2251347

BOSTON -- The Red Sox have agreed on a deal that would send backup catcher Doug Mirabelli to the San Diego Padres for second baseman Mark Loretta, the Boston Herald reported on its Web site Wednesday.

According to the report, an official announcement is being delayed at the request of the Padres, who are awaiting a decision from closer Trevor Hoffman.

The 34-year-old Loretta is a .301 career hitter and is signed through 2006 at a salary of $3 million. With Boston having minor leaguer Dustin Pedroia on the horizon, Loretta is being viewed as a short-term solution.

After batting .335 with 47 doubles, 16 homers and 76 RBI in 2004, Loretta was bothered by a thumb injury this past season and hit just .280 with three homers and 38 RBI in 105 contests.

Mirabelli has been one of the better backup catchers during his four years in Boston. Used primarily as knuckleballer Tim Wakefield's personal catcher, he hit .281 with nine homers and 32 RBI during Boston's World Series championship season in 2004 but slumped to .228 with six homers and 18 RBI this past season.

The 35-year-old will give the Padres an experienced receiver with Ramon Hernandez leaving via free agency.

Another Red Sox-Padres trade has been on the rumor mill since left-hander David Wells requested a trade back to Southern California to be closer to his family. The Red Sox have talked to the Padres this offseason about a move, but no deal seems imminent.

The Pads have had a busy ****ing day. They traded Burroughs for Brazelton, resigned Hoffman and traded Loretta for a backup catcher. I like all but the last one. Mirabelli has some pop but you are going to trade an AllStar second baseman for a backup catcher? Seems like you got hosed but if Barfield is ready, go for it.

[Providence A's]

horrible deal for the Pads...Sox just robbed them. And from the articles about the possible trade before, they said the Fathers will use Doug as their starting catcher

[Fishercat]

I love Belli, one of the 25, very timely hitter who handled Wake real well...but if you have a chance to trade your backup catcher for Mark Loretta, even with his power decrease due to a thumb ligament injury, you do it.

The Sox phantom GM is 2 for 2

[Bosox21]

[QUOTE]The Sox phantom GM is 2 for 2[QUOTE]

cough larry lucchino cough cough

[Kingdom]

At least... Mirabelli is decent. What desperation, though.

[HollywoodLeo]

The trade (of Loretta) was more about making room for Josh Barfield than desperation for a catcher.

That said, they should've been able to get more for Loretta than they did and i'm dissapointed in this deal

[HafDawg2003]

I love the deal for the Sox, cant understand it for the Pads... I mean, theres gotta be a defensive free agent catcher out there the Sox can get to replace Miribelli. They got a decent 2B finally for him.

[riverdunesrat]

Loretta=gamer, a solid get it done, basic player.
Mirabelli=__________________________, someone fill in the blank because I know nothing if him...

[Bosox21]

He's a solid #2 catcher who has some power and can handle knuckleballers.