ByeBye Coco

A Kansas City radio station says the Red Sox have traded Coco Crisp to the Royals for reliever Ramon Ramirez.

We're still waiting to see the move confirmed by other sources. Ramirez had an excellent rookie year for the Rockies in 2006 before struggling in 2007, but bounced back following a trade to the Royals last season, posting a 2.64 ERA and 70/31 K/BB ratio in 71 2/3 innings.

I've poured a few grains of salt on this report until I see a newspaper somewhere actually reporting this, but in the two seasons in which Ramirez -- who is just 27 -- had significant playing time, he posted very strong numbers.

Update: Nick Cafardo confirms it.

Comments

[Hit Dog]

I'm going to miss Coco a lot, but if Ramirez's '08 season is for real, we've got a 7th/8th inning pitcher good enough to put Masterson into the rotation. In other words, this one could have positive ramifications all the way down the staff.

[Paul SF]

Though I didn't see his comment until after I posted this, thanks to Sam for posting this news in the Burnett thread below.

[I'm Bill McNeal]

WEEI says it has talked to the radio station and the station has confirmed the trade. How the station, and not the Royals or Red Sox, could confirm a trade is beyond me.

[Paul SF]

When's the last time the Red Sox made a trade with the Royals?

[Paul SF]

From Chad Finn at the Globe:

When contacted via e-mail and asked if there was anything to this rumor, Kansas City Star columnist Joe Posnanski gave a one-word reply: "Yes."

[Brad]

I'm not upset by this. I like Coco, and I'll miss that defense for sure, but he was a man without a spot when he rightfully deserves to have one, and it gives Boston a good bullpen arm.

[Brad]

It could be another one of those moves that works for everyone involved, which you like to see, since nobody wants to be the GM that keeps screwing guys on trades.

[I'm Bill McNeal]

Ramon Ramirez is a product of the Yankees system, Dale Arnold tell us. He went to the Rockies as part of the Shaun Chacon deal.

[I'm Bill McNeal]

"When's the last time the Red Sox made a trade with the Royals?"

Without looking it up, I'm gonna guess George "Boomer" Scott for Tom Poquette. I was on my way to a Royals-Red Sox game in Kansas City when I heard word of that trade on the radio.

[I'm Bill McNeal]

WEEI also is reporting that Royals and Red Sox FO personnel are saying, "No comment."

[Brownie]

Man, it must suck to get traded to the Royals.

[Paul SF]

Nick Cafardo has a confirmation up on the Extra Bases blog.

It's a good move. Shed some more salary for the Teixeira run, add depth and flexibility to the bullpen, leave open the possibility of Masterson as a starter. Plus you get a guy who looks really good and is under team control for four more seasons.

[Brad]

He must be really happy to get back to, well, out of Kansas City.

It sheds payroll, as mentioned, but it also does create a problem if someone gets injured. Last year, with Drew down, the OF didn't miss a step because of Coco. My guess is this year they'd be a little more stressed if something happens.
Still a good move, though.

[Atheose]

Ramirez looks really good: he gave up only 2 HR in 71 innings last season, and struck out 70. He walks a lot of guys but he doesn't let them score once they're on--a page right out of Daisuke's book.

Great trade overall. Though I'm gunna miss Coco. $50 says he bats over .300 in 2009.

[Paul SF]

$50 says he bats over .300 in 2009.

Is this a serious statement or a facetious reference to his .300+ ability in Cleveland that disappeared with the Sox? If it's the former, I would gladly take that bet (were I a betting man). If it's the latter, that thought occurred to me, as well.

For the record, here is Crisp's month-by-month sOPS+ in Boston:

121*
98*
86
66
77
99*
67
65
116
136
64
80
88
76
133
45
98
144

Of the 12 players with at least 600 plate appearances with the Sox since 2006, Crisp had the ninth-best OPS+, ahead of only Mark Loretta, Alex Cora and Julio Lugo. Of the 18 with at least 300 PAs, Crisp ranked 13th, only Alex Gonzalez and Doug Mirabelli added to the list behind him. Non-luminaries who performed better than him during that time frame given at least a half-season's worth of plate appearances: Wily Mo Pena, Trot Nixon, Jason Varitek and Eric Hinske.

I've complained about Crisp before -- he's abominable for gigantic stretches of the season, with one or two insanely hot months that boost his numbers and hide what a drag he can be expected to have on the lineup when he's in it. After his amazing 2007 in center, he appeared to be no better than slightly below average in 2008. So all he's got is his speed, but he only reached base 33 percent of the time in three seasons -- worse than Varitek, worse than Ellsbury, worse than Loretta, essentially equal to Wily Mo Freaking Pena. He struck out 210 times, one of only seven Red Sox players to K more than 150 times, but only he and Varitek did so while posting an OBP below .350. And only Dustin Pedroia walked fewer times in 1,000 or more plate appearances over the past three years. So his speed, while good, is simply not the benefit it would be were he in any way a decent offensive force -- which he's not. (Remember, those numbers are boosted by his roughly half-season's worth of terrific months between his two-plus seasons' worth of even worse suck).

Coco got hot at just the right time to fool a team into thinking he might be able to provide something better than a ~70 OPS+ for four out of the six months of the season. That the Sox got back what appears to be a very good reliever makes me happy indeed.

[Nick-YF]

my first impression is that the Sox didn't get as much as I thought they would for Coco, but part of that thinking is tied up to the idea that Crisp is such a good defensive centerfielder. Hmm, makes me wonder if they Yanks could pursue him now that the taboo of a trade between Boston and NY is not an obstacle.

[YF]

Seems like the Sox got a good bullpen addition for Crisp. I don't understand this move from the Royals perspective. David Dejesus is a similar player in CF (better offensively), he's cost controlled for another 3 years, and he doesn't have the bat to move to a corner. I suspect another deal in the works. Rumors have Teahen departing KC. I know the Yanks have had an eye on DeJesus for a while now.

[Nick-YF]

That's my thinking as well. I wonder if they trade DeJesus or flip Crisp. In terms of value, I think the Royals got the better of the trade (although maybe I'm overvaluing Crisp here) while the Sox did a good job of trading surplus to fill a need and shed salary.

[John - YF]

I have heard a few people speculate that DeJesus could be on his way to the Yankees. I just don't get the fascination with CF. Give Gardner a shot for Pete's sake. If he doesn't pan out, then make a trade or see if someone is ready internally. There are going to be holes in everyone's lineup and at least Gardner will give VERY good defense.

[I'm Bill McNeal]

Wonder if the Red Sox will pick up part of Coco's salary. ...
And, yeah, this move doens't make much sense from the Royals' perspective. That's been a Mickey Mouse operation since the Kaufmanns died. Used to be one of the best run operations in sports.

[I'm Bill McNeal]

I've never been impressed with DeJesus. But that could be becaused he's mired in Kansas City.

[rootbeerfloat]

Apparently Moose is announcing his retirement so it's goodbyes all around....

[Lar]

Boo on Moo. =( I still wish he left with a ring, but leaving on a 20 win season isn't too bad, I suppose..