Red Sox - Acquire Loretta

Boston Red Sox - Acquired 2B Mark Loretta from the San Diego Padres for C Doug Mirabelli.

No complaints here from the Red Sox side.  I would have liked to see Pedroia get the job, but for 2006, I think Loretta’s the better player, assuming the hand injury’s safely in the past.  He’ll only make a little under $4 million and there’s no additional committment required on Boston’s part.  Mirabelli is a terrific backup catcher, but then, he’s a terrific backup catcher.  If having to find a Wakefield-friendly backup catcher is your biggest problem, you’re pretty well set.

This is really odd for the Padres.  All they get in return for the better player is shifting the hole from catcher to second.  Josh Barfield’s probably their best option at 2nd now, and while he’s got a bit of power, he’s not going to match Loretta’s .360 OBP, the latter’s worst performance as a Friar.

Thumbs up for the Luchador.

2006 ZiPS Projections
———————————————————————————————————

Player        AB   R    H  2B 3B  HR RBI  BB  SO  SB    BA   OBP   SLG 
———————————————————————————————————

Loretta      485  89  155  30  1   9  77  49  42   5  .320  .387  .441

Mirabelli    145  15   33   8  0   5  18  15  41   1  .228  .315  .386