The Red Sox acquired Conor Jackson from the Athletics for Jason Rice, the teams announced. Oakland sent cash to Boston in the deal and the Red Sox transferred right-hander Bobby Jenks to the 60-day disabled list to create 40-man roster space for Jackson.
Jackson, 29, can fill in at the corner positions for the Red Sox and provide a right-handed bat off of the bench. He has a .249/.315/.342 line in 368 plate appearances this year and boasts a career line of .286/.384/.441 against left-handers. The 2003 first rounder was a key contributor for the D'Backs from 2006-08, but his offensive production has fallen off since. Jackson earns $3.2MM this season before hitting free agency.
Rice posted a 3.69 ERA with 9.4 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9 in 85 1/3 innings of relief for Boston's Triple-A affiliate this year. In 256 career minor league appearances, most of which have come out of the bullpen, the 25-year-old has a 3.91 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 5.2 BB/9. The White Sox selected him in the 11th round of the 2005 draft. MLB.com's Jane Lee first reported the move.
redsox4120
I like it. He seems like a solid bench player.
Caz
so long Darnell McDonald
Crucisnh
No, today is Sept 1st and the rosters expand. Darnell doesn’t have to go anywhere.
start_wearing_purple
Looks like a very Theo move. He loves failed top prospects and players he’s had a man-crush for… Jackson fills both requirements.
Regardless, no real complaints.
corey23
I will say Connor Jackson > Darnell Mcdonald.
He had some weird disease that i can’t remember the name of and that really derailed his career… when he gets hot he has a good bat, I dont know how good Rice is but it seems like a decent pick up for the Sox.
Lunchbox45
valley fever.
Andy Forrester
Good luck in Boston!
Billy_BoSox
I like it. You can’t realistically believe they would’ve gone into the postseason with McDonald. I was getting nervous that they would have to play Reddick every game in the playoffs. I like Reddick don’t get me wrong, he’s just got no experience. I just think adding a veteran upgrade takes pressure off Reddick and Tito. Can you imagine what it would be like if Reddick got hurt in the ALDS or got to the playoffs and froze? Starting DM would be a nightmare. Two outs in the 9th in the ALCS, tied with the Yanks, game 7, Reddick,DM and CJ are not my preferred choice at the plate but if it ended up being DM and he strikes out and the Yanks win, Theo and Tito would have some serious explaining to do.
Solid Solid move. Big upgrade.
Andrew Rosner 2
Wouldn’t call this a big upgrade over McDonald but it is an upgrade…He had some nice years in Arizona…good depth pickup for Theo…
Pete 12
Jackson is one of the worst hitters in baseball. He’s ok defensively, but if he plays regularly, Boston just got worse. So happy Beane’s mancrush on him is gone.
Isaac
I’m happy about this trade
-New York Yankees Fan
0bsessions
And the odds of Jackson playing regularly in games that matter are most certainly very high.
M.Kit
Just a RH bat off the bench
GoAwayNow
You’ve probably never heard of Darnell McDonald. He plays regularly for the sox. A scarecrow with a bat and glove would be an improvement.
0bsessions
I’m a Sox fan and I’ve never even heard of McDonald.
(Which stage of grief over your crappy fourth outfielder is denial again?)
MaineSox
The only stage as far as I’m concerned.
M.Kit
RH bat off the bench, lol. Won’t be playing regularly
Eduardo Medina
I really Like this Trade…Conor is a OK Player, maybe he gives Boston a boost in the last month of the season
chico65
At least it looks like Beane didn’t con-or Theo out of too much
corey23
I also like this move, because A’s fans will get to see more playing time for Taylor and Carter in the OF.
notsureifsrs
can’t believe jackson has played 102 games this season
corey23
He played first base too, thats how hard up the a’s are…. hopefully Allen can keep it up, i like his style. Guy plays hard and seems to give it 100% all the time, all you can ask for in a young player.
look at a box score and see who has the highest BA on the team (i know i know, BA doesnt count for anything anymore, but still) its allen and weeks. we need to give our young guys a chance, and hopefully that is now.
notsureifsrs
the a’s won the crap out of the ziegler trade, that was a terrific pickup from a club that badly undervalued allen’s skills
M.Kit
If he’s better than Darnell McDonald(which he is) all the red sox ask for
User 4245925809
An apt term in one of the above posts was used quite eloquently to describe McDonald and his overall output toward the MLB squad this year.
Am pretty shocked it took this long to get any other teams 4th OF (or lower) as a patch as a look ahead toward the post season with a glaring offensive/defensive liability as this guy on the 25 man roster.
0bsessions
I don’t see it as all that surprising. It’s a matter of acquisition cost versus necessity. Yeah, we need a better fourth outfielder, but we don’t need a better fourth outfielder enough to pay some of the prices that were out there. As I’ve said before, I’d have loved to snag Crisp, but Beane was likely rightly asking for a prospect cost worthy of a starter. Anybody we could’ve gotten for what a fourth outfielder should cost wouldn’t have been a significant enough upgrade to McDonald to bother with.
Jose Vidro
CoJack probably replaces Crawford in left. Or maybe even shift Ellsbury to third with the Youkilis injury and put CoJack in CF and leave Crawford in left.
M.Kit
Youk is coming back tomorrow, and ellsbury’s not play 3B, lol
Jose Vidro
CoJack probably replaces Crawford in left. Or maybe even shift Ellsbury to third with the Youkilis injury and put CoJack in CF and leave Crawford in left.
Minorityfanbasewannabe
This makes no sense. At all.
MaineSox
Sarcasm, I’d almost guarantee it.
Matt Galvin
Are the former 2B/
Maybe put Jackson at 3B if he ahs played it before because most 1B came up as a 3B.
$6101468
Typical September move to add a needed RH bat. You get nothing special in return for shipping out nothing special. CJ just has to wait it out and hope someone in the FA market thinks it is 2006 and not 2011. Not much of an upgrade over McD but will add some more flexibility.
GoinCoastal
Seems like a lot of the same thoughts/comments that were floating around with Aviles. I think he’s worked out AT LEAST as good as the Sox could have hoped for if not better. If this guy comes on, fills 4th OF and snags a base hit once out of every four AB, is that not better than what MacDonald brings? Guess the thought to remember is he’s 4 (or 5 depending on how Drew does upon return) on the OF depth chart with expanded rosters. Is .250 with decent OF defense and the ability to play some IF acceptable? Yah, I’d say just right.
M.Kit
Good point, and I’ve been pretty impressed with Avilles so far. Its not you lost anything big to get jackson.