One-for-one exchange brings right-hander to Boston
05/29/2003
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
BOSTON -- With a .303 average, 17 doubles and 38 RBIs, it wasn't as if the Red Sox were looking to trade Shea Hillenbrand's productive bat West-bound. But the Sox needed pitching and Hillenbrand was simply their best bargaining chip in a deal that was consummated with the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday.
The trade, a one-for-one exchange, brings side-winding right-hander Byung-Hyun Kim to Boston. Like Hillenbrand, who can play third and first base, the 24-year-old Kim is a versatile performer.
A native of South Korea, Kim was a reliever his first four years in the Major Leagues, saving a career-high 36 games for the Diamondbacks in 2002 while posting a career-low ERA of 2.04.
But Kim expressed a desire to become a starting pitcher, and the Diamondbacks granted his wish. He's made seven starts this season, going 1-5 with a 3.56 ERA.
With the 24-29 Diamondbacks sputtering offensively, Kim's performance is better reflected by his ERA than his record.
His role with the Red Sox is unclear at this point. But Boston has a need for increased productivity in the rotation and in the bullpen.
Entering Thursday action, the Sox led the Major Leagues in batting average and were second in runs scored, which made it a tad easier to part with the 27-year-old Hillenbrand.
On the other hand, the Red Sox have a 4.92 ERA, which is 11th in the American League.
Though Boston's struggles in the bullpen have been more chronicled than those of the rotation, the starting pitchers haven't been particularly consistent beyond ace Pedro Martinez, who is currently day-to-day with a strained muscle in his right side.
Derek Lowe (4-3, 5.34) hasn't lived up to his form of a year ago, when he went 21-8 and finished third in the AL Cy Young Award voting. Casey Fossum, the 25-year-old lefty the Sox steadfastly refused to trade over the winter, is still maturing. He's 4-3 with a 4.92 ERA. John Burkett (3-2, 5.28 ERA) has pitched better lately, but he's 38 years old. Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield is the winningest pitcher on the staff at 5-2, but his ERA is 4.57.
Should Kim be used as a starter, there's a chance Wakefield will move to the bullpen, where he's worked countless times for the Sox over the last four seasons.
The Red Sox bullpen has been a work in progress this season. It started without a set closer, but 23-year-old Brandon Lyon (1-2, 3.28 ERA, six saves) has settled into that role recently.
Hillenbrand is a home-grown product of the Sox, working his way up after five seasons in the minors and winning the starting third base job in 2001, hitting .263 with 13 homers and 61 RBIs. He developed enough last year to be named the starting third baseman for the American League All-Star team, and finished with 18 homers, 83 RBIs and a .293 average.
And, as has been his custom with the Sox, Hillenbrand got off to another terrific start this season. Aside from his bat, Hillenbrand was attractive to the Diamondbacks for financial reasons. He is due to make roughly $400,000 this season and isn't eligible for free agency until the completion of the 2006 season.
In what goes down as his final at-bat with the Red Sox, Hillenbrand delivered a clutch RBI single in the top of the ninth inning against Yankees closer Mariano Rivera Wednesday night. Hillenbrand was thrown out at the plate later in the inning, trying to give the Sox a lead in a game they wound up losing 6-5.
Hillenbrand spent most of the winter being the center of trade rumors that involved acquiring Bartolo Colon from the Expos. But that deal never materialized, in part because the Sox wouldn't trade Fossum. Colon ended up going to the White Sox.
Though Hillenbrand grew up in Mesa, Ariz., and still has a home there, he expressed a strong desire to stay with the Red Sox.
In the end, Boston's need for pitching took priority over the wishes of one of its most hard-working players.