Red Sox acquire Gold Glove outfielder Tyler O’Neill from Cardinals
The Red Sox acquired outfielder Tyler O’Neill from the Cardinals on Friday night, in a three-player trade, per the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.
Boston is sending right-handed pitchers Victor Santos and Nick Robertson back to St. Louis to complete the trade.
The 28-year-old right-handed power hitter helps fill the void in the outfield following the trade of Alex Verdugo to the Yankees earlier in the week.
O’Neill is expected to make $5.5 million in his final year of salary arbitration, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
A veteran of six major-league seasons, O’Neill is a two-time Gold Glove award winner and saw his best offseason come during the 2021 campaign.
That season, O’Neill mashed 34 home runs and slashed .286/.352/.560 in 138 games. Injuries limited O’Neill last season, allowing him to play in only 72 games, missing two months after a slow start with a lower back strain, and finishing with a .231/.312/.403 line. He spent time on the 60-day IL with a lower back strain and 10-day injured list with a right foot sprain.
O’Neill has started 324 games in left field, 36 games in left field and 12 games in right field during his big league career.
The new outfielder is expected to play all three outfield positions, according to the Red Sox.
Robertson goes back to the Cardinals in the deal after being acquired during the 2023 season in a three-player trade for Kikè Hernández. He allowed 15 earned runs in 22 1/3 innings (6.04 ERA) in 18 relief outings between the Dodgers and Red Sox.
Santos missed all of last season with an elbow injury. The right-hander recently re-signed a minor league pact with the Red Sox this offseason. The 23-year-old righty, has a 3.72 ERA in 101 games (72 starts) in the minors.
“As we look to add pitching depth, as well as address concerns on potential playing time in the outfield, we felt this deal worked well in addressing both of those issues,” Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said in a statement. “We are excited to add Nick to our bullpen, and we feel Victor gives us added depth in our minor league system.”
If healthy, O’Neill gives Boston a right-handed bat they were looking for to pair with Jarren Duran, Masataka Yoshida, and Wilyer Abreu. His addition also allows Boston to send Ceddanne Rafaela back to Triple-A Worcester to play everyday.
“I think balancing out the lineup is really important,” said Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow this week at the Winter Meetings. “I think we’ve been active and engaging in free agent conversations and trade conversations to give [manager Alex Cora] more flexibility. We’re really excited about that group [of outfielders], but they’re largely young and unproven. But the only way for a young group to prove themselves is to get the at-bats required to do so.”
Boston is still in need of an additional right-handed bat, Justin Turner could return and the club, the Sox have also been connected to outfielders Teoscar Hernandez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Recently USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported the Red Sox “coveted” Gurriel.
The trade leaves Boston two open spots on its 40-man roster.
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