The Boston Red Sox have traded young lefty reliever Dustin Richardson to the Florida Marlins for another young southpaw, Andrew Miller, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.
The move is somewhat surprising as Richardson, who has struggled with walks at the Major League level, was beginning to show signs of putting it together as a reliever for the 2010 Sox. In 13 innings out of the Boston bullpen this season, Richardson posted a 4.15 ERA and 2.23 WHIP. The 26-year-old lefty was particularly effective against righties.
A first-round draft pick (sixth overall) by the Detroit Tigers in the 2006 amateur draft, Andrew Miller has battled hard with control issues throughout his career.
One of six players dealt to Florida for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, Miller owns a career 5.84 ERA and 1.74 WHIP. The 25-year-old has struggled throughout his young career, but the Red Sox apparently hope he can turn it around in the pressure cooker that is Fenway Park.
With lefty reliever Hideki Okajima growing increasingly less effective out of the pen, the Red Sox are clearly starting to piece together alternative options. Beyond Type-A free agent Scott Downs, there aren’t a lot of effective lefty pitchers available.
Miller is hardly the answer, but he may still possess great upside.
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