Watching so many former Sea Dogs in the playoffs — and not playing for Boston — had me wondering, who were the best Portland players sent to other organizations since the Sea Dogs became a Red Sox affiliate in 2003?

So, presenting the All-Traded Sea Dogs team: 

CATCHER: Tim Federowicz

Federowicz was traded July 31, 2011 in a multiplayer deal with Seattle and the Dodgers that brought pitchers Erik Bedard and Josh Fields to Boston. At the time, Boston had Ryan Lavarnway and Luis Exposito in Triple-A, so Federowicz became expendable.

Federowicz, 25, was a Triple-A All-Star this year (playing in the same All-Star game as Lavarnway). He has been called up to the majors the past two Septembers.

Meanwhile, Bedard contributed little to Boston and left after the 2011 season. Fields is in Triple-A. 

Advertisement

FIRST BASE: Anthony Rizzo

Rizzo was traded to the Padres on Dec. 6, 2010 in a multiplayer deal that brought Adrian Gonzalez to Boston. Rizzo had just finished a breakout season, including 107 games in Portland (20 home runs, .815 OPS). But the Red Sox did not want to wait to see if Rizzo would develop into an All-Star. They had always coveted the veteran Gonzalez.

Rizzo, 23, reached the majors with San Diego but was traded to the Cubs last January. Called up in late June, he batted .285 (.805 OPS) with 15 home runs in 87 games..

Meanwhile, Gonzalez has been traded to the Dodgers. 

MIDDLE INFIELD: Jed Lowrie

Lowrie was traded to the Astros last December in a multi-player deal for reliever Mark Melancon. Lowrie was a solid performer for the Red Sox but was injured often, playing only 175 games from 2009-11.

Advertisement

Lowrie, 28, hit 16 home runs in 97 games for Houston, but also missed two months with an ankle injury.

Melancon struggled (6.20 ERA) but showed promise after August (0.90 ERA). 

SHORTSTOP: Hanley Ramirez

Ramirez was traded Nov. 24, 2005 to the Marlins in a multi-player deal that brought Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to Boston.

At the time, Ramirez was considered one of the best talents in the minors, although he had a lackluster 2005 season in Portland (.271, six home runs, .720 OPS).

Ramirez, 28, became an elite player in Miami, appearing in three All-Star games. His numbers declined after the 2010 season and he was traded this past July to the Dodgers.

Advertisement

Beckett and Lowell were two key cogs in Boston’s World Series title season of 2007. Lowell is now retired and Beckett was traded to the Dodgers this past August. 

THIRD BASE: Kevin Youkilis

Youkilis was traded to the White Sox in June for Brent Lillibridge and Zach Stewart. A three-time All-Star and member of two World Series championship teams, he had lost his job to Will Middlebrooks. Youkilis’ time on the disabled list kept increasing in recent years while his production decreased.

Youkilis, 33, hit 15 home runs in 80 games for the White Sox, while batting only .236.

Lillibridge played 10 games for Boston before being traded to Cleveland for minor league pitcher Jose De La Torre. Stewart pitched in Pawtucket (3.94 ERA) but made two forgettable starts for Boston (14 earned runs in 52/3 innings). 

OUTFIELD: Josh Reddick, David Murphy and Brandon Moss

Advertisement

Reddick was traded last December in a multiplayer deal with Oakland, bringing Andrew Bailey and Ryan Sweeney to Boston.

Reddick was coming off a decent year in which he hit .280 with seven home runs in 87 games. With an explosive swing, Reddick had the makings of a power hitter, but Boston never appeared content with him, wanting Reddick to get on base more often.

Reddick, 25, broke out with Oakland, hitting 32 home runs despite batting only .242 (with a .305 on-base percentage).

Bailey suffered a thumb injury and missed most of the season, making only 19 appearances. Sweeney batted .260 with no home runs in 63 games.

Murphy was traded July 31, 2007 to the Texas Rangers in a deal that brought Eric Gagne to Boston. Murphy was a solid though not spectacular player who was deemed dispensable. Boston had an outfield of Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew and Coco Crisp, with an upstart named Jacoby Ellsbury on his way.

Murphy, 30, became a dependable platoon player for the Rangers who got more playing time. He batted .304 (.859 OPS) in 147 games this year.

Advertisement

Gagne was a disaster (6.75 ERA) and a nonfactor in the postseason.

Moss was traded to Pittsburgh on July 31, 2008 in a multiplayer, three-team deal that sent Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers and brought Jason Bay to Boston.

Moss was another talented outfielder who could not crack the Red Sox lineup. He became a bargaining chip in Boston’s quest to get rid of Ramirez.

Moss, 29, got a chance in Pittsburgh as a starter in 2009 and failed. He was released after the next year and played in Triple-A for the Phillies and A’s before Oakland called him up this June. Playing both the outfield and first base, Moss emerged with a .291 average (.954 OPS) and 21 home runs.

Bay was productive for Boston through the 2009 season before leaving as a free agent. 

PITCHERS: Anibal Sanchez, Justin Masterson, Casey Kelly and Stephen Fife

Advertisement

Sanchez was traded to the Marlins in 2005 in the Hanley Ramirez/Josh Beckett deal. Sanchez was a young talent at the time, having reached Double-A at the age of 21.

Sanchez, 28, went 44-45 with a 3.75 ERA for the Marlins. Traded to Detroit this year, he is part of the Tigers’ playoff rotation.

Masterson was traded July 31, 2009, in a deal with Cleveland that brought Victor Martinez to Boston.

Before the trade, Masterson looked like a key piece in the Boston bullpen, although he sometimes started. He had a 1.59 ERA in five games in the 2008 ALCS.

Masterson, 27, has been a workhorse for the Indians, logging 602 innings the past three seasons.

His ERA with Cleveland is 4.27.

Advertisement

Martinez was mostly productive for Boston through 2010 before leaving for free agency.

Kelly was traded with Rizzo in the Adrian Gonzalez deal. He was a $3 million bonus signing who showed promise as a 20-year-old in Double-A.

Kelly, 23, made his major league debut this August. He made six starts (6.21 ERA), some good, some rocky.

Fife was traded to the Dodgers with Federowicz. He was 11-4 with a 3.66 ERA with Portland. Not a hard thrower, Fife featured location and movement.

Fife, 26, made his major league debut this July and looked impressive in five starts (2.70 ERA).

There are other Sea Dogs we could have mentioned (pitchers Cla Meredith and Kyle Weiland come to mind).

Advertisement

We also could have added former Sea Dogs released by the Red Sox (pitcher Miguel Gonzalez and catcher George Kottaras).

A lot of talent comes through Hadlock. Not all of it ends up at Fenway Park. Some of the above trades worked out (did we mention the 2007 World Series?) and others still might.

Still, others are regrettable. Think Rizzo would look good at first base in Boston next year?

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

 


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.