PHILADELPHIA – Righthander Andrew Bailey had dealt with the rumors all during the offseason that he would be traded from the Oakland A’s, but once the closer was sent to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday in a five-player deal, it still caught him off guard.

Bailey was traded to the Red Sox with outfielder Ryan Sweeney for right fielder Josh Reddick and two prospects, third baseman Miles Head, 20, and right-hander Raul Alcantara, 19.

Oakland has been cutting payroll this offseason and has traded, among others, pitchers Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez.

“I was kind of surprised, to be honest,” Bailey said. “No matter how much information or rumors there are, nothing is true until it all comes to fruition.”

This is the first year that Bailey is eligible for arbitration, and he’s expected to earn a sizable raise from the $465,000 he earned in 2011.

After missing the first two months of last season with a right forearm strain, Bailey saved 24 games and went 0-4 with a 3.24 ERA. He had 75 saves in his three seasons in Oakland and was a two-time all-star.

As a youngster growing up in Haddon Heights, Pa., Bailey rooted for the Phillies. Now he’s replacing Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, who signed as a free agent with Philadelphia.

“He had a lot of success and I hope I can do the same and win a couple of championships like he did,” Bailey said of Papelbon. “He is one of the best in the game.”

Bailey, who turns 28 in May, makes his offseason home in Connecticut and said it’s only about two hours from Boston. His parents reside in south New Jersey.

“My family will get to see me more because we will only be about five or six hours from Philadelphia,” he said.

The 2009 American League rookie of the year, Bailey has an appreciation for going to one of the signature franchises in baseball.

“It’s a privilege to be part of an organization with such a deep history,” said Bailey

Bailey said he leaves the A’s with nothing but good feelings.

“I loved my time in Oakland, loved the city and the Bay Area, and my wife and I had a great time,” he said. “It’s where I grew up and was six years in the organization, and it meant a lot to me to be there.”