Last week the Los Angeles Dodgers designated relief pitcher Eric Hull for assignment; today he has been traded to the Red Sox for single-A shortstop Christian Lara and cash considerations.
The right-hander Hull has only 6.2 major league innings under his belt as he enters his age 28 season. In 146.2 IP in AAA he has accumulated these rate stats:
0.6 HR/9
4.7 BB/9
10.2 K/9
2.2 K/BB
[Though those numbers were better in his 65.2 IP last season, 3.1 K/BB, 11.1 K/9]
While his strikeout numbers are obviously good, his control issues seem to make him someone Theo Epstein would usually avoid, especially for an older player.
I think this trade is more about getting the best deal we could for Lara, who was in a fight for playing time with more highly regarded middle infield prospects.
Lara is a good fielding shortstop but never developed the contact or on-base skills needed to make him a real prospect because of his lack of power.
