BOSTON – For Andrew Bailey, coming in from the bullpen at Fenway Park is a special feeling.
He’ll experience that a lot more next season.
New manager Bobby Valentine found his new man for the back end of the Boston bullpen on Wednesday when the Red Sox obtained the All-Star closer and outfielder Ryan Sweeney from the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Josh Reddick, infield prospect Miles Head and minor league pitcher Raul Alcantara.
In the deal, first reported by ESPN, Bailey gives the Red Sox a reliable ninth-inning guy to replace the departed Jonathan Papelbon, who signed a $50 million, four-year contract as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies in November.
The 27-year-old Bailey has three saves in four appearances at Fenway Park in his three major-league seasons.
“The one that sticks out the most was my first save opportunity this year was against the Red Sox,” Bailey said in a conference call. “I actually blew that save. From what I remember, there’s nothing like the atmosphere of running into the game from the bullpen at Fenway Park.”
A New Jersey native and offseason resident of Connecticut, Bailey is excited about coming back east.
He already knows Valentine, who lives in Stamford, Conn., and hosted several
Read More from the Article Source: Full Article
