Red Sox Lose Ross, Close to Gaining Hanrahan

The Yankees aren't the only AL East team who will enter 2013 with a different right fielder. Free agent Cody Ross, who signed a one year deal with Boston prior to last season, has agreed to a three-year, $26MM deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Ross will join his 7th organization in 10 seasons and will nearly triple the annual salary he earned ($3MM) last season. The Red Sox were expected to lose Ross and had signed Shane Victorino and Jonny Gomes in the meantime to add depth to their outfield.

It appears the Red Sox will also be shaking up their bullpen, which struggled last year. ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes reported earlier that the Sox were close to acquire closer Joel Hanrahan from the Pittsburgh Pirates. No word on who the Pirates would get back.

The 31-year old went from making the league minimum to $4.1MM last season and has averaged 38 saves the last two years. He enters his third year of arbitration eligibility and should get a substantial increase from 2012.

The Red Sox acquired Andrew Bailey from the Oakland A's prior to last season for outfielder Josh Reddick and two minor leaguers. The move backfired when Bailey injured his thumb in spring training and pitched in just 19 games. Meanwhile, Reddick hit 32 home runs, drove in 85 runs, and won his first Gold Glove. The Sox could move Bailey to a set up role or use him in deal to land another part. The former AL Rookie of the Year is in his first year of arbitration eligibility after he earned $3.9MM last season.

Either move for Bailey stinks for me since I have him as a cheap closer in my keeper league. :/

Earlier this week the Red Sox also brought in free agent shortstop Stephen Drew, younger brother of former Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew. The younger Drew was on the verge of stardom with the Diamondbacks when he suffered a severely broken ankle in 2011. He's struggled to regain his health and offensive form since then, but the Red Sox reportedly agreed to a one year, $9.5MM deal pending a physical.

A physical is apparently what has kept the Red Sox from officially signing Mike Napoli. The two sides had originally agreed to a three-year, $39MM deal, but the Sox are reportedly concerned about a hip issue and are back to negotiating with Napoli on a possible shorter, less expensive deal.