Red Sox finalize deal for reliever Hanrahan
The Boston Red Sox completed a trade Wednesday for All-Star reliever Joel Hanrahan and a prospect with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Red Sox sent reliever Mark Melancon and minor-league pitcher Stolmy Pimentel, infielder Ivan De Jesus and first baseman/outfielder Jerry Sands for Hanrahan and infielder Brock Holt.
The trade was reported last week and finalized after Christmas by the Red Sox.
Hanrahan, a right-hander, has posted 76 saves and a 2.24 ERA the past two seasons. The save total ranked fourth in the National League during that span. Last season, he had 36 saves and a 2.72 ERA and made the National League All-Star team for the second consecutive year.
The 31-year-old Hanrahan likely will fill a setup role in Boston. He will be a free agent after the 2013 season.
Holt played in 24 games in September for the Pirates and hit .292 after he was called up from double-A Altoona.
Melancon made 41 relief appearances for the Red Sox and went 0-2 with a 6.20 ERA. Pimentel played for double-A Portland, and Sands and DeJesus came to Boston in August as part of a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers for Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez.
Sands has hit 55 home runs in 213 games in triple-A.
