Friday, Nov. 21, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Kansas City Royals picked up the leadoff hitter they had been seeking, acquiring center fielder Coco Crisp from the Boston Red Sox for reliever Ramon Ramirez on Wednesday.

Going to Kansas City: Outfielder Coco Crisp was traded to the Royals by the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday for reliever Ramon Ramirez. AP PHOTO

Kansas City was 12th among 14 AL teams in runs last season and added power last month, obtaining first baseman Mike Jacobs from Florida.

The switch-hitting Crisp gives the Royals speed at the top of the lineup and a superb defender in center field who has World Series experience.

"The speed aspect of it was very important," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "I've talked many times about the importance of a balanced lineup, speed at the top and the bottom, and Coco certainly gives us that."

The 29-year-old was the subject of trade rumors for much of last season following the emergence of rookie Jacoby Ellsbury.

The two split time in center, with Crisp hitting .283 with seven homers and 41 RBIs in 98 games. He also stole 20 bases in 27 attempts, the third straight season he's reached the 20-steal mark.

Ellsbury hit .280 with nine homers and 47 RBIs last season, proving to the Red Sox that he's ready to be an everyday player. Boston also gains financial savings by trading Crisp, who's due to make $5.75 million next season in a deal that includes an $8 million club option for 2010 with a $500,000 buyout.

"He played through injuries. He played hard," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said of Crisp. "With the emergence of Jacoby Ellsbury, we felt like we would be able to find a (backup) outfielder on the market easier than we would find a valuable member of the bullpen."

The Royals got Ramirez, a 27-year-old righty, in a trade with Colorado before last season. They were so impressed with his stuff that they projected him to be their closer.

With a fastball that reaches the mid-150s kph, Ramirez is a power pitcher who seems suited for the late innings. He was one of the primary setup men for closer Joakim Soria and flourished in that spot, going 3-2 with a 2.64 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings.

Crisp has always been a superb fielder and picked up his offense the last half of 2008, hitting .315.

NEW YORK (AP) Desperate for starting pitchers, the New York Yankees expect to enter next season without 20-game winner Mike Mussina.

FoxSports.com reported Wednesday that Mussina intends to retire and will make the move official this week. In the report, the Web site cited unidentified major league sources.

Mussina, who turns 40 next month, would become the first pitcher to call it quits following a 20-win season since Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax in 1966.

Only 30 wins shy of 300, Mussina was 20-9 with a 3.37 ERA for the Yankees this season — becoming the oldest pitcher in big league history to win 20 games for the first time.

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