Red Sox Acquire Eduardo Nunez For Two Pitchers

THE DEAL

The Red Sox have made no secret of their desire to add a bat, especially at third base where production has been underwhelming and led to the release of Pablo Sandoval and the promotion of top prospect Rafael Devers.

On the night Devers made his big league debut, the Red Sox traded for a player who could platoon with Devers, if not supplant him entirely. Eduardo Nunez brings a quick righthanded bat and speed with him to Boston.

The Red Sox parted with two young righthanders, Shaun Anderson, a third-round pick in 2016 from Florida, and 2015 July 2 signee Gregory Santos.

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GIANTS ACQUIRE Shaun Anderson, rhp Age: 22

Anderson worked almost exclusively out of the bullpen at Florida, but has been a starter since he was drafted and has shown well. He’s well-built and physical at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, and has a fastball in the mid-90s with a hard slider that flashes plus. He has some feel for the changeup and shows a curveball, too. His four-pitch mix, ability to command his pitches and physicality make him someone the Giants will likely continue to develop as a starter, although he could move quicker out of the bullpen, where he has experience.

Club	Class	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
Greenville	LoA	3	0	2.33	7	7	0	0	39	30	12	10	1	11	37
Salem	HiA	3	3	3.99	11	11	0	0	59	53	30	26	6	18	48

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Gregory Santos, rhp Age: 17

Santos signed during the 2015 July 2 period, infamous for Boston’s signings of Albert Guaimaro (the No. 15 international prospect in that class) and Simon Muzziotti (No. 24) for $300,000 each that MLB rescinded after the commissioner’s office concluded that the Red Sox engaged in circumvention of the international bonus pools by signing several Venezuelan players in “package deals.” Santos, who signed for $275,000 at just 16, was already touching 93 mph with good angle even at that tender age. He projects as a starter, impressing the Red Sox with his ability to spin a curveball, and is a projectable athlete with room to grow but far, far away from the majors. He has generated ground balls at a rate of 82 percent this season.

Club (League)	Class	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
DSL Red Sox	R	2	0	0.90	7	7	0	0	30	21	4	3	0	15	24

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RED SOX ACQUIRE Eduardo Nunez, if Age: 30

Nunez, once ranked as high as No. 6 in the Yankees’ system, has always had a quick bat and lively body, but erratic fielding made it difficult for him to establish himself at one position. The Yankees tried him at several, but after a particularly troubling stint in left field dispatched him to the Twins in 2014. Nunez flourished offensively with playing time in his two years in Minnesota before being dealt to San Francisco, but his defense remains an underwhelming part of his skill set. At third base, where the Red Sox presumably will use him, he was minus-3 in defensive runs saved, and he was worse at shortstop (minus-4 DRS) in just 90 innings there. Still, Nunez can provide an offensive spark and brings speed to a team that has shown it can use it. Since June 1, Núnez is hitting .358 and his strikeout rate of 9.1 percent is second-lowest among qualified hitters, behind only Mookie Betts’ 9.0 percent. He brings little power to a power-profile position, however, with a career isolated power of .126.

Club	Class	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	OBP	SLG
Richmond	AA	.333	1	3	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.333	.667
San Jose	HiA	.200	2	5	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	.333	.200
San Francisco	MAJ	.307	75	300	35	92	20	0	4	29	12	29	17	.331	.413