Red Sox Aquire Payton and others for Roberts

the legend · Dec 21, 2004

ESPN
Associated Press
SAN DIEGO -- Outfielder Dave Roberts, whose stolen base helped the Boston Red Sox rally to an unprecedented playoff comeback, was traded to his hometown San Diego Padres on Monday night for outfielder Jay Payton and infielder Ramon Vazquez.

Boston also received minor-league right-hander David Pauley and $2.65 million in cash.

"This is a dream come true," said Roberts, who has lived in San Diego County since he was 12. "After winning the World Series you don't think it can get any better, but it has."

Roberts will play center field in spacious Petco Park and bat leadoff, which will allow the Padres to drop Sean Burroughs in the order. Had Roberts stayed with Boston, he wouldn't have played regularly.

Roberts did not play in the World Series, but it was his stolen base in the ninth inning of Game 4 in the ALCS that began the comeback against New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera.

With the Red Sox facing a sweep, Roberts pinch ran after Rivera walked Kevin Millar to lead off the ninth. After some pickoff throws, Roberts stole second and scored the tying run on Bill Mueller's single.

The Red Sox won that game and three more to eliminate the Yankees, then swept the St. Louis Cardinals for to win their first World Series since 1918.

"As far as we're concerned, [it was] one of the biggest stolen bases in baseball history," Boston general manager Theo Epstein said. "We went from potentially getting swept to winning the World Series for the first time in 86 years."

Roberts hadn't played in 10 days before the stolen base.

"When everyone in the ballpark knows you're going to steal against Rivera, it's pretty tough," he said. "Thank God I was safe. That was a great chapter in my life, but I can't express how excited I am to put on a Padres uniform.

"I grew up a San Diego Padres fan," he said. "That's all I knew when I was younger, watching guys like Tony Gwynn. It didn't seem like this could ever happen. It's something I wanted so much my whole life. To be given this opportunity, I'm going to embrace it and do everything I can to be productive and help this team win."

Boston acquired Roberts from the Dodgers at the July 31 trade deadline last season, and he played 45 games while filling in in the outfield.

"He really wanted to go to a situation where he could play every day," Epstein said. "He wasn't really going to play much here, barring injury."

Roberts had 33 steals in 34 attempts with the Dodgers, compared to Boston's team total of 40 when the trade was made.

"We felt like one glaring need was a tablesetter, someone who can make things happen at the top of the lineup," said Padres general manager Kevin Towers, who predicted Roberts will steal 60 bases. "We needed to inject some speed. I'm also excited about his enthusiasm. He's a guy who's really a spark. He has tons of energy."

In 68 games with the Dodgers, Roberts batted .253 with a .340 on-base percentage, scored 45 runs and had 28 walks. He finished the season with 38 stolen bases in 41 attempts, and for his career has 135 steals in 167 attempts.

Roberts is arbitration eligible, and Towers thinks the two sides can work out a deal by the end of the week.

Payton, 32, is a career .285 hitter with 77 homers and 300 RBI in 715 games with the Mets, Rockies and Padres. The former college teammate of Jason Varitek and Nomar Garciaparra hit .260 with eight homers and 55 RBI for the Padres last season and had his best season in '03, when he batted .302 with 28 homers and 89 RBI for Colorado.

Vazquez, 28, hit .262 with six homers and 79 RBI with the Mariners and Padres. He has played all four infield positions.

Pauley was 24-29 with a save and a 3.97 ERA in 79 games in four minor league seasons.

Also Monday, the Red Sox did not offer contracts to catcher Sandy Martinez, pitcher Lenny DiNardo and left-hander Billy Traber. The players could re-sign with Boston, but by allowing them to become free agents the Red Sox can get around the maximum-cut rules.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1950429

keel863 · Dec 21, 2004

I posted this last night:
http://www.sportsrumormill.com/viewtopic.php?t=30954

the legend · Dec 21, 2004

keel863 said:

I posted this last night:
http://www.sportsrumormill.com/viewtopic.php?t=30954

Your post is about Cabrera and Eckstein. Mine is about Dave Roberts being traded for Jay Payton, I fail to see the similarities bro. LOL

keel863 · Dec 21, 2004

the legend said:

keel863 said:

I posted this last night:
http://www.sportsrumormill.com/viewtopic.php?t=30954

Your post is about Cabrera and Eckstein. Mine is about Dave Roberts being traded for Jay Payton, I fail to see the similarities bro. LOL

Damn, youre right. Sorry :wink:

I dont know why I confused the two 8O

the legend · Dec 21, 2004

keel863 said:

the legend said:

keel863 said:

I posted this last night:
http://www.sportsrumormill.com/viewtopic.php?t=30954

Your post is about Cabrera and Eckstein. Mine is about Dave Roberts being traded for Jay Payton, I fail to see the similarities bro. LOL

Damn, youre right. Sorry :wink:

I dont know why I confused the two 8O

It's all good!

Go Sox!

wvette609 · Dec 21, 2004

keel863 said:

the legend said:

keel863 said:

I posted this last night:
http://www.sportsrumormill.com/viewtopic.php?t=30954

Your post is about Cabrera and Eckstein. Mine is about Dave Roberts being traded for Jay Payton, I fail to see the similarities bro. LOL

Damn, youre right. Sorry :wink:

I dont know why I confused the two 8O

It's probably because we mentioned it in that thread.

It's all good.

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