Red Sox acquire Ramon Ramirez for Coco Crisp

Ramon Ramirez deal should bolster Boston. Tim Dierkes wrote on MLB Trade Rumors, "The Red Sox trim payroll here, as Ramirez is not yet arbitration-eligible. He will not reach free agency until after the 2012 season, so the Red Sox impressively acquired four years of his services. The 27-year-old posted a 2.64 ERA in 71.2 innings this year while whiffing 70."

The Crisp deal not only upgrades the bullpen, but it also increases the likelihood that Boston will sign a top-tier fourth outfielder like Rocco Baldelli.

Though it was beneficial to have Crisp since J.D. Drew is injury prone, his presence also hampered the development of Jacoby Ellsbury. I think Ellsbury will thrive knowing that he is now the every day center fielder. He did hit .280 and steal 50 bases in 2008, but at times Ellsbury struggled, perhaps because he shared center field with Crisp.

Chad Finn of Boston.com suggests that the acquisition of Ramirez signals that the Red Sox are considering using Justin Masterson as a starter. I disagree. Though Masterson can be effective as a starter or a reliever, even if he is in the bullpen, the Red Sox need another effective set-up arm. The bullpen could feature Jonathan Papelbon, Masterson, Ramirez, Hideki Okajima, Manny Delcarmen and Javier Lopez with one spot left to be filled.

Posted by Jeff Louderback of http://www.soxandpinstripes.com/sox_and_pinstripes/