The Boston Red Sox acquired right-handed starter Paul Byrd from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named and/or cash considerations.

He had not expected to be moved.

“I was kind of ambushed,” Byrd told MLB.com. “It kind of was a surprise to me and an emotional moment.”

“So, as he cleaned out his locker with the help of a clubhouse attendant, Byrd grabbed a pair of blue socks — the same socks he had worn in arguably the four best consecutive starts of his 14-year career — and wondered aloud if he should take the lucky pair with him,” wrote MLB.com’s Andrew Gribble.

Time to try a red pair, Paul.

Boston will pay about Byrd about $2 million — the balance of this year’s $7.5 million salary.

Despite being 7-10 this year, Byrd has been on a tear recently, winning four starts in a row with an ERA of 1.24. He’s been arguably the best pitcher in the American League since the All-Star break. He won 15 games last year, plus a win in Game 4 of the AL Divisional Series against the Yankees.

Byrd did admit during the ALCS against the Sox last year, that he had used human-growth hormone.

Red Sox struggling youngster Clay Buchholz lost his job in the rotation and may be headed for AAA Pawtucket.

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Brewers have traded for Indians pitcher C.C. Sabathia. Last year’s AL Cy Young winner was dealt to the Brew Crew for prospects, including Double-A outfielder Matt LaPorta, who is hitting .288 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs in 84 games for Huntsville, and two other minor leaguers in return, according to the Journal Sentinel.

The deal is contingent on Sabathia passing a physical, but there is no more information available at this time.

So much for the Joe Borowski era in Cleveland, as the Indians have designated their closer for assignment. The Indians desperately need to clean up their lousy bullpen and get a look at some of the younger guys.

The Indians also designated right-hander Rick Bauer, which will make room for Jensen Lewis and Brian Slocum to come back from Triple-A Buffalo.

Borowski has been dreadful this year, going 1-3 with a 7.56 ERA and four blown saves in 10 opportunities. He led the American League last year with 45 saves despite a bloated 5.07 ERA. It was the highest ERA ever for a saves leader.

Last year, I personally watched him blow a four-run, two-out, nobody-on lead at Yankee Stadium. Yes, read that again. He had a four-run lead, with two out in the bottom of the ninth with no runners on…and blew it.

The Indians will go with a closer-by-committee approach for the rest of the season. Good luck with that.