Blast - Sox hope Byrd has some wings left

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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.

John Guilfoil is the editor-in-chief of Blast Magazine. He can be reached at guilfoil.j@blastmagazine.com.

In Baseball, Boston Local, Sports on August 12, 2008 at 23:02