Red Sox Acquire Scott Podsednik From Phillies

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Red Sox have acquired outfielder Scott Podsednik from the Philadelphia Phillies. Podsednik spent all of the 2011 season in the minors leagues in the Toronto and Philadelphia systems, and has played in 22 games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2012.

He's posted a line of .203/.289/.216 in 83 plate appearances, and you would have to think that this is simply a move to add another outfielder to the mix at Pawtucket, now that Daniel Nava is with Boston. Podsednik hit .297/.342/.382 the last time he was in the majors in 2010.

The 36-year-old has an opt-out for June 1, should he not be in the majors, but given Jacoby Ellsbury is expected to be back sometime in June (if the original 6-8 weeks for his shoulder dislocation is to be believed), and the Red Sox already have five outfielders in the majors, it's hard to believe he'll find himself in Boston unless a rash of injuries sweeps the outfield. Also, if he continues to play poorly, he's likely to be offered only a minor-league deal somewhere else, so the opt-out isn't as much leverage as it sounds like.

He's not much of a hitter, and defensive numbers have never been kind to him. To hammer this point home, Boston acquired him for cash considerations only.

Podsednik wasn't on the Phillies 40-man roster, and with Boston's already full, he won't be placed there unless he is indeed added to the big-league roster by June 1. With the relievers waiting in Pawtucket to come up, the impending return of Daisuke Matsuzaka, and eventually players coming off of the 60-day DL, there just doesn't seem to be any room for him, especially with Justin Thomas already removed from the 40.