SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres today announced that they have acquired infielder Will Middlebrooks from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for catcher Ryan Hanigan. Executive Vice President/General Manager A.J. Preller made the announcement.
Middlebrooks, 26, appeared in 63 games for the Red Sox in 2014. He led the Red Sox last season in games played (62) and games started (57) at third base and ranked third in the American League in fielding percentage (.972) at the hot corner (min 500 innings). A native of Greenville, Texas, Middlebrooks owns a lifetime .237 batting average with 42 doubles, 34 home runs, 122 RBI and 89 runs scored in 232 games over parts of three Major League seasons, all with Boston. Originally signed as a fifth-round selection by the Red Sox in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, Middlebrooks hit .273 with 108 doubles, 10 triples, 66 home runs, 312 RBI and 261 runs scored in 490 games over parts of seven minor league seasons and entered the 2012 season rated by Baseball America as being the 51st-best prospect in baseball.
Hanigan, 34, who was acquired by the Padres from the Tampa Bay Rays earlier today, hit .218 with nine doubles, five home runs, 34 RBI and 18 runs scored in 84 games for the Rays in 2014. The Washington D.C. native has hit .256 with 57 doubles, 25 home runs, 172 RBI and 146 runs scored in 558 career games over parts of eight Major League seasons with the Cincinnati Reds (2007-13) and Rays (2014). Defensively, he ranks second among active catchers with a career .996 fielding percentage and third with a 33.8 caught stealing percentage (min. 500 games).
