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Busy Sox designate Payton, trade Vazquez
Team reportedly designates backup outfielder for assignment
By Boston.com Staff *|* July 7, 2005
The Red Sox have had a busy day, reportedly designating outfielder Jay Payton for assignment, calling up Adam Stern to take his place, and exchanging utility infielders with the Guardians.
The Payton move, which was first reported by the Hartford Courant, means the Red Sox have 10 days to trade or release him. According to Boston sports radio station WEEI 850 AM, Stern was recalled from Pawtucket to take his place.
The Red Sox also today dealt recently demoted Ramon Vazquez to the Guardians for Alex Cora, who was hitting .205 in 49 games this season. The team announced the deal, but hasn’t commented on the Payton or Stern moves.
The Sox will almost surely try to trade Payton as he has been vocal about his desire to be a starter. He has played in 54 of the team’s 83 games, hitting .263 with five homers and 21 RBIs.
"I was here half a season," Payton told the Courant, "and did the best I could without trying to create a scene about wanting to be somewhere else and getting the opportunity to play more."
According to the Courant, Payton took a flight to Boston from Texas while the rest of the team boarded a plane to Baltimore. The Red Sox begin a four-game series with the Orioles tonight.
Stern, who was acquired by the Red Sox in the Rule 5 draft, was hitting .303 in 18 games with the PawSox. Because Stern was a Rule 5 pickup, the Sox would have had to eventually make a decision to either promote him or return him to the Atlanta Braves.
Stern injured his thumb earlier in the year, and later hurt his hamstring while rehabbing from the thumb injury.
The Red Sox acquired Payton from the Padres in the offseason in a deal that sent Dave Roberts to San Diego. The Red Sox will likely try to deal Payton to another team in exchange for relief help.
The 29-year-old Cora, an eight-year veteran, is expected to join the team in time for tonight’s game in Baltimore. He is a career .243 hitter.
Vazquez was acquired from the Padres in the same deal that sent Payton to Boston. He batted .197 with a pair of doubles, four RBI and six runs scored in 27 games for the Red Sox this season before being optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday.