No, no, no...not Tony Gonzalez. Tony Graffanino.
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CLEVELAND -- The Royals traded infielder Tony Graffanino on Tuesday to the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Chip Ambres and pitcher Juan Cedeno.
Cedeno was seen as the key acquisition in the deal.
"He's a wiry, strong and athletic with a very good fastball, up to 96 miles an hour," general manager Allard Baird said.
Cedeno, 21, from Huey, Dominican Republic, had a 2-6 record and 5.63 ERA in 21 games, including six starts, for Class A Wilmington this season. He had 68 strikeouts and 37 walks in 78 1/3 innings.
"It's a way of adding a power left-hander to our inventory," Baird said.
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Hey, I'll sip the Kool-Aid. Sound good to me.
Allard strikes again, turning a vet for some young talent good for building up the farm.
These are the kind of trades I love to see for the boys in powder blue.
Below, more info on the 2 newest Royals:
Chip Ambres - OF - 2005 Pawtucket (AAA)
.294 average
10 HR
50 RBIs
17 steals
The Skinny:
Ambres is a former first-round pick by the Marlins (he was drafted 27th overall in 1998), but he has never quite lived up to the expectations that went along with being such a high selection. He meandered his way through the Marlins' system for six seasons, but did not distinguish himself as someone who hit for power or average before signing as a Minor League free agent with Boston last winter.
He's shown some more promise this season at Triple-A Pawtucket, hitting .294 with 10 homers and 50 RBIs through 84 games. Ambres, 25, was even named to the International League All-Star team, playing in last week's Midsummer Classic in Sacramento. He has some speed and an eye that has accounted for better than 70 walks in each of the last two seasons. That speed has helped him in the outfield, but not enough to make him a top prospect.
Juan Cedeno - LHP - 2005 (21 games)
(2-6)
5.63 ERA
68 K/37 walks in 78 1/3 innings.
The Skinny:
Cedeno is a hard-throwing southpaw -- he touches the mid-90s on the gun -- who won't turn 22 until next month and has shown only occasional flashes of what Boston had hoped he would become. His fastball has great movement but he has trouble controlling his curveball, a fact that contributed to his 2-6 mark and 5.49 ERA this season at Class A Wilmington. He's started 12 of his 22 games and has fanned 71 in 80 1/3 innings.
Cedeno, signed as an undrafted free agent in 2001, has not shied away from taking the ball during his tenure with the Sox. He was 16-20 with a 3.94 ERA in 59 career games (50 starts) heading into this season before struggles with his command began to hamper him. At this point, he projects as middle relief or a back-end starter.
-- Kevin T. Czerwinski
