A couple of trades today. Nothing blockbuster. But a couple of interesting moves.

The Oakland A’s have traded their closer Tyler Clippard to the New York Mets for minor league pitcher Casey Meisner. The 30-year old Clippard saved 17 games for the A’s this season. Originally a Yankee farmhand, Clippard has spent the bulk of his career with the Washington Nationals. In 2012, he saved 32 games for the NL East champs. In January, the Nats traded Clippard to Oakland for Yunel Escobar. Now Clippard is back in the NL East. Look for Clippard be the 8th inning set up man for Mets closer Jeurys Familia. 

The Boston Red Sox have traded outfielder Shane Victorino to the Los Angeles Angels for infielder Josh Rutledge. Victorino is towards the end of his career and has been plagued by injuries the past couple of seasons. But he can be useful as a fourth outfielder and a right-handed hitter off the bench. His World Series rings with the Phillies in ’08 and with the Red Sox in ’13 can’t be a bad thing for the Angels. I wonder if Bob Marley’s “Don’t Worry About a Thing” will still be his walkup music. 

Rutledge has some big league experience with the Rockies and will probably take over Brock Holt’s role as a utility player now that Holt is filling in at second base for the injured Dustin Pedroia. Victorino’s departure gives the Sox an opportunity to take a long look at Cuban prospect Rusney Castillo who has been more suspect of late. But that could be said of virtually all the Sox save for Pedro Martinez. Unfortunately for the Sox, Pedro’s number is being retired tomorrow.