Reds trade SS Alex Gonzalez to Red Sox for minor leaguer

Reds trade SS Gonzalez to Red Sox

CINCINNATI — The Boston Red Sox tried to boost their infield Friday, reacquiring shortstop Alex Gonzalez and cash from the Cincinnati Reds for minor league infielder Kris Negron.

The Red Sox made the trade a week after putting shortstop Jed Lowrie on the 15-day disabled list with an irritated left forearm. Last month, they traded shortstop Julio Lugo to St. Louis.

Boston is in contention for the AL East and wild-card spots, and had been playing Nick Green at shortstop.

“A guy who can catch the ball like Gonzie is probably really going to help us,” Boston manager Terry Francona said. “That’s the whole idea. … This does nothing to diminish how we feel about (Lowrie) but at the same time we’ve lost him a couple times. There’s no guarantees. I think we need to protect our season. … We’re just trying to win right now.”

Gonzalez will join the Red Sox for Saturday night’s game in Texas. He hurried out of the Cincinnati clubhouse without commenting. He is hitting .210 with three home runs and 26 RBIs this season.

The 32-year-old Gonzalez played for Boston in 2006, hitting .255 with 50 RBIs and setting a team record for shortstops with a .985 fielding percentage. He then signed a three-year contract with the Reds, a deal that included a mutual option for the 2010 season.

Francona said the team would make a roster move after Friday night’s game against Texas to open a spot for Gonzalez.

With Lowrie out for an undetermined period and Green batting .233, the Red Sox were looking for stability at the position.

“Alex is a great shortstop,” Lowrie said. “He has great hands. He plays great defense. That’s the business. I’m not playing and they need someone else to step in. That’s part of it.”

Francona said Green will get opportunities to play despite the arrival of Gonzalez.

“Green’s stepped in and kind of saved the day for us,” Francona said. “What he’s done has been admirable. Without him we’d be lost.”

Gonzalez is a career .246 hitter with 109 homers and 506 RBIs during 11 seasons with Florida, Boston and Cincinnati. He played for the World Series champion Marlins in 2003, and won Game 4 with a home run in the bottom of the 12th inning against the New York Yankees.

Gonzalez missed the 2008 season after having surgery on his left knee.

“Boston really wanted (Gonzalez),” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “You hate to see him go. This is a big trade for him. He’s in the heat of the pennant race, and they liked him when he was there before, big-time.”

Rookie Paul Janish took Gonzalez’s place in Cincinnati’s starting lineup, at shortstop and in the No. 2 spot in the batting order, for Friday night’s game against Washington.

“Me and Alex had a great relationship,” said Janish, who went into the game hitting .216 in 42 games, including 22 starts and two relief pitching appearances. “Trades are the nature of the game. I wish him a lot of success, but I’m excited to get the opportunity to play.”

The 23-year-old Negron hit .264 with 20 stolen bases for Salem in the Carolina League.

The Reds also promoted first baseman Kevin Barker from Triple-A Louisville. Barker, 34, hit .284 with 22 homers and 68 RBIs in the minors, and has had major league stints with Milwaukee, San Diego and Toronto. He has a major league career average of .245 with six home runs and 33 RBI in 97 games.

“I was very surprised,” he said about learning that the Reds had purchased his contract.

Barker will serve primarily as a left-handed pinch-hitter, Baker said, especially with left-handed hitting Joey Votto in front of him.

“I’ll play wherever they want me to play,” Barker said. “It’s just an honor and a privilege to be here.”