With an overload at the corner infield spots, the Red Sox are close to trading Kotchman to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for at least one minor leaguer and perhaps a major-league role player and cash, ESPN.com is reporting.
According to WEEI.com's Alex Speier, baseball sources have told him that Bill Hall would be that role player heading back to the Red Sox, "describing his inclusion in
the agreement between the clubs as 'a done deal.'"
Hall, a 30-year-old utility man who split the 2009 season between Milwaukee and Seattle, hit a combined .201 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs — and 120 strikeouts — in 334 at-bats over 110 games. Hall could be a useful bench player for the Red Sox, given his ability to play multiple infield and outfield positions.
Hall is due $8.4 million in 2010, the final season of a four-year, $24 million deal. It is assumed that if the deal is completed, the Mariners would pay a significant amount of Hall's salary next year.
Once the Beltre signing is official, the Red Sox will have Beltre and Mike Lowell at third and Kevin Youkilis and Victor Martinez at first. Kotchman, acquired by Boston last year at the trade deadline in exchange for Adam LaRoche, hit .218 with a .572 OPS in 39 games with the Red Sox.
Kotchman would likely assume a starting role with the M's, who have already added Milton Bradley and Chone Figgins to their lineup this offseason.
