Sox Promote Jacoby Ellsbury

The Boston Red Sox today promoted Jacoby Ellsbury from Portland to Pawtucket. The move was expected after Ellsbury tore apart AA pitchers in the first month of the season with a minor league baseball high .452 average.

Ellsbury's stop in Pawtucket could be brief or extended til September depending on what the Red Sox do in terms of trades in July.

Ellsbury has stolen 8 bases and has a .644 slugging percent despite no HRs yet this season. He has 10 doubles and two triples in 73 at bats. His OBP was .518.

More after the jump.

Boston could of course revisit the Todd Helton talks as a lot has changed since Spring Training.

Craig Hansen signed a major league contract when he was drafted and is now in the third year of the four year deal.

Boston has Jonathan Papelbon back in the closers spot and Bryson Cox is performing well in the minors since being drafted last season. This makes Hansen expendable.

One deal Boston could look at is unloading Hansen along with Coco Crisp and Mike Lowell for Helton. Crisp comes at a rather good deal and Lowell would come off Colorado's books at seasons end.

If Boston pulled this deal off that would open a spot immediately for Ellsbury in Boston.