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Red Sox trade Will Middlebrooks to Padres for Ryan Hanigan

Nick Turchiaro / USA TODAY Sports

Boston has traded third baseman Will Middlebrooks to the San Diego Padres in exchange for catcher Ryan Hanigan, the Red Sox announced Friday.

Reports surfaced earlier Friday (see stack below) the two sides were close to a deal.

The oft-injured Middlebrooks had his fate sealed when the Red Sox inked Pablo Sandoval to a multi-year deal, making him expendable at the hot corner. The 26-year-old hit only .191 with two home runs and 19 RBIs in 63 games for Boston, and hasn't lived up to expectations since bursting onto the scene as a rookie in 2012. Middlebrooks should serve as depth behind Yangervis Solarte and pinch-hit off the bench.

Hanigan, who was acquired by the Friars in a blockbuster three-team, 11-player trade this offseason, will serve as a veteran backup for young backstop Christian Vazquez. The 34-year-old will make $3.5 million in 2015 and is under contract until 2017.

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