The Red Sox announced that they've traded third baseman Danny Valencia to the Orioles. Valencia, 28, was designated for assignment last Tuesday in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for players whom the Red Sox were trying to protect in the Rule 5 draft.
The Sox acquired Valencia from the Twins in August in excahnge for Rookie Level outfielder Jeremias Pineda. He had a dreadful 2012 season, hitting .188/.199/.299/.497 with just three walks in 161 plate appearances with the Twins and Red Sox, a performance that resulted in him spending most of the year in the minors.
A 19th-round pick in the 2006 draft, Valencia emerged as a surprising option for the Twins in 2010, hitting with a .799 OPS while finishing third in Rookie of the Year balloting. However, he's never replicated that strong initial showing, resulting in the Twins' willingness to walk away from him this year.
The Sox had until Friday to trade, release or outright Valencia off the 40-man roster.
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