I’ll preface this by saying that the Coco Crisp/Ramon Ramirez trade was pretty fair without the power of hindsight.  I posted my thoughts here a day after the trade was made, basically saying that the deal was a slight win for the Red Sox, but both teams were filling a need.

Now that we revisit the deal, it could not have turned out better for Boston or worse for the Kansas City Royals.

Crisp’s 2009 season will end as he undergoes surgery for a torn labrum.  His final line will be .228/.336/.378 in 215 plate appearances.  He was playing hurt, so we can’t really pin his sub-par numbers on a career decline.  Since Crisp’s contract has a club option for $8 million in 2010, he has likely played his final game in a Royals uniform, and there probably will not be any draft-day compensation for his departure.

Ramon Ramirez, on the other hand, has been nothing short of outstanding.  He’s been one of the best set-up relievers in the American League.  And the best part of the deal?  He’s under Red Sox control for the next few years (with arbitration).   He is a key component of a championship-caliber bullpen.

Meanwhile, Coco Crisp’s replacement is hitting .311/.361/.407 with 30 SBs in 36 attempts, and is currently 6th in AL All-Star voting for outfielders.

Put this one in Theo Epstein’s win column.

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