Kim Traded to Colorado

Yesterday the Red Sox traded Byung Hyun Kim to the Rockies for catcher Charles Johnson and prospect Charles Narveson. This was a trade that was good for both sides.

The Red Sox were able to move Kim off their roster prior to opening day and thus allow the team to go into the season with the best possible 25-man roster possible (excluding injuries) and they also got a top prospect in return (rated by some as the #8 prospect in the Rockies' system).

The Rockies were going to have to eat the $9 million last year of Johnson's contract. Now for that money they get a pitcher who can start, relieve or close when healthy. The Rockies will now pay Kim's salary plus a reported $2.6 million of Johnson's contract (the Red Sox are responsible for the balance). They get more production for their money.

This is also a good trade for all the players involved.

Kim gets a fresh start in Colorado with much less pressure than what he faced in Boston. Johnson gets his freedom (he was immediately released by the Sox) and can now sign with whatever team he thinks gives him his best chance of playing. Narveson gets out of the Rockies system and no longer faces the pitcher's nightmare of playing home games at Coors Field.

Good trade all the way around but most likely a trade that will have little impact on the success or failure of either team.