BOSTON, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- The St. Louis Cardinals traded righthander Dustin Hermanson to the Boston Red Sox for three prospects Saturday, looking to clear salary space for a slugger.
Hermanson, 28, spent just one season with the Cardinals, going 14-13 with a 4.35 ERA in 33 starts. He was acquired Dec. 14, 2000, from the Montreal Expos with Steve Kline for Fernando Tatis and Brit Reames.
Hermanson made $5.33 million last season and was the fourth starter behind Cy Young candidate Matt Morris, Darryl Kile and Woody Williams. The Cardinals also have promising lefthander Bud Smith and are hopeful Rick Ankiel can return to form.
"It was difficult to trade Dustin," Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said. "But with our excess of pitching, we felt that this was the right thing to do in order to create some payroll flexibility that will allow us to pursue an everyday player."
Slugging first baseman Mark McGwire retired and the Cardinals lost out in the Jason Giambi sweeptakes. One possibility is first baseman Tino Martinez, who will not re-sign with the New York Yankees.
In Boston, Hermanson should move into the rotation as the No. 2 starter behind Pedro Martinez. American League strikeout champion Hideo Nomo is a free agent whose asking price may be too steep for the Red Sox to re-sign him.
The Cardinals received first baseman Luis Garcia, outfielder Rick Asadoorian and corner infielder Dustin Brisson.
Garcia, 23, hit a combined .303 with 26 homers and 89 RBI at Class A Sarasota and Class AA Trenton.
Asadoorian, 21, batted .212 with six homers and 40 RBI at Class A Augusta. He was Boston's 1999 first-round pick.
Brisson, 22, hit .295 with 10 homers and 53 RBI in 90 games for Augusta.
