BOSTON, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Theo Epstein made his first deal as Boston Red Sox general manager Thursday, acquiring second baseman Todd Walker from the Cincinnati Reds for a pair of minor leaguer players to be named.
After using five players at the position last season, the Red Sox appear to have solidified second base with Walker, who hit .299 with 11 home runs and 64 RBI in 155 games last year.
In 2002, Rey Sanchez, Freddy Sanchez, Lou Merloni, Carlos Baerga and Bryant Nelson all spent time at second base. Sanchez, who started 97 games, is a free agent.
Cincinnati trimmed its payroll by $3.4 million, which will be Walker's base salary in 2003. He can earn another $925,000 in bonuses.
A phenom at Louisiana State University in the early 1990s, Walker is a career .292 hitter with 58 homers and 313 RBI in 749 games. He also has played for Minnesota and Colorado.
On Nov. 25, the 28-year-old Epstein became the youngest general manager in major league history. He had been named assistant GM in March.
