Gordon Edes, Red Sox reporter for ESPN Boston, has reported that the Red Sox have traded shortstop Stephen Drew to the New York Yankees for utility infielder Kelly Johnson. WEEI's Alex Speier has also confirmed the news.
Drew was hitting just .176 in 39 games since re-signing with the Red Sox in late May. He was a big piece in the Red Sox' World Series puzzle last year, but contract dispustes caused him to miss nearly two full months of the season. The trade allows Xander Bogaerts to return to shortstop and Will Middlebrooks to resume his third base duties when he returns from the disabled list. Middlebrooks is out with a fracture finger.
Meanwhile, Johnson was hitting just .219 in 77 games with the Yankees. He is currently on the disabled list with a strained right groin.
This is the first trade between the two arch rivals since 1997 when the teams swaped Tony Armas, Jr. for Mike Stanley. Armas went from New York to Boston, and Stanley went the other way.
Edes has also confirmed that the Red Sox have traded left-handed reliever Andrew Miller to the Baltimore Orioles for Minor-League lefty Eduardo Rodriguez. Miller was one of the few bright spots for Boston, going 3-5 with a 2.34 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 50 appearances. He has also struck out 69 hitters in 42.1 innings.
The Red Sox made a total of five trades in the past two days, moving Jon Lester, Felix Doubront, John Lackey, Drew, and Miller.