A's acquire three players for Bailey, Sweeney

OAKLAND – The Oakland A’s acquired right-handed pitcher Raul Alcantara, first baseman Miles Head and outfielder Josh Reddick from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for right-handed pitcher Andrew Bailey and outfielder Ryan Sweeney, the club announced today.

Reddick began the 2011 season at Triple-A Pawtucket but was promoted to Boston in late May and hit .280 with seven home runs and 28 RBI in 87 games over two stints with the Red Sox.  He ranked third among American League rookies in batting, fourth in slugging (.457) and fifth in on-base percentage (.327).  The 24-year old left-handed hitter started 48 games in right field, 14 in left field and two in center field.  Reddick also batted .230 with 14 home runs and 36 RBI in 52 games with Pawtucket.  He was originally selected by Boston in the 17^th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft and was rated as the Red Sox seventh-best prospect by Baseball America entering the 2011 season.  Reddick made his Major League debut in 2009 and is a .248 hitter with 10 home runs and 37 RBI in 143 games over three seasons with Boston.

Head hit .299 with 22 home runs and 82 RBI in 129 games with the Red Sox two Single-A affiliates at Greenville and Salem.  He ranked seventh among all Single-A hitters in total bases (255) and tied for 10^th in doubles (37) and extra base hits (61).  The 20-year old right-handed hitter was originally selected by Boston in the 26^th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of Whitewater High School in Georgia in 2009.

Alcantara combined for a 1-4 record and a 2.20 ERA in 13 starts with Single-A Lowell and the Red Sox affiliate in the Gulf Coast League.  He struck out 50 and walked just 12 while holding the opposition to a .208 batting average.  The 19-year old right-hander did not allow a home run in 65.1 innings.  Alcantara was originally signed by the Red Sox organization as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic July 2, 2009.

Bailey was 0-4 with a 3.24 ERA and 24 saves in 42 relief appearances with the A’s last year.  He had just two blown saves for a save percentage of 92.3%, which ranked second-best in the American League and fourth-best in Oakland history.  The 27-year-old right-hander has topped 20 saves in each of his first three seasons and has converted 75 of 84 (89.3%) career save opportunities, which is the best mark in Oakland history.  Bailey was the A’s sixth round draft pick in 2006 and was named AL Rookie of the Year in 2009.

Sweeney batted .265 with one home run and 25 RBI in 108 games as the A’s fourth outfielder in 2011.  The batting average and RBI were the lowest in his four seasons as an Athletic and the home run matched his low from 2010.  The 26-year old left-handed hitter, who was originally acquired from the White Sox in the Nick Swisher trade prior to the 2008 season, hit .286 with 13 home runs and 159 RBI in 439 games over four seasons with Oakland.  Sweeney has a 209-game errorless streak, which is an Oakland record for an outfielder.