Orioles acquire Johnson, Almanzar from Red Sox for Weeks, De Jesus

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

August 30, 2014, 6:48pm

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We won't have to wait for tomorrow to see if the Orioles pull off another deal before the Aug. 31 deadline for adding players eligible for playoff rosters.

The Orioles have announced their second trade of the evening. They've acquired infielders Kelly Johnson and Michael Almanzar from the Red Sox for infielders Jemile Weeks and Ivan DeJesus Jr.

When Johnson makes his Orioles debut, he will have played for every team in the American League East since 2012. Before being traded from the Yankees to the Red Sox on July 31, Johnson had played for Tampa Bay (2013), Toronto (2011-12), Arizona (2010-11) and Atlanta (2005-09). This season, he's hitting .212 with six homers and 23 RBIs in 87 games.

The 32-year-old Johnson has played mostly second base in his career, but could provide insurance for the Orioles if first baseman Steve Pearce's abdominal strain is slow to heal.

Almanzar, 23, was chosen by the Orioles from the Red Sox in the Rule 5 draft at the Winter Meetings in December, but dealt with left knee tendinitis in spring training and missed an opportunity to make an impression. He hit .260 with six homers and 29 RBIs in 57 games for three Orioles farms clubs and Double-A Portland in the Red Sox organization.

Weeks, acquired from Oakland in the deal for reliever Jim Johnson, hit .273 in three games with the Orioles and .278 in 62 games with Triple-A Norfolk. De Jesus, who played eight games with the Red Sox in 2012, batted .282 with five homers and 56 RBIs in 113 games at Norfolk.

Manager Buck Showalter doesn't expect Kelly Johnson to arrive until Monday.