Red Sox nearing deal to send 3B Will Middlebrooks to San Diego Padres

(September 20, 2014 - Source: Patrick Smith/Getty Images North America)

Per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports,  the Boston Red Sox are nearing a deal that would send 26-year old third baseman Will Middlebrooks to the San Diego Padres in exchange for 34-year old veteran catcher Ryan Hanigan.

The deal comes on the heels of the Wil Myers blockbuster that sent Hanigan from the Tampa Bay Rays to San Diego.

Middlebrooks took over at third base for Kevin Youkilis in 2012, but has largely failed to live up to the high expectations many have placed on him.

In 232 career games, Middlebrooks has hit only .237/.284/.411 to go with 238 strikeouts and just 48 walks. Injuries limited Middlebrooks to just 63 games in 2014 for Boston, where he posted a horrific .191/.256/.265 hitting line.

However, injuries have largely limited Middlebrooks' time on the field in two of his three major league seasons.

After a hot start to the season that saw Middlebrooks hit .288/.305/.509 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI, the rookie third baseman broke his wrist when he was hit with a 95-MPH fastball.

After struggling for much of 2013 bouncing between the AAA club and the majors, Middlebrooks found himself on the disabled list shortly after the start of the 2014 season with a strained calf, and again in May with a fractured finger.

However, if Middlebrooks can stay healthy he is an excellent defensive catcher and possesses a high offensive ceiling:

Hanigan spent the first seven years of his career with the Cincinnati Reds, before being traded to Tampa Bay alongside Heath Bell before the 2014 season. The Washington D.C. native signed a 3-year, $10.75 million contract extension after being acquired by the Rays. Known as an above-average defensive catcher, Hanigan owns a .256/.353/.324 line in 558 career games with 25 home runs and 172 RBIs.