Dodgers deal Castellanos to Red Sox

While the Red Sox are about to take the field for Game 1 of the World Series, it appears their offseason has also begun, and they kicked it off with an old trade partner.

Boston acquired outfielder Alex Castellanos from the Dodgers in exchange for outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker and cash on Wednesday. Right-handed reliever Pedro Beato was designated for assignment to make room for Castellanos on the 40-man roster.

Castellanos, who turned 27 in August, owned a .257/.347/.468 slash line with 19 homers, 61 RBIs and 19 steals in 105 games for Triple-A Albuquerque this season. He appeared in eight games and made six starts for the Dodgers, going 3-for-18 at the plate with a solo homer. Ranked as Los Angeles' No. 18 prospect at the time of the transaction, the right-handed hitter was designated for assignment last Thursday when the Dodgers claimed outfielder Mike Baxter off waivers from the Mets.

Castellanos' 2013 season was a downturn after he slashed .328/.420/.590 with the Isotopes after being acquired from the Cardinals for Raphael Furcal at the deadline in 2011. The Dodgers tried him mostly at second and third base that season before moving him back to the outfield in 2013. He played all three outfield spots this season but stuck primarily at right field. Given his wide experience, his path to the Majors is likely as a utility player.

Hazelbaker, a fourth-round pick in 2009 out of Ball State University, put together a .257/.313/.374 line with 11 homers, 54 RBIs and 37 steals in 121 games with Triple-A Pawtucket. The left-handed hitter swiped at least 36 bags in each of the past four season in the Red Sox farm system, but his .687 OPS in 2013 was by far his lowest since his rookie campaign.

The released Beato held a 2.98 ERA and 1.36 WHIP to go with 45 strikeouts and 23 walks in 34 outings (51 1/3 innings) for Pawtucket this season. The right-hander, who turns 27 on Oct. 27, made 10 appearances (10 innings) for the Major League club, posting a 3.60 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with five strikeouts and two walks in that time.