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Minor leaguer kept eye on a major trade
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Former South Effingham star and current Boston Red Sox minor leaguer Josh Reddick wasn’t included in trade discussions with the Minnesota Twins, but a deal could have had an impact on his future. - photo by Photo by Pat Donahue

The biggest trade of the offseason could have an impact on the future of an Effingham County minor leaguer.

The Boston Red Sox baseball organization has asked former South Effingham High School star Josh Reddick to report to its spring facility in Fort Myers, Fla., ahead of schedule.

Reddick has kept an eye on the trade talks between the Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins, as the Red Sox were said to be offering some of their top prospects for Twins left-hander Johan Santana. Those prospects on the table were believed to include Red Sox postseason hero Jacoby Ellsbury and left-hander Jon Lester, the winning pitcher in Game 4 of the 2007 World Series.

“I’ve paid attention to it a little bit,” Reddick said Tuesday night of the trade talks, just before the New York Mets and Twins agreed in principle to a deal for Santana. “I keep up regularly. I go to Web sites and check ESPN. What can you do other than sit back and watch.”

In 94 games with the Single-A Greenville (S.C.) Drive in the South Atlantic League, Reddick hit .306 with 18 home runs and drove in 72 runs. He had one at-bat with Double-A Portland (Maine) when he was called up for the Eastern League playoffs.

Reddick’s agent and the scout responsible for signing him talked recently about the outlook this year for the soon-to-be 21-year-old outfielder. The move of Ellsbury, an outfielder, could have started a chain reaction throughout the Red Sox farm system, with top outfielder prospects moving up in the chain.

Reddick reports to mini-camp, a spring training for selected players before spring training opens, in February. Minor league spring training camps usually don’t begin until early March. Should Ellsbury have been dealt to the Mets — or dealt elsewhere in a trade — the Sox may move Reddick to center field to prepare him to take over for the fan favorite.

“I’ve looked at that and tried to work on my speed, because that would be great, being the starting center fielder for Boston,” Reddick said.

It’s not that the former Mustang is hoping the Sox move Ellsbury, who hit .438 in the playoffs, or Lester, who battled lymphoma to return to the majors, anytime soon.

“I’m not hoping we get rid of them,” Reddick said. “I’ve met Ellsbury, and he’s a great guy. I’ve met Lester. They’re both great guys.”