The Red Sox are still trying to determine with greater precision the severity of the subluxation suffered by Jacoby Ellsbury on Friday. Manager Bobby Valentine said that the injury would be treated with ice to reduce the swelling for 48 hours; once the swelling subsides, the outfielder will be re-evaluated to get a more precise determination of the possible course of recovery.

Even so, the team is planning on spending a not insignificant chunk of time without the runner-up in last year’s AL MVP balloting, and so it should come as little surprise that one major league source said that the Red Sox are “actively” exploring the market for available outfielders to determine whether the team will be able to shore up an area where there is limited organizational depth.

However, because it is so early in the season, the idea of identifying a legitimate starting center fielder remains far fetched. Teams aren’t exactly rushing to make All-Star-caliber outfielders available at this time of year.

Two American League talent evaluators wondered whether there eventually could be a potential match between the Red Sox and A’s regarding Coco Crisp, given that Crisp — who was re-signed by the A’s to a two-year, $14 million deal this offseason — was pushed from center field, where his value is greatest, to left field by Oakland’s signing of Yoenis Cespedes and based on the fact that the A’s like several prospects in Boston’s system (a notion reinforced not only by the trade of Andrew Bailey to the Red Sox, but also by the fact that the two teams came close on a deal that would have brought left-handed starter Gio Gonzalez to Boston).

Crisp has been one of the better defensive center fielder’s in the game since his emergence as an elite glove in center with the Sox in 2007. Though off to a slow start offensively this year (.176/.222/.176/.399 in 36 plate appearances), his offense is more than adequate for a center fielder. He’s a career .274/.329/.404/.732 hitter, and last year, playing in a home park and division that tends to kill offensive numbers, he hit .264/.314/.379/.693 along with an AL-leading 49 steals.

However, it’s probably premature for there to be traction between the Sox and A’s (or, for that matter, the Sox and virtually any other club) on a trade as both teams must figure out more about where they stand for the season. In particular, if the Sox are going to be without Ellsbury for six to eight weeks, they may prefer to explore internal options (or identify role players in a trade) rather than giving up a significant prospect (perhaps one of the impressive lower level outfielders who now comprise a strength of the system — with Bryce Brentz, Brandon Jacobs and Jackie Bradley Jr. all representing players who have impressed other clubs) for an outfielder who would be little more than a place-holder until Ellsbury’s return. Read the rest of this entry »

The Indians are in the market to acquire an outfielder as they have called the Padres seeking Ryan Ludwick, tweets SI’s Jon Heyman. He also writes that they are interested in Athletics’ outfielder Coco Crisp.

According to Heyman, the Reds also have an interest in both outfielders and could create a cross-state battle with the Indians to acquire either of the outfielders.

The Indians are currently tied with the Tigers for first place in the AL Central. Ludwick is batting .244 with 11 home runs and 61 RBIs this season. Crisp is hitting .265 with 4 home runs, 31 RBIs and has stolen 27 bases.

Good bye, Cy.

The idea that Clay Buchholz might be able to thrust himself into contention for the Cy Young Award was already a longshot. Though he entered Friday with a 15-6 record and an American League-leading 2.25 ERA, the fact that Buchholz had thrown just 151 2/3 innings — more than 60 fewer than Felix Hernandez, and more than 50 fewer than CC Sabathia — suggested that Buchholz would need a remarkable final few starts to have a legitimate shot at pitching’s most prestigious honor.

Any improbable visions were dispelled on Friday night, however, as Buchholz delivered his worst start of the year, and indeed one of the worst of his career. He had little on the mound, failing to record a single out in the second inning while getting shelled for five runs on five hits and four walks. It was the shortest start of his career that did not involve an injury.

Meanwhile, Oakland counterpart Trevor Cahill sailed through the Sox lineup over seven shutout innings as Oakland won, 5-0. (Recap.)

WHAT WENT WRONG FOR THE RED SOX

–Buchholz had been the team’s most consistent performer this year, having allowed two or fewer earned runs in a remarkable 17 of his 24 starts. But Oakland has been his undoing this year, posting two of the three contests in which Buchholz a) failed to record five or more innings and b) allowed five earned runs. For the season, Buchholz now has an 18.00 ERA against Oakland, and a 2.01 ERA against the rest of the majors.

–The Sox suffered their first shutout since June 9, ending a streak of 79 straight games in which they’d scored at least one run, the longest such streak in the majors this year.

–Coco Crisp put on a show for the A’s against his former team. He robbed Ryan Kalish — batting leadoff — of a homer to lead off the game in the top of the first inning, and went 3-for-3 with three steals and a walk.

WHAT WENT RIGHT FOR THE RED SOX

–The Boston bullpen turned in an impressive night to prevent the game from getting out of hand after Buchholz’ departure. Dustin Richardson, who had allowed all five batters he’d faced over his previous three appearances to reach base (four walks and a single), elicited a double play grounder after inheriting a first-and-second, no-out situation in the second, allowing him to avoid any further damage. He produced a pair of shutout innings, the longest relief outing of his career. He was followed into the game by Michael Bowden (two shutout innings), Robert Coello (two shutout innings) and Robert Manuel (shutout inning).

–Ryan Kalish, in addition to nearly hitting a homer to lead off the game before it was pulled back by Crisp, also once again demonstrated his strong arm, cutting down Crisp at third with a strong throw on a fly out to center.

–Josh Reddick continued his impressive run, as his double improved him to 5-for-10 since his call-up earlier in the week, a continuation of his scorching conclusion of the season with Triple-A Pawtucket.

–Lars Anderson, playing his first big league game in the ballpark where he grew up attending games, drew his first career walk. For more on Anderson’s homecoming, click here.

Red Sox outfielder Mike Cameron received an initial diagnosis of a kidney stone on Thursday in Minnesota, his agent, Mike Nicotera, confirmed in a text message. (The news was first reported by ESPN’s Gordon Edes.) Nicotera said that Cameron, who is back in Boston, will receive a “full workup today” and that more about his prognosis (including his expected duration on the sidelines) will be known once that is complete.

The Sox had been hoping to rule out appendicitis for the 37-year-old outfielder, who is currently hitting .217/.357/.261/.618. An appendectomy would have all but guaranteed a trip to the disabled list for the center fielder.

While a kidney stone would represent a less severe issue, however, it does not necessarily mean that Cameron will be returning in the immediate future. In recent seasons, there are instances of players who have spent no more than a few games sidelined by the condition (Marlon Byrd and Bobby Jenks both missed three games due to kidney stones last year) and others (such as Miguel Olivo in 2004) who have landed on the disabled list with the condition. In 2006, Coco Crisp was delayed by more than a week in his return from a broken index finger due to kidney stones.

With Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury (sore ribs) ailing, the Red Sox may need to dip into the minor leagues for a replacement as they prepare to host the Tampa Bay Rays in a four-game series. Click here to read about one of the candidates, Pawtucket Red Sox outfielder Josh Reddick.

Despite reports the past two days suggesting a potential deal has been agreed upon, Troy Renck writes that the Rockies are the favorites to sign catcher Yorvit Torrealba but that the two sides haven’t been in contact today. The reported deal is for two years and around $5 million.

Jon Heyman tweets that, contrary to popular belief, the White Sox are “not going for Hideki Matsui.” Heyman believes the team is looking to add a leadoff hitter and lists Scott Podsednik, Juan Pierre, and Coco Crisp as possibilities.

The early price tag for Rafael Soriano is steep, tweets Buster Olney, who notes the Braves want “solid return” and for the other team to pay the approximately $6.5 million due to the reliever.

ESPN’s Buster Olney made an appearance on the Dale & Holley show Wednesday morning to discuss the latest baseball rumors. Olney warned that the Red Sox very well may sit back and pass on the big-name free agents this offseason.

“There’s not a single player on the market that is a huge difference-making player if you don’t get him at the price you want,” Olney said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if they wound up doing more incremental stuff than any kind of a big thing.”

Olney commented on the Sox’ key moves so far — the acquisitions of outfielder Jeremy Hermida and shortstop Marco Scutaro.

“The Hermida deal may not help them at all in the end. It might be that he’ll go to the Red Sox and be as disappointing to them as he was to the Marlins,” Olney said. “I know that there are questions about whether or not he’s going to be focused enough to get locked in and take it to the next level and realize his talent. I think that’s a worthwhile gamble for them, though, because he certainly does have that talent. And I like the Scutaro deal because unlike some of the other guys they’ve gotten in the past at shortstop, at least they’re not locked into this. If [Jed] Lowrie steps up then you could always move Scutaro to another position.”

Olney discussed a rumor that the Sox had a discussion with outfielder Coco Crisp, whom they traded last November to the Royals. Olney said Crisp likely will have better offers if he decides to come back from his shoulder injury. Said Olney: “I suspect that he’s a fallback position … if they don’t re-sign Bay or if they don’t sign Matt Holliday — if they find themselves looking to mix and match a little bit with Hermida and maybe some other guys.”

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The current offer from the Brewers to Randy Wolf is for three years and $27 million, writes Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal. The Brewers hope to receive an answer from Wolf on Wednesday.

If Vladimir Guerrero doesn’t get the two-year deal he is looking for, the slugger could return to the Angels on a one-year deal, writes MLB.com’s Lyle Spencer.

Chone Figgins might not end up being the only infielder the Angels lose this week. A source has given Ed Price reason to believe the team is “exploring trading an infielder.” Price thinks the player on the block could be Maicer Izturis.

The Phillies have reached a deal with Ross Gload, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, who says the deal is for two years. Gload hit .261 with six home runs for Marlins in 2009.

Coco Crisp is interested in playing for the White Sox, as he told Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune that he’s enjoyed playing against them and has “a lot of family to come out and see [him].” Crisp’s first season in Kansas City ended in June when he required shoulder surgery. He was hitting .228 at the time.

The White Sox have also reportedly expressed interest in Hideki Matsui.