Boston also gets infielder Ramon Vazquez, pitcher David Pauley and $2.65 million in cash.

01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, December 21, 2004

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Dave Roberts spent less than three months as a member of the Red Sox, but in that time, became a part of team lore.

Roberts' steal of second base in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the American League Championship Series began the Sox' remarkable comeback against the New York Yankees, and general manager Theo Epstein maintained it was "one of the biggest stolen bases in baseball history. We went from potentially being swept to winning the World Series for the first time in 86 years, and part of that can be directly traced to Dave."

But with little prospect of significant playing time in the future, Roberts was dealt last night to the San Diego Padres for outfielder Jay Payton, utility infielder Ramon Vazquez, pitcher David Pauley and $2.65 million in cash.

"Dave really wanted to go to a situation where he can play every day," said Epstein in announcing the deal. "I think he deserves that and this trade allows Dave to reach his potential."

The centerpiece of the deal for the Sox is Payton, a former All-American at Georgia Tech. Payton, 32, essentially replaces Gabe Kapler, who signed last month to play in Japan, as the team's fourth outfielder. Payton, a right-handed hitter, could see significant playing time in right if incumbent Trot Nixon continues to struggle against lefties.

"We have measured him as a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder at all three outfield positions," said Epstein, "and he's a righthanded bat with power. We'll get a defensive boost whenever he's in the lineup and also have a good bat against lefty pitching."

Payton hit .260 with eight homers and 55 RBI in 2003 with San Diego. The previous year, he hit a career-high 28 homers for Colorado.

Payton is scheduled to make $3.5 million in 2005, but the cash from the Padres will help offset that.

Vazquez, 28, has spent parts of four seasons in the big leagues. He hit .235 with a homer and 13 RBI in 52 games with the Padres last season, where he played mostly shortstop and second base and some third.

"He has very solid on-base skills," Epstein remarked. "He could be an offensive player and he has fantastic hands on either side of the (second-base) bag."

Pauley has been compared to former major leaguer Andy Ashby and projects as a possible back-of-the-rotation starter. He'll likely open the season with Double A Portland.

The team also tendered contracts to all of its roster players except catcher Sandy Martinez and pitchers Lenny DiNardo and Billy Traber.

DiNardo and Traber, both of whom missed much of 2004 with injuries, were expected to be signed back with the club under conditions which allow the Sox to pay them a lesser salary should they be returned to the minors.