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Crisp headed to KC

The Red Sox have sent outfielder Coco Crisp to the Royals for reliever Ramon Ramirez, a Kansas City radio station reported Wednesday morning.

A Red Sox spokesperson said the club had no comment on the report.

Sports Radio 810 said the Royals had acquired the 29-year-old Crisp, who hit .283 with seven homers, 41 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 361 at-bats in 2008. Crisp, who will earn $5.7 million in 2009 with a 2010 club option worth $8 million or a $500,000 buyout, started 98 games in center field for Boston but had to share playing time because of the emergence of Jacoby Ellsbury.

Crisp's arrival would give the Royals more speed and defense in center field as well as another top-of-the-order possibility.

In Ramirez, 27, the Red Sox would get a quality late-inning reliever who is not yet arbitration eligible.

Ramirez went 3-2 with a save and a 2.64 ERA in 71 games for Kansas City this year, including 3-1 with a 2.33 ERA after the All-Star break.