By Josh Boyd
June 6, 2003

The Red Sox shipped Matt White, acquired in December from the Indians via the major league Rule 5 draft, to the Mariners for minor league outfielder Sheldon Fulse on Friday.

White, a 25-year-old lefthander, signed with Cleveland as a 15th-round pick out of Clemson in 1998. He began 2003 on the disabled list after straining his right oblique muscle during the last week of spring training. He hasn't pitched as well as he did before getting hurt, giving up 10 hits, three walks and 11 runs in 3 2/3 innings in his first three major league appearances before Boston designated him for assignment on Tuesday. When he's right, White has a good delivery, a low-90s fastball and an effective slider.

Fulse, 21, was drafted by the Mariners from a Florida high school in 1999's third round. He was hitting .280-2-14 with a .396 on-base percentage and .408 slugging percentage in 49 games for high Class A Inland Empire. Last year he turned in a dismal .215-4-31 effort at the same level. An athletic, switch-hitting center fielder, Fulse also swiped 16 bases in 21 attempts.