Report: Red Sox 'determined' to add reliever; Kela, Yates among targets
Just because the Boston Red Sox are on pace to post one of the best regular-season records in history, that doesn't mean they're satisfied.
Boston, which sits 5 1/2 games up on the rival New York Yankees in the AL East, is "determined" to add additional relief help ahead of Tuesday's non-waiver trade deadline, according to Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports.
The Red Sox are apparently casting a wide net in their search for relievers. Some of the pitchers they're said to be interested in, according to Heyman, include Texas Rangers closer Keone Kela, San Diego Padres right-hander Kirby Yates, and Miami Marlins veteran Brad Ziegler. Sources told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that they're also eyeing Cardinals stopper Bud Norris.
Boston has been scouting Yates and his Padres bullpen-mate Craig Stammen, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported Saturday.
Given the team's MLB-high $238-million payroll and the accompanying hefty luxury tax bill, it may be limited in terms of who it can trade for while maintaining payroll flexibility. All of these relievers linked to Boston are either under team control for several years or are playing on short-term contracts at reasonable salary figures, perhaps making them more feasible targets for president Dave Dombrowski.
Ziegler, who spent part of 2016 with the Red Sox, has pitched in an NL-high 53 games for the Marlins this season. Since June 1, he owns a 0.93 ERA and has held opponents to a meager .161 average.
Kela is in his first season as Rangers closer and has saved 24 contests while crafting a 3.44 ERA in 38 appearances. As a Super Two player, he's arbitration eligible for another three years.
The 31-year-old Yates is having a breakout season for San Diego, striking out 11.4 batters per nine innings while posting a 1.60 ERA and allowing just a single home run in 41 games. He won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2020 campaign.
Stammen, a nine-year veteran, owns a 2.63 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 51 1/3 innings for the Padres. He signed a two-year deal with San Diego this winter and will earn $2.25 million in 2019.
Norris has saved 20 games for the Cardinals while posting a career-best 11.5 K/9 in 43 innings. He's earning just $3 million this year.