Phillies acquire Hembree, Workman from Red Sox in 4-player deal
The Philadelphia Phillies acquired relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree from the Boston Red Sox, along with cash considerations, in exchange for right-handers Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold, the team announced Friday.
Boston will send approximately $815,000 to Philadelphia to help cover part of what Workman and Hembree are owed this year, a source told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Phillies will also receive either a player to be named later or additional cash considerations, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic.
The deal gives the Phillies much-needed reliable bullpen arms for the stretch run. Entering play Friday, Phillies relievers owned a league-worst 8.07 ERA, and they're allowing over two homers and four walks per nine innings.
The trade marks the second bullpen addition of the day for Philadelphia. The club also added reliever David Hale from the New York Yankees in a separate swap.
Workman, who turned 32 earlier this month, helped the Red Sox to World Series championships in 2013 and 2018. His best major-league season was last year when he posted a 1.88 ERA, 2.46 FIP, and 104 strikeouts with 16 saves in 73 appearances. Through 6 2/3 innings this year, he owns a 4.05 ERA and 2.57 FIP while averaging 10.8 strikeouts per nine.
Hembree has also been a staple of Boston's bullpen over the last several years. The 31-year-old has struggled in 2020, sporting a 5.59 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and three walks across 11 outings. He was also a member of Boston's 2018 championship team and didn't allow a run during that postseason run.
Workman is eligible for free agency this winter, while Hembree has another year of arbitration eligibility remaining.
Pivetta has struggled in the majors after starting out as a highly-touted prospect. The 27-year-old Canadian owns a career 5.50 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across parts of four seasons with Philadelphia, where he bounced between the rotation and bullpen. He's been tagged for 10 earned runs in only three games this year.
Red Sox president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said the team intends to use Pivetta as a starter, according to Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe.
Seabold, a former third-round draft pick, was ranked as the Phillies' No. 23 prospect by MLB.com. Though he missed time because of an injury in 2019, the 24-year-old posted a 2.24 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 58 strikeouts and 11 walks over 56 1/3 innings spread across four minor-league levels.
Pivetta and Seabold will report to Boston's alternate training site at Pawtucket, according to MassLive's Chris Cotillo.