Hoping for a boost, Red Sox make roster moves

BOSTON – Timing is everything.

When the Red Sox erstwhile closer Koji Uehara entered Friday’s game in the ninth inning with a two-run lead over the Rays – and with an off-day Thursday – it caused many observers to raise their eyebrows and scratch their heads. So, it was no surprise when manager John Farrell announced after the game that closer Craig Kimbrel had suffered a knee injury shagging fly balls in the outfield before the game.

When the Red Sox announced at about 1:45 a.m. Saturday that they had acquired closer Brad Ziegler from the Diamondbacks – for two minor leaguers -- it appeared that Kimbrel’s injury was more severe than a simple knee injury.

While that was the truth – Kimbrel, 28, will undergo surgery on Monday to repair a medial meniscus tear in his left knee and is expected to be out 3-6 weeks -- one had nothing to do with the other, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Saturday afternoon. Looking to strengthen his bullpen, the deal had been in the works for several days and came together toward the end of Friday’s game, a 6-5 win in which Uehara recorded his third save of the season.

“It’s something we’ve been looking to do, try to add to our bullpen for an extended period,” Dombrowski said. “To strengthen our bullpen, kind of fill in for the (injured set-up guy) Carson Smith acquisition, but give us a little more depth and somebody that we really like. We’ve been working on this for a while, it just so happened that everything started to move yesterday, really in the afternoon.”

In his ninth big league season, Ziegler, 36, was 2-3, with a 2.82 ERA, 18 saves and two blown saves in 36 appearances this season. A strike-throwing, ground-ball inducing pitcher, he recorded career-high 30 saves last season. He pitched for parts of three season out of Oakland’s bullpen after making his major league debut in 2008. In 10 career appearances, spanning 10 2/3 innings, at Fenway Park, he has a 3.38 ERA with a 1.406 WHIP.

The move bolsters the Red Sox bullpen, which entered Saturday with a 3.92 ERA, eighth in the American League.

Uehara gave up a two-out solo homer to Evan Longoria on Friday. He has allowed eight home runs in 32 2/3 innings this season, compared to three in 40 1/3 innings last season. His 4.96 ERA is well above his 2.23 mark last season and 2.61 career average. Fellow set-up guy Junichi Tazawa is dealing with a sore shoulder. He has not pitched since Sunday is not likely to pitch before the All-Star break, although the team has not made a decision on a DL stint for him yet.

It was one of several moves the Red Sox made in a span of about 31 hours, as injuries began to mount. Super utility Brock Holt, who was activated from the disabled list on July 1 after missing 37 games with a concussion, injured his left ankle in Friday’s game. He was not placed on the DL but is not expected to play before the break.

First baseman Hanley Ramirez was also injured in Friday’s game. He was not in the starting lineup Saturday, but was available to pinch hit. Third baseman Travis Shaw has been slowed after fouling a ball off his left foot. Outfielders Blake Swihart and Chris Young are on the DL, along with infielder Josh Rutledge.

On Thursday the Red Sox acquired veteran utility guy – and right-handed bat – Aaron Hill from Milwaukee for two minor leaguers. On Friday they acquired switch-hitting Michael Martinez, another utility player, from the Indians for cash consideration.

Hill was in the starting lineup Friday and Saturday. Martinez was in the clubhouse before Saturday’s game. Ziegler was not expected to arrive in Boston until later on Saturday.

Dombrowski will also be looking to improve his rotation. With a combined 4.84 ERA, Red Sox starting pitchers enter Saturday with a better mark than just four AL teams. From June 12 – July 5 the Red Sox were outscored 30-2 in the first inning, including 22-0 from June 12 until the end of the month. At 10-5 with a 2.68 ERA, Knuckleballer Steven Wright – who was not even expected to make the team out of spring training – has been Boston’s most reliable and consistent starter.

Lacking reliable starting pitching depth within the organization, the Red Sox would also like to acquire a starting pitcher – or two.

“Well, you got to start with one,” Dombrowski said. “So, I hope we get one. It’s not an easy starting pitching market out there. There’s a lot of clubs looking for starting pitching and there’s not a lot of starting pitching out there. You can get starting pitching…but is it a starting pitcher that helps you?”

And, at what cost? The Red Sox farm system is relatively well stocked and Dombrowski has prospects to deal. But he has noticed a common thread in his conversations with other teams.

“Well, the names that we don’t want to trade always start the conversation,” Dombrowski said.

Those names are very likely Yoan Moncada and Andrew Benintendi, two of the organization’s most highly prized prospects.

“Yeah, there’s a common thread of the same names that keep coming up,” Dombrowski said. “But they have come up in every conversation we have and then you try to get realistic and move from there.”

As the Aug. 1 trade deadline gets closer, it will be interesting to see which side does the moving.