In search of some much-needed bullpen help, the Boston Red Sox have acquired veteran reliever Brad Ziegler from the Arizona Diamondbacks for two prospects.
Ziegler, 36, has been dominating in the desert since coming over from the Oakland Athletics during a mid-season trade back in 2011. In nearly five full seasons with Arizona, Ziegler posted a 2.49 ERA and a solid 1.14 WHIP. Numbers that were consistent during his time with the A's.
He's going to be a major boon for a Boston bullpen that's fallen on hard times recently. Not a single member of Boston's bullpen boasts an ERA under three with closer Craig Kimbrel having the worst statistical season of his career (3.55 ERA). Veteran Koji Uehara boasts an ERA of nearly five while primary set-up man Matt Barnes has a WHIP of 1.32.
This is most definitely good news for a Boston rotation that's struggled to 30 no-decisions on the year. Buy high on David Price and Steven Wright in DFS contests, as they should now see more help in the later innings.
Heading to Arizona in the deal are pitcher Jose Almonte and infielder Luis Alejandro.
Neither player ranked among Boston's top-30 prospects heading into the season.
Almonte, an international free agent signing out of the Dominican Republic, is 20 years old and was pitching in Single-A at the time of the deal. He's posted a 2-2 record with a 3.91 ERA in 10 starts on the season.