Red Sox Acquire LHP Fernando Abad From Twins For Prospect Pat Light

The Boston Red Sox boosted their bullpen ahead of Monday’s trade deadline by acquiring left-hander Fernando Abad from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Triple-A reliever Pat Light. 

Red Sox Acquire LHP Fernando Abad From Twins For Prospect Pat Light

The trade marked the Red Sox’ fifth in the last month. Two Boston relievers, Craig Kimbrel and Koji Uehara, recently suffered injuries. Kimbrel seems to have recovered sufficiently following his left knee surgery on July 11, given that he played in the team’s 2-1 road victory over the Mariners on Monday night. Uehara, who assumed closing duties for Kimbrel, has been on the disabled list since July 20 with a right pectoral strain.

Abad, 30, was 1-4 with a 2.65 ERA in 39 appearances with Minnesota. It is the second-lowest ERA of his career, which began in 2010 with the Houston Astros.

This year, Abad has held hitters to a .220 average and left-handed batters are hitting .163 (8-for-49) against him. Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius is the only left-handed hitter to take Abad deep this season.

The Dominican is earning$1.25 million this season and is under team control through 2017 via arbitration. He has a 3.58 ERA in 297 career appearances with Houston, Washington, Oakland and Minnesota.

Light played two games with the Red Sox earlier this season and allowed eight runs in 2 2/3 innings. In 25 appearances with Triple-A Pawtucket, the 25-year-old is 1-1 with a 2.32 ERA, and his throwing speed has at times reached 100 mph. The Red Sox selected Light with the 37th pick in the 2012 draft. He struggled last season, walking 17 batters in 31 innings for Triple-A Pawtucket.

Before getting Abad, the Red Sox obtained Aaron Hill, Michael Martinez, Brad Ziegler and Drew Pomeranz.

In the days leading up to the trade deadline, the Red Sox have also inquired about the availability of White Sox left-hander Chris Sale. Chicago is holding out for a significant return for Sale, a 27-year-old perennial Cy Young Award candidate with a very solid contract. His contract will pay him $12 million next year and includes team options for 2018 and 2019 that are worth $12.5 million and $13.5 million, respectively. Any deal for Sale would have to include multiple Red Sox prospects, including either Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada or center fielder Andrew Benintendi, and possibly both, according to multiple major league sources.

“We get younger and we’re hoping to build a nucleus and a core,” said Twins interim general manager Rob Antony at Target Field.

Just before Monday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline, the Twins upgraded their rotation by dealing Ricky Nolasco to the Angels in exchange for left-hander Hector Santiago, a 2015 All-Star.

Minnesota included right-hander Alex Meyer, apparently the Angels’ top priority, in the deal, and $4 million in cash to offset the anticipated differences in the veteran pitchers’ 2017 salaries. In addition, Minnesota received Class AA right-hander Alan Busenitz.

Santiago, originally drafted by the White Sox in the 30th round in 2006, had a breakout season for much of 2015 — his ERA in mid-August was 2.91 before he faded in September — and was selected to the AL All-Star team. He’s 10-4 with a 4.25 ERA in 22 starts this season, though he leads the AL in walks with 57 in 120 innings. His ERA over five major league seasons, two with the White Sox and three with the Angels, is 3.68.

Santiago, who earns $5 million this season and cannot become a free agent until after next season, will start Thursday’s game against the Indians.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JUNE 22: Fernando Abad #58 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the ninth inning of the game on June 22, 2016 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Phillies 6-5. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena