Just moments before Friday’s MLB trade deadline, the Boston Red Sox struck two separate deals to acquire relief pitching help.
Let’s take a look at the two swaps.
Sox Flip Chavis for Reliever
One of Boston’s two deals on Friday landed them reliever Austin Davis from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for infielder Michael Chavis.
Davis is a 28-year-old southpaw with 65 games over four MLB seasons. In 2021, he has made 10 outings while amassing a 5.59 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and .167 OBA. He’s tossed five walks while striking out 11 batters and giving up two homers through 9.2 innings of work. The former 12th-round pick has fared much better in Triple-A this year, posting a 2.57 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and .136 OBA through 14 innings of work in Indianapolis. Davis will join Boston’s MLB roster.
Chavis, 25, is a former top prospect who never quite panned out in the majors. Boston has experimented with him at second base and first. Through 31 games this year, he is slashing .190/.207/.342 with two homers, six RBI, one walk, and 32 strikeouts. Obviously, the low walk and high strikeout rates are a glaring concern, and that aligns with his career stats (40 walks and 209 strikeouts), too.
Hard-Throwing Reliever Goes From Twins to Sox
The Red Sox also acquired veteran reliever Hansel Robles and roughly $500,000 in cash considerations from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for minor league pitcher Alex Scherff.
Robles, 30, is 3-4 with a 4.91 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and .231 OBA through 45 relief outings this season. He’s totaled 44 innings, amassing 24 walks and 43 strikeouts along the way. Robles has spent some time as Minnesota’s closer, and he also logged 23 saves for the Angels in 2019 when he posed a mere 2.48 ERA. While he won’t replace Matt Barnes as Boston’s closer, he will give the team extra depth in the back-end of their bullpen.
Scherff, meanwhile, is a 23-year-old right-hander drafted in the fifth round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He’s posted really good numbers between High-A and Double-A this year, going 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and .196 OBA through 29.1 innings of relief work. He’s also walked just 13 batters while striking out 46.
Davis and Robles aren’t the only additions the Red Sox made at the deadline. Their biggest move came on Thursday night as they acquired power-hitting outfielder Kyle Schwarber from the rebuilding Washington Nationals. Currently sitting in first place in the AL East, Boston is preparing for a run in the postseason by solidifying its roster.
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