The latest acquisition by Dave Dombrowksi came about an hour before the MLB trade deadline Monday.
In exchange for three low-level pitching prospects (Steve Nogosek, Jamie Callahan, and Gerson Bautista), the Red Sox received an eighth-inning setup guy by the name of Addison Reed from the New York Mets.
There wouldn’t have been a need to trade for a rent-a-reliever if the injuries of Carson Smith, and or Tyler Thornburg had not occurred. Or, even if the Red Sox had retained the services of Brad Ziegler, who signed with the Miami Marlins this past offseason.
The blown two-run lead by Matt Barnes this past Sunday completely reiterated the fact that a consistent eighth-inning pitcher is much-needed on this team.
Reed has a career ERA of 3.40, and a WHIP of 1.17. 2016 was his best season of his seven-year career as he posted an earned run average of 1.97 over 77.2 innings with an average of seven strikeouts per one walk.
So far for his 2017 campaign, the 28-year-old right-hander who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, is averaging about 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is at eight, the highest of his career.
Over his 48 appearances with the Mets this season, he’s pitched 49 innings, allowed 49 hits, six walks, 14 earned runs, while in turn, striking out 48 batters.
If Reed does happen to perform like he has been for the past year and a half, this could help this club’s chances at making the playoffs.
