Red Sox Add To Pen, Trade Away Pen Prospect

THE DEAL

Boston entered the final day of the trade deadline in third place in the American League East, while currently holding the second AL wild card spot. After making the major move of acquiring Drew Pomeranz to help the rotation, Boston beat the clock on the day of the trade deadline to make a much more modest move. Acquiring Fernando Abad is intended to make the Red Sox bullpen deeper, as it should give manager John Farrell another matchup lefty to deploy in the final months of the season and potentially in the playoffs. The move does come with some cost as the Twins acquire Pat Light, a nearly big league power reliever.

TWINS ACQUIRE
Pat Light, rhp
Age: 25

A supplemental first-round pick out of Monmouth in 2012, Light appeared stalled as a starting pitching prospect. But a move to the bullpen and added extension in his delivery last year saw his already solid velocity turn into top-of-the-scale stuff. He’s touched 100 mph with his fastball and now sits 95-97, helping him earn his first big league callup earlier this season. He also has gone back to the split-fingered fastball he used in college. He has the potential to be an eighth or ninth-inning reliever, but he’ll need to refine his control before he’s ready for a significant role.

Club (League)	Class	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
Boston (AL)	MLB	0	0	22.63	2	0	3	7	8	7	2	1	2
Pawtucket (IL)	AAA	1	1	2.32	25	0	31	21	8	8	1	17	36

RED SOX ACQUIRE
Fernando Abad, lhp
Age: 30

Abad is the kind of lefty specialist who has made a very good living for himself by proving he can get lefties out on a reliable basis. He’s averaging less than an inning per outing this year. That’s not surprising because he’s averaged less than an inning per appearance throughout his seven year big league career. Abad has held lefties to a .163/.192/.265 stat line this season. He’ll join Robbie Ross as the lefty specialists in the Red Sox bullpen, giving John Farrell another matchup option.