The Boston Red Sox on Tuesday bolstered their beleaguered bullpen, recalling relievers Ryan Cook and Tommy Layne from Triple-A Pawtucket.
Cook and Layne will fill the roster spots vacated by Justin Masterson (designated for assignment) and Koji Uehara (out for season with fractured wrist).
Cook, a 28-year-old right-hander, has yet to make his Red Sox debut after being acquired at the trade deadline two weeks ago. He has appeared in two games for the PawSox — retiring all seven batters he faced — and he previously spent the last three-plus seasons in the Oakland A’s organization, earning an All-Star nod in 2012.
“It ended up taking all the way up until about the All-Star break before I really felt more like myself on the mound. I feel good now,” Cook told reporters Tuesday in Miami, via The Providence Journal. “I’m 100 percent confident (I can contribute in the majors). If you don’t believe in yourself, who really does? I am really confident and back to feeling that way. Just pitch, and the rest will take care of itself.”
Cook is one candidate, along with Junichi Tazawa and Jean Machi, to take over Uehara’s role as Boston’s closer.
Layne is back for his third stint of the season with Boston. The 30-year-old lefty boasts a 3.51 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 40 appearances.
The Red Sox also optioned infielder Deven Marrero back to Pawtucket on Tuesday to make room for center fielder Mookie Betts, who returned from the concussion disabled list after an 11-game absence.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
