UPDATE (11:08 a.m.): The Red Sox officially announced the trade bringing relief pitcher Tyler Thornburg to Boston from Milwaukee. The Sox will send Travis Shaw, prospects Josh Pennington and Mauricio Dubon, and a player to be named later or cash considerations to the Brewers.
Original story: It appears Dealin’ Dave Dombrowski made his first big move of the offseason.
The Boston Red Sox reportedly traded third baseman Travis Shaw, pitching prospect Josh Pennington and shortstop prospect Mauricio Dubon to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for reliever Tyler Thornburg. The Boston Herald’s Evan Drellich first reported news of a potential deal Tuesday, and it was confirmed by FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.
The reported trade makes sense for the Red Sox, who are in need of bullpen arms with Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa and Brad Ziegler all on the free agent market. And with third baseman Pablo Sandoval returning from shoulder surgery in 2017, there’s a logjam at the hot corner among him, Shaw and Yoan Moncada.
Thornburg is under team control for three years and pitched at an elite level in 2016. The 28-year-old right-hander ranked eighth in strikeouts per nine innings (12.1) and ninth in opponent OPS (.541) among relievers with at least 60 major league appearances. Thornburg also turned in a 2.15 ERA, 90 strikeouts and 25 walks in 67 innings pitched and likely will be the Red Sox’s setup man ahead of closer Craig Kimbrel.
Thumbnail photo via David Kohl/USA TODAY Sports Images
