MLB Rumors: Red Sox ‘Looking’ At Right-Handed Journeyman Reliever

The Boston Red Sox still have time to further explore the market before Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline, and the rumors continue to swirl.

With bullpen depth becoming a noticeable area for improvement, especially during Friday night’s thrilling 9-7 win over the New York Yankees, Boston is already said to be engaging in relief pitching discussions in the front office. The Red Sox are considering several options, including Luis Garcia of the Los Angeles Angels, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Garcia, 37, signed a one-year, $4.25 million deal with Los Angeles in free agency this past offseason before recording a 3.80 ERA with three saves in 44 appearances (42 2/3 innings) this season. The Angels, who sit 9 1/2 games out of the American League West at 45-59, are set to sell by the deadline and unload, giving teams like Boston an opportunity.

The Red Sox began their post-All-Star Game stretch of the season by going 1-5 through their six-game road trip, with the bullpen woes following the team from Colorado back to Boston. But chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, who’s already begun buying by first acquiring starter James Paxton from the Los Angeles Dodgers, also acknowledged relief pitching as a primary deadline target — along with right-handed hitting.

“I mean, ultimately we would like to walk out of Tuesday’s deadline having added in both of those places,” Breslow said Friday at Fenway Park, per MLB.com’s Ian Browne. “So many of these things require lining up across a bunch of things. We have guys that I think are very capable on the team right now. We also have a strong system that enables us to operate from areas of surplus.”

If Boston does acquire Garcia from Los Angeles, the organization will only be on the hook for $1.45 million for the remainder of the season.