Red Sox Bullpen Additions From MLB Trade Deadline Placed On IL

Relief pitchers Luis García and Lucas Sims were acquired before the July’s MLB trade deadline by the Boston Red Sox to address one of the organization’s dire needs of depth: bullpen assistance. However, less than four weeks after the additions were made official, both right-handers have been made unavailable.

The Red Sox placed García and Sims on the 15-day injured list, part of a plethora of roster moves made before Tuesday night’s matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park, and less than 24 hours after Boston endured a gut-wrenching double-header sweep to its American League East rival. García and Sims have both struggled since making their respective transitions from the Los Angeles Angels and Cincinnati Reds, all while the Red Sox are desperately hanging on their dicey playoff hopes — Boston sits five games back in the AL wild card race, only three games from last-place in the AL East.

García, 37, has made 11 appearances of out the bullpen for the Red Sox, notching a 10.32 ERA after allowing 13 earned runs off 21 hits, including four home runs, in 11 1/3 innings pitched. The 12-year veteran kicked off his debut stint in Boston by allowing four home runs through his first seven relief appearances, and will remain sidelined for the next few weeks with right elbow inflammation.

Sims, 30, too, has logged 11 games in a Red Sox uniform, recording an 8.10 ERA along with an 0-2 record thus far. Sims has surrendered nine earned runs off nine hits (two home runs) and seven walks while striking out seven batters in 10 innings pitched. The eight-year veteran now resides on the injured list with a right lat strain, prompting the Red Sox to welcome Rich Hill, Greg Weissert and Josh Winckowski back from Triple-A to the big league roster.

Boston entered its second of a four-game set with Toronto losers of five straight at Fenway Park amid the team’s do-or-die stretch in the season.