Red Sox with 6 roster moves on Tuesday: both bullpen trade deadline acquisitions on IL
The Red Sox were busy ahead of Tuesday night’s game, making six roster moves.
Both relievers the club acquired at the trade deadline—righties Lucas Sims and Luis Garcia—were placed on the 15-day injured list. Sims is dealing with a right lat strain, and García has right elbow inflammation.
The two relievers have both struggled since coming to the Red Sox; García has made 11 appearances, posting a 10.32 ERA. He’s allowed 13 earned runs off 21 hits, including four homers, in 11 1/3 innings. García allowed four homers through his first seven appearances; meanwhile, Sims, who’s logged 11 games in a Sox uniform, owns an 8.10 ERA with a 0-2 record. He has given up nine earned runs off nine hits, including two homers.
Sims has struck out seven batters while walking seven over 10 frames.
“He’s been dealing with it for a while,” skipper Alex Cora said.
The Red Sox recalled right-handed pitchers Greg Weissert and Josh Winckowski from Triple-A Worcester to replace the two injured relievers. Boston also promoted recently signed left-hander Rich Hill and designated Brad Keller for assignment.
“It’s an opportunity for Weissert to come back and do the things he did last week,” said Cora. “It’s an opportunity for [Winckowski] to step up and get big outs. So, that’s the way I see it. Like for every injury, it opens the window or the door for somebody to come here and contribute. That’s the most important thing.”
Keller pitched in the second game on Monday night, entering the game with a 1-0 lead in the fifth and giving up five runs in the inning. It was the second time he was designated for assignment by the Red Sox.
Hill returns to the Red Sox after signing a minor league deal on Aug. 17. He made one start for Worcester, which came last Friday. He tossed two scoreless innings while walking one and gave up a hit and struck out two.
It was the 44-year-old’s first time pitching in a professional game since Oct. 1, 2023, for the Padres against the White Sox in Chicago, according to the Red Sox game notes.
“I was very optimistic," said Cora prior to Tuesday’s game. “Especially where we were injury-wise, just getting Paxton and the relievers, knowing [Chris Martin] was coming back and [Justin] Slaten at one point, we needed arms around that time. Especially with the kind of games we were playing—tough games, grinders. Not easy ones. Going to the bullpen a lot.”
