The Philadelphia Phillies got an early jump on the trade date, moving to bolster their ineffective bullpen by getting relievers Heath Hembree and Brandon Workman and getting Boston Red Sox casho considerations in exchange for right-handers Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold.
A source told Buster Olney of ESPN that the cash transactions that Boston sent were $ 815,000.
The trade happened Friday night during Boston’s 8-5 win in Baltimore and while the Phillies fell to 11-2. The trading date in this pandemic-shortened season is set for August 31st.
Earlier Friday, the Phillies recruited assistant referee David Hale of the New York Yankees, and sent refereeing prospect Addison Russ back.
Phillies relievers entered Friday with a combined 8.07 ERA this year, the worst in the major by nearly two runs. The team has a 10.93 ERA this year in the ninth inning and extras, by far the worst in MLB, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
“We love Pivetta and Seabold, but you have to give something to get something,” said Phillies general manager Matt Klentak. “The bullpen was the area for us to tackle. Those guys [we acquired] have previously stored in large games, large markets, pennant races. I still believe that many of the guys in our bullpen are better than what they have shown. “
Hembree, 31, pitched for Boston from 2014 to 2020, compiling a 15-5 record and a 3.60 ERA with 2 saves. He is 2-0 this season with 10 strikeouts and a 5.59 ERA.
Workman, 32, was 24-16 with 20 saves, 303 strikeouts and a 3.75 ERA in 195 appearances with the Red Sox.
“They are warriors, they are world champions, they are great teammates,” said Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom. “We really appreciate everything they did.”
Hale has appeared in 95 games over six seasons with the Braves, Rockies and Yankees. He has allowed two deserved runs and made one save in six innings this season. He was named on Monday when All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman returned from the injured list of COVID-19.
Hale was expected to be available Saturday in the bullpen.
Boston is in last place in the American League East and is looking to rebuild. The struggling Red Sox are desperate to help start pitching and are already looking to the future, trying to get something out of this coronavirus short-lived season by utilizing some solid bullpen assets for what is actually a reconstruction of the rotation.
Pivetta, 27, has made 71 major league starts and put together a 5.42 ERA in the role.
“We have a chance to help him reach a level he has not had in his career despite good things,” Bloom said.
Seabold, 24, placed a 2.56 ERA in 12 appearances (11 starts) last season over three minor league levels, including Double-A, but saw his season shortened by a hamstring injury.
Philadelphia also placed left-back Jose Alvarez on the 10-day injured list Friday with a testicular contusion and recalled lefty JoJo Romero from the team’s alternative side.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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