Red Sox trade for MLB reliever with 97mph fastball, 1.18 career WHIP

Billy Heyen

Red Sox trade for MLB reliever with 97mph fastball, 1.18 career WHIP image

The Boston Red Sox made an under-the-radar move Wednesday night to try and improve their bullpen.

They're bringing on board Twins right-hander Jorge Alcala, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Phil Miller.

It's an intriguing move both in a positive and negative way.

The bad news: Alcala has an 8.88 ERA this year.

Better news: In 54 games last season, Alcala had a 3.24 ERA.

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He's a hard-throwing righty, with an average fastball velocity this season of 97 miles per hour.

He also has a career 1.18 WHIP. Even with his recent struggles, he has done a good job his whole career of limiting traffic.

The Red Sox needed some bullpen help after Justin Slaten's recent injury.

They have it in Alcala, who they hope has just struggled with small-sample size outcomes this season. It certainly seems like regression to the mean is coming and that his 8.88 ERA won't stay that high for long.

If Alcala rights the ship, it's a smart move by Boston.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle