The Boston Red Sox have made their first move of the trade-deadline season, trading utilityman Kiké Hernández and $2.5 million in cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Triple-A relievers Nick Robertson and Justin Hagenman. This trade addresses the Red Sox’s need for bullpen depth as they look to alleviate some of the workload on their three full-time starters. Both Robertson and Hagenman have the ability to rack up strikeouts, with Robertson likely taking on a late-inning relief role and Hagenman potentially pitching multiple innings as a bulk reliever.
Robertson, ranked as the No. 25 prospect in the Dodgers system by Baseball America, has had an impressive season in Triple-A, posting a 2.54 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings. He has a 38 percent strikeout rate and has closed out 15 games. Although he struggled in his nine big-league appearances, allowing seven earned runs in 10 1/3 innings, Robertson has shown promise with his 94-95 mph fastball and changeup that induces a 43 percent whiff rate. He also mixes in a slider effectively against right-handed batters. The Red Sox believe he has the potential to make an impact at the major league level.
Hagenman, on the other hand, has a 2.78 ERA with a 27 percent strikeout rate in Triple-A. He throws a low 90s fastball along with a slider and a changeup. While he has been characterized as “intriguing, but fringy,” the Red Sox are interested in his ability to start and will work with him in Triple-A to refine his arsenal. Hagenman has shown versatility, being used as a swingman and demonstrating multi-inning capacity.
The addition of Robertson and Hagenman doesn’t necessarily mean the Red Sox are done adding to their pitching staff. Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom acknowledged that pitching is an area where there is no such thing as having enough, and they will continue to explore different possibilities. With injuries impacting the team’s pitching staff this season, the Red Sox are aware of the need to bolster their roster in order to remain competitive down the stretch.
While the Red Sox had to pay part of Hernández’s salary in the trade, acquiring two promising pitchers in exchange for a struggling veteran utilityman is seen as a small win for the club. However, this trade is just the beginning, as the Red Sox will likely make more moves before the trade deadline next Tuesday.
Overall, the Red Sox have addressed a pressing need in their bullpen by acquiring Robertson and Hagenman. These two pitchers have the potential to make an impact at the major league level and provide much-needed depth for the Red Sox’s pitching staff. As the trade deadline approaches, it will be interesting to see what other moves the Red Sox make to strengthen their roster and increase their chances of success in the postseason.
(Photo of Nick Robertson: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images)