Diamondbacks trade closer Ziegler to Red Sox for 2 prospects

With this move, the Red Sox add an impact arm to their bullpen in exchange for a pair of Low A players including one top 20 prospect in the SoxProspects.com rankings.

RHP Craig Kimbrel (left knee medial meniscus tear) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday and will undergo surgery Monday.

Fortuitous isn’t quite the right word to describe that confluence of events. The Red Sox have completed three trades just in the last three days, with the biggest being directly influenced by Kimbrel’s injury status.

In the American League, injured Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel will be replaced by Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez. On Saturday, Boston managed a 4-1 victory to make it two in a row. Uehara saved Friday night’s game with Kimbrel unavailable, and he came back Saturday to close out the Rays for his fourth save of the season.

The 100-year-old daughter of Babe Ruth – Julia Ruth Stevens – tossed out the ceremonial first pitch. It will depend on the performance of Ziegler, but the sinkerball hurler should be comfortable in Fenway Park, where the Red Sox hope he will help deliver them to the postseason once more, after a painful two-year hiatus.

Because of the injury, Kimbrel will miss next week’s All-Star Game.

Mookie Betts had three singles and drove in a run to help the Red Sox complete their first sweep since a three-game set at home against Oakland on May 9-11.

What do you think of the Boston Red Sox latest trades? Arizona is 10 behind the New York Mets for the NL’s second wild card.

The rotation is the larger concern. In two starts against the Rays this season he is 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA. You can be sure that Dombrowski will be pursuing starting pitching reinforcements over the next three weeks, and he’s very likely to land at least one given his track record. It’s not just this season either, Ziegler is a proven stud in the bullpen.

“I’m not going to lie, I was a little embarrassed”, Rodon said.

Tampa Bay’s Chris Archer (4-12) took the loss, surrendering five runs and seven hits in six innings. The righty has 81 career saves – including the 18 so far this season.

I don’t believe the Red Sox are done yet. It is important here not to confuse Luis Alejandro Basabe with his twin brother, Luis Alexander Basabe.

Six-year-old Caroline Fahey of Newton, Massachusetts, sang the anthem flawlessly and got a huge hand from the fans and both dugouts.

The man, who signed in the 2012 offseason before the 2013 season, was expected to be nothing but a mediocre middle relief pitcher, by October became one of the most vital parts of the Red Sox championship team, racking up saves in close games (21 to be exact), and winning the ALCS MVP.