The Boston Red Sox are in search of relief help, and two names on their radar are San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates and Toronto Blue Jays closer Ken Giles, according to Jon Morosi of MLB.com.
Yates has made 41 appearances for the Padres this season, tallying 31 saves while logging a minuscule 1.05 ERA. Over 43 innings of work, he has allowed just 26 hits while striking out 70 batters, making the All-Star team as a result.
Ironically enough, the 32-year-old was originally selected by the Red Sox in the 26th round of the 2005 MLB Draft. However, he did not make his major-league debut until 2014, when he was a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.
He spent two seasons with the Rays before joining the New York Yankees in 2016, posting mostly poor results. He then pitched one inning for the Los Angeles Angels in 2017 before being purchased off waivers by the Padres.
Since arriving in San Diego, Yates has turned his career around, as he also registered a 2.14 ERA across 65 appearances in 2017, permitting 41 hits while fanning 90 hitters through 63 innings.
Meanwhile, Giles has had a brilliant season for the Blue Jays, having collected 14 saves while pitching to the tune of a 1.64 ERA. He has surrendered 25 hits while racking up 57 strikeouts over 33 frames of action.
Giles arrived in Toronto last year after coming over in a trade with the Houston Astros. He began his major-league career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2014, spending two years with the Phillies before landing in Houston in 2016.
Boston currently owns a record of 54-46 and is smack dab in the middle of the American League Wild Card race.
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