Red Sox Snag Right-Hander Jorge Alcala from Twins

In a bold move to bolster their bullpen, the Boston Red Sox have acquired right-handed pitcher Jorge Alcala from the Minnesota Twins. This trade was initially reported by Phil Miller from the Star Tribune, with Chris Cotillo of MassLive revealing that prospect Andy Lugo is heading to Minnesota in exchange for Alcala. Both teams quickly confirmed the deal, triggering the need for Boston to designate Brian Van Belle for assignment to make room on their 40-man roster.

Why the Twins Made the Move

According to reporting from The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman, the Twins were planning to designate Alcala for assignment soon. They had recently claimed lefty Joey Wentz off waivers, which significantly influenced their decision to let Alcala go. By acquiring Alcala now, the Red Sox cleverly avoided the waiver process, enabling them to add him directly to their roster.

What Does Alcala Bring to the Table?

On the surface, Alcala’s stats this season have been underwhelming—an 8.88 ERA in 22 appearances, paired with a concerning walk rate of 13.2%. However, not all is lost; his strikeout rate remains a notable 24.6%. Digging deeper, Alcala has a solid career ERA of 3.64 and a FIP of 4.33. In 2024, he shined with a 3.24 ERA and a manageable 8.5% walk rate over 58.1 innings.

A Potential Key to Boston's Bullpen

With both Justin Slaten and Liam Hendriks sidelined due to injuries, the Red Sox have been leaning heavily on Garrett Whitlock and Greg Weissert for high-leverage situations. The addition of Alcala could significantly strengthen their bullpen options—especially considering that Zack Kelly, who holds a shaky 6.61 ERA, is currently on the roster. If Alcala can shake off his recent struggles, he could emerge as a vital asset for Boston during critical game moments.

Van Belle's Brief Tenure Comes to an End

Interestingly, the Red Sox’s confidence in Alcala led them to DFA Brian Van Belle just one day after officially adding him to the roster. The team now faces a week to either trade Van Belle or expose him to waivers, as he has yet to make his major league debut. As the Red Sox look to reshape their bullpen, Alcala’s performance will be closely monitored, with fans eager to see if he can live up to his potential.