Kimbrel, however, was not available on Friday due to soreness in his left knee.
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PHOENIX- Late Friday night, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox completed a trade to send relief pitcher Brad Ziegler to Boston in exchange for two prospects.
In 38.1 innings so far this season, Ziegler has notched 18 saves while posting a 2.82 ERA, 1.461 WHIP, 27 strikeouts and 15 walks. Baseball America ranked his 19-year-old twin brother Luis Alexander Basabe the No. 9 prospect in the Red Sox system entering 2016.
Basabe, who now ranks 18th on the SoxProspects.com rankings and was poised to move to the cusp of the top 10 in a rankings update coming after Friday’s draft signing deadline, has enjoyed a breakout season with Greenville this year.
Nevertheless, Ziegler figures to assume the role that has been vacant since May when right-hander Carson Smith was lost to season-ending Tommy John elbow surgery.
The 36-year-old has given up 41 hits and 15 walks while striking out 27 batters in 38 1/3 innings, not almost as dominant as last season when he posted a 1.85 ERA and allowed only 48 hits and 17 walks in 68 innings. Now in his ninth professional season, he has held right-handed batters to an average of.224.
To make room on the 40-man roster, Blake Swihart was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. Almonte, 20, had a 2-2 record with a 3.91 ERA in 10 starts.
The back-end of the bullpen has been pieced together, and recent callus from Pawtucket have had disastrous results (see Light, Pat and Ramirez, Noe).
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Both Almonte and Basabe were worldwide free agents, in their fourth season with the Red Sox. Playing alongside his twin brother Luis Alexander, who is now 11th in the SoxProspects.com rankings, he has slashed an impressive.310/.412/.467 with 14 stolen bases and earned a trip to the South Atlantic League All-Star Game.
