Red Sox Acquire Reliever Austin Brice in Trade With Marlins

The Boston Red Sox didn't even get the chance to defend their championship last year in the playoffs due to a laughable bullpen that continued to blow games week in and week out.

In an attempt to fix that scattershot unit, the Red Sox have traded minor league shortstop Angeudis Santos to the Miami Marlins in exchange for relief pitcher Austin Brice. To make room for Brice, infielder Marco Hernandez was designated for assignment.

Brice originally came up with the Marlins, but was most well known for an up and down two-season stretch with the Cincinnati Reds. He returned to Miami last year and posted a 3.43 ERA in 36 games, working mostly in low-leverage situations.

Brice features a heavy sinker and sharp cutter, and his penchant for throwing strikes and keeping the ball in the ball park should be a major bonus in Boston.

Boston needs to try anything and everything to whip that bullpen into shape, and Brice certainly represents a step in the right direction for Chaim Bloom. A small one, sure, but a step nonetheless.