BOSTON — The Red Sox made a late night trade Wednesday in an effort to bolster their pitching staff.
Boston has acquired right-handed reliever Jorge Alcalá from the Twins for High-A outfielder Andy Lugo, a source confirmed to MassLive.
To clear a 40-man spot for Alcalá, the Red Sox designated right-handed pitcher Brian Van Belle for assignment. Van Belle was called up Monday but did not appear in a game over the last three days. Boston will have seven days to trade, waive or release him.
Alcalá informed Twins reporters at Target Field that he has been traded to Boston after being pulled into the manager’s office following the game. He should join the Red Sox for their series opener against the Yankees on Friday.
Alcalá, who turns 30 next month, has an inflated 8.88 ERA so far this season (24 earned runs, 29 hits in 24 ⅓ innings) but Statcast paints a somewhat rosier picture. This season, he has limited hard contact (35.7%, 79th percentile) and struck out a good amount of batters (24.6%) while flashing a fastball that averages 96.9 mph. He has been a middle and late-inning reliever for Minnesota all year, going multiple innings six times. Alcalá has allowed nine runs (eight earned) and eight hits over two innings in his last two appearances on June 5 and June 10.
The Red Sox have righties Zack Kelly and Luis Guerrero and lefties Brennan Bernardino and Justin Wilson in their middle-inning mix with Greg Weissert and Garrett Whitlock serving as setup options for closer Aroldis Chapman with Justin Slaten and Liam Hendriks both sidelined with injury.
Alcalá has logged a 4.32 ERA in 166 games over parts of seven seasons with the Twins and had a 3.24 ERA in 54 games last year. He is earning $1.5 million this year and is arbitration-eligible.
Lugo, who was signed out of the Dominican Republic for $10,000 in 2021, does not rank among Boston’s top 60 organizational prospects, per SoxProspects.com. The 21-year-old has had a good offensive start to 2025, though, hitting .265 with four homers, 11 doubles, 20 RBIs and a .758 OPS in 44 games at Greenville. He has seen most of his time in the corner infield spots (178.1 innings at first base and 139.2 innings at third base) but has also logged 36 innings in left field. He is known for defensive versatility.
“Athletic, small frame without much projection,” reads SoxProspects’ scouting report of Lugo. “Makes solid contact in the zone. Doesn’t take a lot of pitches. Able to catch up with high velocity but struggles against spin. Minimal success against lefties. Below-average power. Above-average to plus speed and baserunning instincts. True utility player has spent time at first, second, third, and corner outfield. Red Sox Latin Program Position Player of the Year in 2022. Was set to participate in the 2022 Fall Performance Program that was cancelled due to Hurricane Ian.Missed 2023 season with a quad strain. Split 2024 between Low-A and High-A. Profiles as mid-minors depth, could develop into an org player due to speed and positional versatility.”
The 28-year-old Van Belle joined the Red Sox as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Miami in 2020, when the draft was shortened to five rounds. In 12 games (8 starts) for Worcester this season, he has gone 5-1 while recording a 2.29 ERA and striking out 41 batters in 51 innings. A strong stretch of five games (four starts) in which he posted a 1.55 ERA in 29 innings led to his call-up. Now, the Red Sox risk losing him before he ever appears in a major league game for them.
