Boston, MA – The Boston Red Sox added a closer to their bullpen on Wednesday, acquiring Joel Hanrahan from the Pittsburgh Pirates as the keystone to a six-player deal.
Also heading to Beantown is infielder Brock Holt. The Pirates will gain pitchers Mark Melancon and Stolmy Pimentel, infielder Ivan De Jesus and utilityman Jerry Sands.
Hanrahan has recorded 76 saves over the last two seasons with Pittsburgh, good enough for fourth-best in the National League, including 36 in 2012 while compiling a 5-2 mark with a 2.72 earned run average in 59 2/3 innings over 63 appearances.
A two-time All-Star selection, the 31-year-old right-hander has gone 22-17 with a 3.74 ERA and 96 saves in 353 games (all but 11 in relief) for the Nats and Bucs since 2007.
Holt made his major-league debut in September, collecting 19 hits in 65 at- bats over 24 games. He hit .322 for Double-A Altoona and .432 in 24 games at Triple-A Indianapolis.
Melancon split his 2012 campaign between Boston and Triple-A Pawtucket, going 0-2 with a 6.20 ERA and one save in 41 games and 11 saves with an 0.83 ERA in 21 relief appearances for the PawSox.
In 147 games over four seasons, the 27-year-old righty has gone 10-7 with a 4.07 ERA for the Yankees, Astros and Red Sox since 2009.
Pimentel finished 6-7 with a 4.59 ERA in 22 starts for Double-A Portland last year.
De Jesus, who had been acquired from the Dodgers in an Aug. 25 deal, combined to hit .304 with 13 doubles, three triples and 33 RBI between Triple-A clubs in Albuquerque and Pawtucket. The 25-year-old also played in 31 MLB games between Los Angeles and Boston, hitting a combined .220, but was designated for assignment by the Sox on Nov. 20.
Sands has 70 games of big league experience, all with the Dodgers in the last two seasons. He has hit .244 with four homers and 27 RBI, coming mostly in 2011.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.