Red Sox Make Pre-Deadline Trade

Boston has traded for some bullpen help, even as Red Sox Nation holds its breath for a blockbuster deal in the next few hours.

The Red Sox have acquired reliever Fernando Abad from the Twins, the team announced. In return, Boston send minor league relief pitcher Pat Light to Minnesota.

The trade deadline is at 4 p.m. The Red Sox have been heavily linked to White Sox ace Chris Sale and, more recently, Yankees slugger Carlos Beltran.

Abad is 1-4 with a 2.65 ERA. The 30-year-old is particularly tough on lefties, against whom he owns a .163 batting average-against.

Light, 25, is a former first-round pick of Boston's. He had 36 strikeouts and a 2.62 ERA in 31 innings with Triple A Pawtucket this season.