Red Sox acquire hard-throwing reliever in trade with Twins

Jorge Alcalá, 29, has struggled this season in Minnesota — sporting an 8.88 ERA over 24.1 innings of work.

The Red Sox made a trade with the Twins on Wednesday. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

June 12, 2025

1 minute to read

The Red Sox pulled off a trade on late Wednesday night in order to bolster a beleaguered bullpen.

The team announced Wednesday that it acquired right-handed relief pitcher Jorge Alcalá from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for prospect Andy Lugo.

In order to add Alcalá to the team’s 40-man roster, the Red Sox also designated right-handed pitcher Brian Van Belle for assignment.

According to Phil Miller, the Red Sox have traded for RHP Jorge Alcala.

He pitched well out of the bullpen last year, posting a 3.24 ERA/4.14 FIP & 8.9 K/9. Big velo with a slider, cutter, and sinker.

He’s struggling this year though with a 8.88 ERA & 5.42 FIP but has 10.3 K/9. pic.twitter.com/5SnT5FkBYY
— Robbie Hyde (@gingersnaphyde) June 12, 2025

Alcalá, 29, has struggled this season in Minnesota — sporting an 8.88 ERA over 24.1 innings of work. But the righty, who ranks in the 88th percentile of MLB pitchers in average fastball velocity at 96.9 miles per hour, did achieve success last season with the Twins.

In 54 games in 2024, Alcalá posted a 3.24 ERA and stuck out 58 batters in 58.1 innings of work. Alcalá sports a 4.32 ERA over 166 total games with the Twins in his big-league career — which first began during the 2019 season.

Even with Alcalá’s struggles this season, the Red Sox need more options in their bullpen — especially with both Justin Slaten and Liam Hendriks hampered by injuries. With both Slaten and Hendriks on the mend, both Greg Weissert and Garrett Whitlock have been elevated into set-up roles behind Aroldis Chapman — creating a vacancy in Boston’s middle-relief grouping.

Alcalá will join a bullpen that also features Zack Kelly, Luis Guerrero, Brennan Bernardino, and Justin Wilson.

Lugo, 21, was not listed on SoxProspects.com’s top 60 prospects in Boston’s organization. Signed out of the Dominican Republic as an international free agent in July 2021, Lugo opened the 2025 season with High-A Greenville — batting .265 with four homers, 11 doubles, 20 RBIs and a .758 OPS in 44 games at Greenville.