SAN DIEGO — The Boston Red Sox on Thursday continued to make personnel moves to shore up a pitching staff that no longer includes left-hander Jon Lester.
Boston acquired starting pitcher Rick Porcello from the Detroit Tigers in a trade for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, then reportedly agreed to terms on a contract with former Red Sox right-hander Justin Masterson.
Cespedes spent the final two months of the 2014 season in Boston after a surprising deal that sent him from the Oakland Athletics for starting pitcher Jon Lester.
Missing out on re-signing Lester in free agency earlier this week, when the left-hander landed a $155 million deal with the Chicago Cubs, set the wheels in motion for the Red Sox to focus on other rotation options. They agreed to a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks for starting pitcher Wade Miley late Wednesday.
Cespedes had 100 RBIs and 25 home runs last season. He is in the final year of a four-year, $36 million deal. His contract includes a “release clause,” meaning he can not be retained with a one-year qualifying offer. The Tigers could work to sign him to a new deal before the end of the season.
Porcello was 15-13 with a 3.43 ERA and 129 strikeouts last season. The upcoming season will be Porcello’s final arbitration year.
Multiple media outlets reported that Masterson has agreed to a one-year deal with the Red Sox that is expected to net him $9 million.
The 28-year-old, who began his career with Boston in 2008, went 7-9 last season with a 5.88 earned run average in 28 appearances with Cleveland and St. Louis. Masterson apparently suffered with a ribcage injury that hampered his effectiveness.
Red Sox trade for LHP Miley
On Wednesday, the Red Sox went out and acquired left-handed starter Wade Miley from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for right-handers Allen Webster and Rubby De La Rosa plus a player to be named, multiple media outlets reported.
Miley, 28, is known for his durability. He pitched at least 194 innings each of the past three years. Last season, he went 8-12 with a 4.34 ERA, striking out a career-high 183 and walking 75 in 201 1/3 innings over 34 starts.
He was an All-Star in 2012, when he finished 16-11 with a 3.33 ERA in 32 games (29 starts) and made the National League All-Star team. In four major league seasons with Arizona, Miley has a 38-35 record with a 3.79 ERA in 106 games (102 starts).
Miley likely will join right-handers Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly as one of Boston’s top three starters. Miley is eligible for arbitration this winter and is projected to land a salary of more than $4 million. The Red Sox control his rights through the 2017 season.
Webster, 24, went 5-3 with a 5.03 ERA in 11 starts for Boston this year. He made his major league debut in 2013, when he finished 1-2 with an 8.60 ERA in eight games (seven starts).
In 19 games (18 starts) for the Red Sox in 2014, De La Rosa, 25, went 4-8 with a 4.43 ERA. Over four major league seasons split between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Red Sox, De La Rosa has a career 8-15 record with a 4.34 ERA in 44 games (28 starts).