Dombrowski says ‘other priorities' took precedent over Red Sox bullpen

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Anyone who has watched Joe Kelly past few outings - including the walk-single-two hit batters quagmire Thursday night that helped the Blue Jays tie it in the eighth inning - knows the bullpen is a concern for the Red Sox.

The Sox have tried to solve their eighth-inning gap internally, with knuckleballer Steven Wright the latest to audition - shakily - for the spot. 

While president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski made trades to bring in a starter (Nathan Eovaldi), right-handed bat (Steve Pearce) and second baseman (Ian Kinsler), the Red Sox weren't among the teams that acquired any of the bevy of relievers who moved at the trade deadline.

Dombrowski told Jon Heyman of MLB Network and FanCred.com that addressing the pen would've left the Sox lacking in their other needs.

“If we addressed the bullpen, then there’d be other needs we’d have,” Dombrowski told Heyman in a phone interview. “It wasn’t that we weren’t open to some moves. But we addressed some of our other priorities.”

The Astros landed closer Roberto Osuna from the Blue Jays, who Dombrowski said, “We couldn’t touch” because of the domestic violence charges pending against him.

Meanwhile, if you think the Sox pen has been shaky, some post-All-Star break stats, per the Boston Globe's Alex Speier, back that assertion up.

Of the American League playoff teams, the Red Sox have the second-highest bullpen ERA since the break (3.83). The Yankees have the highest at 4.35.

The Sox have blown an A.L.-high 10 saves (Kelly's effort Thursday being the latest) since the break. They've converted 50 percent of their save opportunities since the break, the lowest rate in the A.L. 

The offense has bailed them out for the most part. Boston is 11-6 when its blown a save this season.

Buckle up while watching those relievers in the playoffs.

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