BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox acquired pitcher Paul Byrd from Cleveland on Tuesday, hoping to boost a rotation hurt by an injury to Tim Wakefield and the struggles of Clay Buchholz.
The Red Sox will send either a player to be named or cash to the Indians.
The 37-year-old Byrd is 7-10 with a 4.53 ERA this season. But he has won all four of his starts since the All-Star break with a 1.24 ERA.
"It's been a rollercoaster ride but as far as me right now, I'm extremely confident," Byrd said in a conference call.
Boston began play Tuesday in second place in the AL East, four games behind Tampa Bay. The Red Sox were two games ahead of the Chicago White Sox in the wild-card race.
"You play for pressure. You play to have all the games count," Byrd said in Cleveland. "Ever since I was a little boy, I wanted to be in the World Series. That hasn't happened to me yet. When I go to Boston, I feel like there's a legitimate chance for that to happen this year."
Earlier, he packed up in the Indians clubhouse where they were preparing for their home game against Baltimore.
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| Byrd is 4-0 with a 1.24 ERA since the All-Star break. (AP) |
Later, he expressed surprise but said he was excited to join the Red Sox.
"I was shocked because I figured after I cleared waivers a couple weeks ago nobody wanted me," Byrd said. "It's going to take some adjustments. I was throwing my blue Indians socks in a box and a guy said, 'They wear red socks over there.'
"I just said, 'Oh, yeah, I forgot."'
Byrd is scheduled to start Friday night at home against Toronto. He pitched his only complete game of the season last Saturday against the Blue Jays.
The Red Sox made their second key deal in 13 days. On July 31, they sent slugger Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-team trade that brought them left fielder Jason Bay from Pittsburgh.
