The Red Sox made two moves in the waning hours of the Major League Baseball trade deadline, acquiring relievers Austin Davis and Hansel Robles.
For Davis, the Sox gave up former first-round pick Michael Chavis to the Pirates? It made some sense considering the need for another lefty reliever with Darwinzon Hernandez dealing with a significant oblique injury and Chavis living life as a square peg in a round hole on the Red Sox' roster.
Robles? He cost the Sox promising young reliever Alex Scherff, a former fifth-round pick who signed for $700,000, which was double the recommended slot. And after some rough patches as a starter, the 23-year-old found success as a reliever this season. Pitching for both Single-A Greenville and Double-A Portland, Scherff had struck out 46 hitters in 29 1/3 innings, totaling a 1.35 ERA and .192 batting average against.
But now we learn what the Twins originally wanted in exchange for Robles, and it wasn't a reliever.
Walter is a former 24th-round pick out of Delaware that has opened eyes as a starter, currently pitching for Single-A Greenville. Between Salem and his current club, the lefty has struck out 87 in 55 innings, managing a 2.95 ERA. His last two outings have resulted in just one earned runs over 12 innings.
Crawford is a 15th-round pick out of Chris Sale's alma mater, Florida Gulf Coast University. He has emerged a legitimate depth starting candidate perhaps for as soon as this season, currently serving as part of the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox' rotation.
The righty's most recent start with the WooSox resulted in Crawford giving up just one run on one hit over five innings, striking out nine. It was his second Triple-A appearance.