CHICAGO -- President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the Red Sox didn't come close to making a waiver trade during August.

He said Boston made "numerous" waiver claims. But only one claimed player passed through waivers to the Red Sox.

The Sox claimed this player to block him from being claimed (and potentially traded) to a National League club or passing completely through waivers unclaimed. If a player passes through waivers unclaimed, he can be traded to any team.

"So there wasn't one player that we had interest in that we would have liked to pursue that ever got back to us, which we understood kind of thinking going into August," Dombrowski said. "Some guys got through waivers. But we didn't significantly pursue any of those players.

The Red Sox also failed to add a reliever this past offseason or before the non-waiver trade deadline. Boston's bullpen struggled throughout August but Dombrowski isn't concerned.

"It doesn't make me uncomfortable," Dombrowski said. "Our pitching has been struggling a little bit over the last dozen games, starting and bullpen. So we need to straighten that out a little bit. But I think that's doable. We do get quite a few guys back that will make a difference, starting today."

Dombrowski mentioned the returns of Eduardo Rodriguez and Steven Wright today as well as Chris Sale eventually.

"We feel comfortable to be able to straighten things out," Dombrowski added.

Dombrowski mentioned the importance of Joe Kelly, Ryan Brasier and Tyler Thornburg after he failed to trade for a relief pitcher at the non-waiver trade deadline.

Thornburg allowed seven earned runs in 11.2 innings (5.40 ERA) during August. Kelly allowed just two earned runs in 12.2 innings (1.42 ERA). Brasier allowed two earned runs in 12.0 innings (1.50 ERA) last month.

"Kelly has done better recently," Dombrowski said. "He's had quite a few better outings and he's throwing with better velocity. .... Thornburg sort of has hit a plateau. Really has not I think elevated his game. Yesterday his velocity was a little bit better, but he didn't have a good day. Now we still have another month before we have to make a decision on some of those guys."